Black or Gray Bin (Trash)
Place your trash barrel at the curb by 6:00 AM on collection day. Ensure there is adequate spacing between all carts for the automated truck arms.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Diapers
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Styrofoam (EPS)
- ✓Pet waste (bagged)
Blue Bin (Recycling)
All dry recyclables must be placed loosely into the blue barrel. Do not bag your recyclables, as bags interfere with the sorting facility's machinery.
Accepted Items
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Plastic containers and milk jugs
- ✓Newspaper and junk mail
- ✓Magazines, catalogs, and envelopes
Do NOT Include
- ✕Loose plastic bags
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Hazardous materials
- ✕Tanglers like cords and hoses
Yard Waste Bin
Food waste must be placed inside a sealed plastic bag before being put into the green barrel. Yard trimmings should remain loose.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and leaves
- ✓Weeds and palm fronds
- ✓Branches smaller than 6 inches in diameter
- ✓Horse manure
- ✓Bagged food waste and bagged food-soiled paper
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Up to 4 pickups per calendar year
Placement
Bulky item pick-ups must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance. Do not place items at the curb until the morning of your scheduled collection day.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, tables)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Large appliances (white goods)
- ✓ Televisions and monitors
Not Accepted
- ✕ Vehicle parts
- ✕ Construction materials (concrete, dirt)
- ✕ Hazardous waste and liquids
Additional bulky item pickups beyond the four free annual allowances can be arranged with Burrtec for an extra fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When an observed holiday falls on a weekday, service will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
All three carts (trash, recycling, and green waste) operate on the identical delayed holiday schedule.
If a designated holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there are no service interruptions, and regular weekday collections proceed as normally scheduled.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Bag Your Food Scraps (Yes, Really!)
While most cities forbid plastic in the organics cart, Rancho Cucamonga requires it! All food waste and food-soiled paper must be sealed tightly in a plastic bag before being placed in your green waste barrel.
No Cactus or Heavy Debris in the Green Bin
Although the green cart is meant for yard trimmings, it cannot process thorny cactus, dirt, concrete, or rocks. Heavy landscaping materials will damage the hauling and composting equipment.
Exchange Sharps at Local Fire Stations
Never place loose needles, syringes, or lancets in your trash or recycling barrels. Pick up a free, approved sharps container at a Rancho Cucamonga fire station and return it when it's three-quarters full.
Seasonal Information
Holiday Tree Recycling
Late December - Early JanuaryBurrtec collects Christmas trees at the curb on your regular collection day from December 26th through January 7th. Remove all tinsel, stands, and ornaments. Trees over six feet tall must be cut in half before being placed out by 6:00 AM.
Seasonal Pruning Allowances
Spring and FallIf your yard cleanup generates excess green waste, Rancho Cucamonga allows residents to bundle prunings and place them next to the green cart up to two times per year for free. Bundles must not exceed 18 inches in diameter and 4 feet in length.
About Rancho Cucamonga Waste Management
Burrtec Residential Waste Services in Rancho Cucamonga
The City of Rancho Cucamonga partners exclusively with Burrtec Waste Industries to manage all residential solid waste. Single-family homes utilize an automated three-barrel system to efficiently separate standard refuse, dry recyclables, and organic materials. By rolling your carts to the curb by 6:00 AM on your designated collection morning, you help ensure that the streets of our Inland Empire community remain clean and promptly serviced.
Unique Bagged Food Waste Rule for Organics
While Senate Bill 1383 requires all Californians to divert food scraps from landfills, Rancho Cucamonga has a highly specific protocol for this process. Unlike most municipalities that demand loose food scraps in the green bin, Rancho Cucamonga residents are strictly required to place all food waste and food-soiled paper into a sealed plastic bag (such as an old bread bag or produce bag) before tossing it into the green waste container. This unique bagging requirement controls odors and pests while meeting the processing facility's guidelines.
Four Free Bulky Item Collections Annually
Is it time to finally get rid of that old mattress or broken refrigerator? Rancho Cucamonga homeowners receive up to four complimentary bulky item pickups every calendar year through Burrtec. This service is ideal for large appliances, furniture, and e-waste that won't fit inside your standard trash barrel. Simply call Burrtec at least 24 hours before your regular trash day to schedule, and wait to place the items at the curb until the morning of your pickup.
Convenient Saturday HHW Drop-Off Center
Properly disposing of household hazardous waste (HHW) like leftover paint, used motor oil, and old pool chemicals is crucial for protecting San Bernardino County's groundwater. Rancho Cucamonga operates a dedicated HHW Collection Facility located on Lion Street, specifically open on Saturday mornings. Residents can safely drop off up to 15 gallons or 125 pounds of toxic materials per trip for free, ensuring these dangerous substances stay out of curbside bins.
Safe and Free Medical Sharps Disposal
The City of Rancho Cucamonga prioritizes public safety by offering a free Home-Generated Sharps Program. Needles, lancets, and syringes must never go into your household trash or recycling barrels, as they pose a severe puncture risk to sanitation workers. Residents can pick up free, approved sharps containers at any local fire station during the week, and exchange full containers for empty ones to safely dispose of their medical waste.
Drop-off Facilities
Rancho Cucamonga Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Facility
8794 Lion Street, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I recycle food waste in Rancho Cucamonga?
To comply with SB 1383, Rancho Cucamonga residents must place all food waste and food-soiled paper inside a sealed plastic bag (such as a grocery or bread bag) before tossing it into the green waste container. This unique bagging rule prevents odors while adhering to local processing requirements.
How many free bulky item pickups do Rancho Cucamonga residents get?
Single-family residential customers serviced by Burrtec receive up to four free bulky item collections every calendar year. You must call Burrtec customer service at (909) 987-3717 at least 24 hours in advance of your regular trash day to schedule the truck.
Where can I dispose of used motor oil and old paint?
You can drop off toxic household chemicals, e-waste, and paint at the Rancho Cucamonga Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Facility at 8794 Lion Street. It is open to residents exclusively on Saturdays from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM (Noon).
What should I do with my medical syringes and needles?
The city offers a free Home-Generated Sharps Program. Do not put needles in your trash. Instead, you can pick up a free sharps-approved container at any Rancho Cucamonga fire station on weekdays, and exchange it for a new one once it is three-quarters full.