Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Tustin
Trash Day
Collection runs Monday through Friday depending on your neighborhood zone.
Recycling
Collected weekly on the same day as your trash service (blue cart).
Yard Waste
Collected weekly on the same day as your trash service (green cart for yard trimmings and food waste).
Set Out Time
By 6:30 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Trash and recycling services are contracted through CR&R Environmental Services and billed directly to residents. Single-family households are entitled to four free bulky item pickups (up to four items each) per calendar year.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Mail, Phone
Pro Tip / Discount
Residents with disabilities can qualify for free physical pull-out collection service upon request (proof of disability required).
Black Bin (Trash)
Use the black cart for all non-recyclable, non-compostable household refuse. Ensure the lid closes completely and remove the cart from the curbside within 12 hours after service.
Accepted Items
- ✓Mixed materials (plastic and metal combinations)
- ✓Styrofoam (packaging and cups)
- ✓Diapers and pet waste
- ✓Waxed paper and coated products
- ✓Ceramics and Pyrex glass
- ✓Palm fronds
Blue Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be kept loose inside the blue cart. Do not place recyclables inside plastic garbage bags, and quickly rinse out heavy food residue to avoid contaminating the batch.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened corrugated cardboard
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Plastic containers (drink bottles, detergent jugs)
- ✓Newspapers, magazines, and junk mail
- ✓Plastic toys
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic shopping bags
- ✕Dry cleaning bags
- ✕Waxed milk or juice cartons
- ✕Ceramics and mirrors
- ✕Food residue and liquids
Yard Waste Bin
To reduce odors in the green cart, you can line your kitchen pail with a paper bag, sprinkle baking soda in the bottom of the cart, or freeze food scraps until collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Meat, fish, and dairy scraps
- ✓Fruits, vegetables, and bread
- ✓Coffee grounds and filters
- ✓Grass clippings and leaves
- ✓Flowers, weeds, and small prunings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Four (4) free bulky item collections per calendar year for single-family residential customers.
Placement
You must schedule the pickup in advance by contacting CR&R. Place approved items at the curb no later than 6:30 a.m. on the morning of your scheduled collection.
Accepted
- ✓ Couches, chairs, and desks
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Washers, dryers, and water heaters
- ✓ Electronic waste (TVs, computers, monitors)
- ✓ Refrigerators and freezers (white goods)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste and liquid chemicals
- ✕ Items that cannot be safely managed by a two-person crew
- ✕ Construction materials (dirt, concrete, rocks)
- ✕ Automotive parts
Single-family homes receive these four pickups for free. Additional pickups can be requested for a fee. Multifamily complex residents must contact their property manager to arrange collections for a fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a recognized holiday falls during the work week (Monday through Friday), collection for the remainder of that week will be delayed by one day, with Friday pickups moving to Saturday.
Yard Waste Exception
The one-day holiday delay applies equally to trash, recycling, and green organics collection.
If the holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, trash will be collected on your normal collection day with absolutely no delays to your scheduled pickup.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Summer
July - SeptemberDuring the hot summer months, organics in the green cart can attract pests and create strong odors. Consider placing a layer of dry yard trimmings, cardboard, or newspaper at the bottom of the cart before adding wet food scraps.
Year-Round
January - DecemberStreet sweeping in Tustin is also managed by CR&R. If a holiday delay results in your trash collection and street sweeping occurring on the exact same day, you must place your carts up on the curb or parkway, rather than in the street gutter.
Local Tips & Community Info
Tustin Residential Waste Collection via CR&R
The City of Tustin partners with CR&R Environmental Services to handle all household trash and recycling operations. Single-family homes are provided with a streamlined three-cart system for weekly curbside service. To guarantee your bins are emptied, place them on the street no later than 6:30 a.m. on your designated service day. For automated trucks to operate safely, carts should be positioned approximately one foot apart from each other and at least three feet away from fire hydrants, parked vehicles, or large trees. Make sure the wheels and handles face toward your property. After collection, local guidelines mandate that all empty bins must be retrieved from the curb within 24 hours.
Blue Cart Recycling Protocols
Your blue container is exclusively for dry, loose recyclables. Acceptable items include flattened cardboard boxes, paper, glass bottles, and aluminum cans. It is vital to rinse out any leftover food or liquids from these containers, as heavily soiled products can contaminate the entire truckload and force otherwise recyclable materials into a local landfill. Never put your recyclables into plastic bags before throwing them in the blue cart; they must remain loose. Also, keep window glass, ceramics, and Styrofoam out of the blue bin entirely.
Green Cart Organics and SB 1383 Rules
In accordance with California’s SB 1383 mandates, Tustin requires the recycling of organic materials to reduce harmful methane emissions. The green cart is designated for both yard trimmings, like leaves, grass clippings, and pruned branches, and all household food scraps. Residents can dispose of meat, dairy, vegetables, and coffee grounds directly in this container. To minimize odors or pests, the city recommends keeping food waste in a kitchen scrap pail or freezer until collection day. Layering your organics bin with newspaper or sprinkling baking soda at the bottom can also help maintain freshness.
Free Bulky Item Collection
Disposing of large household items such as old mattresses, washing machines, sofas, or excessive bundled cardboard is made easy through CR&R’s bulky item service. Single-family homeowners in Tustin are entitled to up to four complimentary bulk collections per calendar year, with a maximum of four oversized items permitted per scheduled pickup. To utilize this benefit, residents must call CR&R Customer Service at 714-372-8272 to secure an appointment. Multi-family complex residents need to coordinate through their property managers, as standard household bulk pickups are processed differently for large apartment buildings.
Holiday Delays and Electronic Waste
The collection schedule in Tustin observes a handful of major national holidays. When a recognized holiday falls on a weekday, all subsequent residential pickups for that week will be delayed by one day, culminating in Friday routes being collected on Saturday. Alongside standard services, residents must correctly dispose of electronic waste, or e-waste, such as televisions, monitors, and cell phones. E-waste is strictly prohibited from standard automated carts because of its toxic components. CR&R provides specialized pickup and legal recycling for these electronics, which can be arranged through their main customer support line.
Drop-off Facilities
Orange County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center (Irvine)
6411 Oak Canyon, Irvine, CA 92618
Materials Accepted
Tustin City Hall (Battery Drop-Off)
300 Centennial Way, Tustin, CA 92780
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I correctly dispose of food scraps in Tustin?
To comply with state laws, Tustin residents must place all food scraps, including meat, dairy, coffee grounds, and bread, directly into the green organics cart. You can use the city-provided Kitchen Food Scrap Container to gather waste indoors before emptying it into the green cart.
Can I throw away an old TV or refrigerator at the curb?
Yes, but you must schedule it first. Electronic waste and appliances containing Freon are collected through CR&R's bulky item pickup program. You can use one of your four free annual bulky item collections to dispose of these items by calling customer service.
What should I do if my regular pickup day falls on Memorial Day?
Because CR&R observes Memorial Day as a non-collection holiday, your trash, recycling, and organics services will be delayed by exactly one day for the remainder of that week.
Where can I drop off dead household batteries?
Batteries are a fire hazard and cannot go in curbside bins. Tustin offers multiple local drop-off locations for batteries, including Tustin City Hall, the Tustin Senior Center, and Woodward's Ace Hardware. You can also take them to the Orange County HHW Center in Irvine.