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
!Contamination Tips
Palm Fronds Go in the Trash
Unlike standard leaves and branches, palm fronds are extremely tough, stringy, and coarse. They do not break down in municipal composting facilities and must always be discarded in your standard trash cart.
Keep Plastic Film Out of the Blue Cart
Plastic bags and shrink wrap easily tangle around the sorting screens at the material recovery facility. Never bag your recyclables, and take your soft plastics back to local grocery store drop-offs.
No Bio-Plastics in the Green Bin
The commercial composting facilities utilized by Riverside cannot properly process bio-plastics. Keep your food scraps loose, or line your kitchen pail with plain newspaper.
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.
About Riverside Waste Management
Waste Management in the City of Arts & Innovation
The City of Riverside maintains a highly efficient residential waste program utilizing a standard three-cart system. While some outlying or commercial areas are serviced exclusively by Burrtec Waste Industries, the majority of single-family residents receive direct service coordinated by the City of Riverside Public Works. Residents must roll their carts to the curb by 6:00 a.m. on their designated collection day, ensuring bins are spaced at least three feet apart to accommodate automated collection trucks.
Full Compliance with California's SB 1383 Organics Law
Riverside has fully integrated the mandates of California's SB 1383 into its residential services. Your green bin is no longer just for grass and leaves; it is a dedicated organics cart. Residents must place all kitchen food scraps—including cooked meat, bones, dairy, and food-soiled paper products like greasy pizza boxes—directly into the green cart. Diverting these materials from landfills significantly reduces harmful methane emissions. Because commercial composters cannot process plastic, you must keep all organics completely loose or wrap them in plain newspaper.
Two Convenient Options for Bulky Item Disposal
Riverside offers flexible solutions for disposing of large household junk. Residents can schedule a curbside bulky item pickup by calling the 311 call center or (951) 826-5311. For curbside service, approved items must be set out by 5:30 a.m. on your appointment day. Alternatively, residents who prefer to self-haul can take advantage of a free drop-off event on the 3rd Saturday of every month at the Agua Mansa Transfer Station (from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.), provided they bring a recent utility bill as proof of city residency.
Handling Toxic E-Waste and Household Chemicals
Lithium-ion batteries and electronic waste present a severe fire risk to collection vehicles and are strictly prohibited in all three curbside carts. Residents are encouraged to responsibly dispose of e-waste, paint, motor oil, and harsh chemicals at designated Riverside County Household Hazardous Waste drop-off events or permanent regional collection facilities to protect the local groundwater and environment.
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.