Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for San Clemente
Trash Day
Collection runs Monday through Friday, depending on your neighborhood zone.
Recycling
Collected weekly on the same day as trash in the blue or brown recycling cart.
Yard Waste
Organics and yard waste are collected weekly on the same day as trash in the green cart.
Set Out Time
By 6:30 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential service provided by CR&R includes up to 4 free bulky item pickups per calendar year (up to 4 items each) and free door-to-door household hazardous waste collection.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Mail, Phone, In Person
Pro Tip / Discount
Low-income utility payment relief and installment assistance programs are offered through the City.
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
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.
Local Tips & Community Info
Coastal Waste Collection Overview
Keeping our beachside community pristine requires cooperation between residents and CR&R Environmental Services, the exclusive waste hauler for San Clemente. Whether you live near the pier or inland, your household is equipped with a three-container system designed to maximize landfill diversion and protect local marine ecosystems. Understanding the specific sorting rules helps the entire city adhere to state environmental targets and prevents unsightly overflow in local neighborhoods.
Curb Logistics and Timing
On your specific service day, containers must be rolled to the street edge no later than 6:00 a.m. Position the bins side-by-side with at least 18 inches of clearance between them. It is equally important to ensure they are placed at least three feet away from parked vehicles, mailboxes, and fire hydrants. Remember to tuck your bins away out of public view by 8:00 p.m. on collection day to maintain the aesthetic appeal of your street.
Managing Compostable Materials
Driven by aggressive state mandates, the green organics bin is the designated spot for all yard trimmings and kitchen scraps. You can safely deposit meat, bones, dairy, and coffee grounds alongside grass clippings and leaves. Never use plastic bags to collect your food waste; utilize paper bags or drop the material directly into the cart to avoid contaminating the commercial compost facility's processing equipment.
Dry Recycling Directives
The blue container is reserved exclusively for standard recyclable commodities. This includes flattened corrugated cardboard, aluminum cans, glass bottles, and rigid plastics. Ensure all containers are lightly rinsed and fully dry before tossing them in. Thin plastic film, styrofoam, and tangled garden hoses ruin the mechanical sorting machinery and must be thrown in the standard trash receptacle instead.
Large Item Disposal Perks
San Clemente homeowners do not need to struggle with hauling heavy furniture to a regional landfill. CR&R grants residential accounts up to three complimentary bulky item pickups every calendar year. You must call their local dispatch office at least two business days prior to your normal service day to arrange a scheduled collection for old appliances, mattresses, or bundled wood right from your driveway.
Protecting the Pacific from Hazardous Waste
Solvents, paints, motor oil, and lithium batteries are strictly prohibited from curbside containers. Improper disposal risks dangerous chemical runoff entering the storm drains and polluting the ocean. Residents must transport these toxic materials to the regional Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center in neighboring San Juan Capistrano, which safely processes them at no cost to local homeowners.
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.