Black Bin (Trash)
Place carts side-by-side at least 1 foot apart and 3 feet away from vehicles, trees, or fire hydrants. Carts must be at the curb by 6:30 a.m. and removed within 12 hours after service.
Accepted Items
- ✓Mixed products (plastic and metal combined)
- ✓Waxed paper and coated materials
- ✓Ceramics and Pyrex
- ✓Mirrors and safety glass
- ✓Pet waste
- ✓Diseased plants
- ✓Palm fronds
- ✓Styrofoam
- ✓Diapers
- ✓Paper towels and tissue paper
Blue or Brown Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be placed loosely into the cart. Do not bag recyclables. Quickly rinse out heavy food residue from containers to prevent contaminating the entire load.
Accepted Items
- ✓White paper, junk mail, and magazines
- ✓Flattened corrugated cardboard
- ✓Plastics #1-7 (bottles, jugs, and yogurt containers)
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (all colors)
- ✓Empty, dry paint cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic shopping bags
- ✕Food residue and liquids
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Window glass and mirrors
- ✕Fluorescent tubes and light bulbs
- ✕Clothing and textiles
Yard Waste Bin
Place a layer of yard materials, cardboard, or newspaper at the bottom before adding food scraps. Do not use plastic grocery bags; only optional compostable bags are permitted.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and leaves
- ✓Prunings, branches, and wood
- ✓Fruits and vegetables
- ✓Meat, fish, and dairy scraps
- ✓Breads and grains
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Four times per calendar year
Placement
You must schedule the pickup in advance by calling CR&R at 877-728-0446 or using their Online Scheduling Service. Place the approved items at the curb on your regular waste collection day.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, chairs, desks)
- ✓ Washers, dryers, and refrigerators
- ✓ Electronic waste (TVs, computers, monitors)
- ✓ Excessive green waste
- ✓ Bundled cardboard
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
- ✕ Liquid paint and solvents
- ✕ Automotive batteries
- ✕ Construction debris
- ✕ Dirt, concrete, or asphalt
The first four pickups per year are completely free. Any additional bulky item collections beyond this limit will incur a nominal fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a recognized holiday falls during the work week, collection for the remainder of the week will be postponed by one day. For example, if Independence Day is on a Monday, Thursday routes will be collected on Friday.
Yard Waste Exception
This one-day delay applies to all curbside collections, including trash, recycling, and organics carts.
If the holiday falls on a weekend, your standard weekday collection schedule will not be interrupted.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Avoid Wishcycling in the Blue Cart
Placing items in the blue cart just because you hope they are recyclable—like plastic straws, utensils, or Styrofoam—is known as 'wishcycling.' This actually contaminates the recycling stream and can send entire bales to the landfill.
Palm Fronds Belong in the Trash
Even though they are a type of plant material, palm fronds and palm branches are incredibly fibrous and cannot be properly processed at the organics composting facility. Always place palm fronds in your black landfill cart.
No Plastic Bags for Organics
Never bag your yard waste or food scraps in standard plastic grocery bags. If you prefer to bag your food waste to keep the green cart clean, you must use certified compostable bags.
Seasonal Information
Winter
Late December to JanuaryCR&R provides free curbside Christmas tree collection from December 26th through the end of January. Trees must be unbagged and stripped of all ornaments, tinsel, lights, and stands. Trees 6 feet or taller must be cut in half.
Summer
June to SeptemberDuring warm summer weather, minimize odors in your green organics cart by storing food scraps in the freezer until collection day, keeping the cart in the shade, and sprinkling baking soda inside.
About San Clemente Waste Management
Automated Curbside Collection in San Clemente
San Clemente partners with CR&R Environmental Services to provide residents with a comprehensive, three-cart automated waste collection system. Designed to keep the city's coastal neighborhoods clean and compliant with California's aggressive diversion goals, the program utilizes specific color-coded bins: black for landfill refuse, blue or brown for clean recyclables, and green for organics. To guarantee service, residents must roll their carts to the curb by 6:30 a.m. on their designated collection day, ensuring wheels and handles face the property.
Meeting SB 1383 Organics Mandates
In strict adherence to California Senate Bill 1383, San Clemente requires all households to separate organic waste from general trash. Residents must use their green organics cart for both yard trimmings and kitchen food scraps, including meat, dairy, and soiled paper. These collected organics are transported to CR&R's advanced Anaerobic Digestion (AD) Facility in Perris, where they are converted into renewable natural gas and nutrient-rich fertilizer, significantly reducing the methane emissions typically produced in Orange County landfills.
Generous Curbside Bulky Item Program
Moving, spring cleaning, or upgrading appliances? San Clemente residents benefit from an exceptionally generous bulky item pickup program. Each household is entitled to four free collections per calendar year, with a maximum of four large items or four excess bags per scheduled pickup. This service covers furniture, bundled cardboard, excessive green waste, and even electronic waste (e-waste) and appliances containing Freon, helping to prevent illegal dumping in local canyons and streets.
Protecting Local Beaches from Hazardous Waste
Keeping toxic materials out of the standard trash stream is vital for protecting San Clemente's groundwater and world-renowned coastline. Items such as old paint, motor oil, pool chemicals, pesticides, and lithium-ion batteries are strictly prohibited from curbside carts because they can cause dangerous fires in collection trucks. Residents must safely dispose of these materials at an Orange County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center, with the Prima Deshecha Landfill in nearby San Juan Capistrano being the most convenient drop-off point.
Drop-off Facilities
Prima Deshecha Landfill / OC Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center
32250 Avenida La Pata, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do my trash carts need to be on the curb in San Clemente?
All automated carts (black, blue, and green) must be placed at the curbside no later than 6:30 a.m. on your designated collection day. Ensure the handles and wheels face your home, and remove the carts within 12 hours after service.
How do I dispose of a broken refrigerator or old television?
Electronic waste (e-waste) and appliances containing Freon cannot go in standard carts. You can schedule a free bulky item pickup by calling CR&R; these items count toward your four free annual bulky collections.
Can I throw pet waste into my green organics cart?
No. Animal waste and feces cannot be processed at the anaerobic digestion facility. All pet waste must be securely bagged and thrown into the black landfill cart.
Does my recycling need to be bagged before putting it in the blue cart?
No, you should never bag your recyclables. Plastic bags jam the sorting machinery at the recycling facility. Keep all cardboard, glass, and plastic containers loose inside the blue or brown cart.