Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Riverside
Trash Day
Weekly, Monday through Friday depending on your neighborhood zone
Recycling
Weekly on the same day as trash pickup
Yard Waste
Weekly on the same day as trash pickup
Set Out Time
By 5:30 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Trash and recycling charges are consolidated on your monthly utility bill from Riverside Public Utilities alongside water, electric, and sewer services.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail, In-Person
Pro Tip / Discount
Low-income customers may qualify for bill payment assistance through the RPU SHARE (Sharing Households Assist Riverside's Energy) program.
Brown, Gray, or Black Bin (Trash)
All regular garbage should be securely bagged before being placed in the trash cart to prevent litter. Ensure the lid is closed tightly to deter pests and wildlife.
Accepted Items
- ✓General household refuse
- ✓Diapers and pet waste
- ✓Polystyrene foam (Styrofoam) and packing peanuts
- ✓Palm fronds and yucca trimmings
- ✓Broken ceramics and non-recyclable glass
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag your recyclables. All items must be placed loosely into the blue cart. Rinse out sticky residue from bottles and jars to prevent contaminating the paper stream.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean, flattened cardboard and paperboard
- ✓Paper, mail, and magazines
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs (empty and dry)
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags and film wrap
- ✕Food-soiled paper and pizza boxes
- ✕Tanglers like garden hoses, cords, and hangers
- ✕Clothing and textiles
Yard Waste Bin
Keep organic materials loose in the green cart. Do not use plastic bags, even if they are heavily marketed as 'compostable' or 'biodegradable'.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings, weeds, and leaves
- ✓Tree trimmings and small branches
- ✓Food scraps (meat, bones, dairy, baked goods)
- ✓Food-soiled paper products
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
On-demand by scheduled appointment, or monthly drop-off
Placement
Do not set bulky items out until the night before or the early morning of your scheduled pickup. Placing items on the curb without an appointment is considered illegal dumping.
Accepted
- ✓ Sofas, chairs, and household furniture
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Large appliances (refrigerators, washers, dryers)
- ✓ Large electronics and televisions
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household hazardous waste (paint, oil, chemicals)
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Dirt, concrete, bricks, and rocks
- ✕ Automotive parts and tires
Instead of waiting for a pickup, residents can self-haul items for free to the Agua Mansa Transfer Station on the 3rd Saturday of each month (8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.) with a valid Riverside utility bill.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on a weekday, residential collection is delayed by one day for the remainder of that week (e.g., Thursday pickups move to Friday, Friday pickups move to Saturday).
Yard Waste Exception
Green organics and blue recycling carts follow the exact same delayed holiday schedule as your standard trash cart.
If a holiday falls on a weekend, there are generally no delays to your weekday collection schedule. Service operates normally on non-listed holidays like Presidents' Day.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuaryThe city offers seasonal holiday tree recycling. Clean, bare trees (no flocking, lights, or ornaments) can typically be collected curbside on your normal service day or cut up to fit entirely inside your green organics cart.
Year-Round
January - DecemberThe free bulk waste drop-off event at the Agua Mansa Transfer Station occurs consistently on the 3rd Saturday of every single month, regardless of the season.
Local Tips & Community Info
Complete Guide to Riverside Residential Waste Collection
Living in Riverside means getting accustomed to the city's efficient three-barrel waste collection system managed by Public Works and local haulers like Burrtec. Your household garbage, recyclables, and green waste are all serviced on a single designated day each week. To ensure a successful pickup, simply roll your containers to the curb before 5:30 a.m. on your assigned morning. Keep in mind that automated collection trucks need clearance, so leave a minimum of three feet between your carts, parked vehicles, and any street mailboxes. After the trucks come by, you are expected to pull the empty bins back onto your property by the evening.
Strict Sorting Rules for the Three-Barrel System
Riverside strictly enforces California's SB 1383 organics recycling mandate, which completely changes how you dispose of kitchen scraps. Your green barrel is no longer just for yard trimmings; residents must now place bagged food waste into the green cart alongside grass clippings and leaves. Standard household trash goes into the brown or gray barrel, while the blue barrel is reserved for loose, unbagged recyclables like flattened cardboard, glass bottles, and rigid plastics. Never throw household hazardous waste, batteries, or electronic devices into any of these three bins, as this will lead to immediate contamination tags.
Booking Your Free Bulky Item Pickups
When you have old furniture or large appliances that simply will not fit into the standard trash bin, you do not have to resort to a pricey junk removal service. Riverside homeowners are granted two complimentary bulky item pickup appointments every calendar year through Burrtec. Each scheduled appointment allows you to place up to five large objects at the curb. To utilize this service, you must contact the City Call Center at 311 or call (951) 826-5311 at least one full business day before your standard collection date. Mattresses need to be completely sealed in plastic, and items cannot be placed outside more than twenty-four hours in advance.
Disposing of E-Waste and Hazardous Materials
Since televisions, car batteries, motor oil, and wet paint are strictly prohibited from regular curbside collection, Riverside provides dedicated drop-off solutions. Residents can safely dispose of these toxic materials by taking them to the Agua Mansa Transfer Station at 1830 Agua Mansa Road. The city hosts specific 'Clean Up Riverside' events here every third Saturday of the month from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. These drop-off days are entirely free for locals who bring a valid utility bill as proof of residency, ensuring that dangerous chemicals are kept out of regional landfills.
Holiday Push-Back Schedule
Trash trucks in Riverside take a break for major national holidays. Whenever a recognized holiday lands on a weekday, the entire collection calendar shifts forward by a single day for the remainder of that week. For instance, if a holiday occurs on a Wednesday, the Wednesday routes will be pushed to Thursday, and Friday routes will conclude on Saturday. If a holiday falls on a weekend, your standard collection routine remains completely unaffected. Always double-check the official city holiday calendar online if you are unsure whether an upcoming long weekend will disrupt your pickup.
Drop-off Facilities
Agua Mansa Transfer Station
1830 Agua Mansa Road, Riverside, CA 92509
Materials Accepted
Riverside County Household Hazardous Waste Collection
Various roving locations and permanent facilities in the region (Check RCWaste.org)
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I schedule a bulky item pickup in Riverside?
You can schedule a bulky item pickup by calling the City of Riverside at (951) 826-5311 or dialing 311. Once scheduled, place your items at the curb by 5:30 a.m. on the morning of your appointment. You can also drop off items for free on the 3rd Saturday of the month at the Agua Mansa Transfer Station.
What holidays cause a delay in my trash pickup?
Riverside delays trash collection by one day for six major holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. If the holiday falls on a weekday, all subsequent collections that week are pushed back by one day.
Can I throw palm fronds in my green organics bin?
No. Palm fronds have a tough, wiry texture that does not break down well in commercial composting facilities. You must place all palm fronds into your standard landfill trash cart.
Does Riverside accept food scraps in the yard waste bin?
Yes. To comply with California's SB 1383 organics law, all Riverside residents must place food waste—such as vegetable peels, cooked meat, bones, and food-soiled paper—directly into the green organics cart along with traditional yard trimmings.