Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Twentynine Palms
Trash Day
Residential collection runs Monday through Friday depending on your specific street or neighborhood zone.
Recycling
Collected weekly on the same day as your regular trash pickup.
Yard Waste
Collected weekly on your regular collection day alongside trash and recycling.
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Standard residential trash and recycling service is billed annually through your San Bernardino County property tax bill, while supplemental containers or special pickups are billed directly by Burrtec.
Billing Cycle
Included in Property Taxes
Accepted Methods
Property Taxes, Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail
Pro Tip / Discount
Residents 65 and older who are head of household qualify for a smaller 64-gallon barrel at a discounted rate. Residents with a DMV Permanent Disabled Parking Placard can receive complimentary walk-in service.
Burgundy or Black Bin (Trash)
All trash must be bagged and fit entirely inside the barrel with the lid completely closed. Maximum weight per barrel is 150 lbs.
Accepted Items
- ✓Mixed household refuse
- ✓Diapers and pet waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics and styrofoam
- ✓Cooled ashes
- ✓Medical waste (properly contained, excluding sharps)
Grey or Blue Bin (Recycling)
Place all recyclables loosely inside the barrel. Never use plastic garbage bags. Large cardboard boxes must be flattened, tied together, and placed next to the barrel if they don't fit inside.
Accepted Items
- ✓White and colored paper, newspaper, magazines
- ✓Cardboard and cereal boxes (flattened)
- ✓Aluminum, steel, and tin cans
- ✓Plastic bottles and containers (numbered 1-7)
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags (bagged recyclables)
- ✕Food waste or liquid
- ✕Electronic waste
- ✕Mirrors and window glass
- ✕Hazardous chemicals
Yard Waste Bin
Green waste and organic food scraps must be placed in the designated green barrel. Keep lids closed to deter desert wildlife.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves, weeds, and grass clippings
- ✓Branches and prunings
- ✓Food waste (fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy)
- ✓Food-soiled paper items (e.g., used paper plates and pizza boxes)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Four free pick-ups per year (scheduled on Fridays)
Placement
You may place up to four (4) approved bulky items at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your specifically scheduled Friday.
Accepted
- ✓ Large and small appliances
- ✓ Furniture (couches, desks)
- ✓ Mattresses, box springs, and bed frames
- ✓ Carpet (rolled and bundled, not exceeding 4 feet)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Electronic waste (TVs, computers)
- ✕ Hazardous waste and tires
- ✕ Building materials and construction debris
- ✕ Bagged household trash
- ✕ Engines and car parts
If you exceed your four free annual pick-ups, additional bulky item collections can be arranged with Burrtec for a supplementary fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a designated holiday falls on a weekday, residential collection services will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Your recycling and green waste barrels will follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as your regular trash barrel.
Barrels must always be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your scheduled pickup day, regardless of holiday weeks.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Spring
March to MayHigh winds are frequent in the Morongo Basin during the spring. Always ensure your cart lids are firmly closed and place barrels at least five feet away from fences, mailboxes, and parked cars to prevent them from tipping.
Summer
June to SeptemberExtreme desert heat can cause your organics cart to develop strong odors. Consider freezing your food scraps in a reusable container during the week and only transferring them to the green barrel on the morning of your collection.
Winter
December to JanuaryBurrtec collects natural holiday trees following Christmas. Ensure all ornaments, lights, stands, and tinsel are completely removed before placing the tree out for collection.
Local Tips & Community Info
Solid Waste Management in the Morongo Basin
In the high desert environment of Twentynine Palms, keeping the community clean and free of blowing debris is a joint effort between residents and Burrtec Waste Industries. As the franchised waste hauler for the city, Burrtec provides comprehensive weekly collection services designed to manage standard household trash, recyclables, and green waste. Operating efficiently across the expansive Mojave landscape, Burrtec ensures that local refuse is diverted from regional landfills in accordance with state environmental goals.
Beating the Desert Winds: Cart Placement Rules
Strong seasonal winds are a reality in Twentynine Palms, making proper bin placement crucial. Residents are required to have their carts at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on collection day. To prevent trash from blowing across the desert, always ensure your bin lids are completely closed. Place the carts flush with the street, keeping a mandatory three-foot perimeter around each container to allow the automated Burrtec trucks safe access away from mailboxes, fences, and parked cars.
Mandated Food Scrap and Yard Debris Sorting
California’s SB 1383 legislation applies even in remote desert communities. All Twentynine Palms households must separate compostable materials into their designated green organics cart. This bin is not just for tumbleweeds and yard trimmings; you must also toss in your food scraps, coffee filters, eggshells, and leftover meat. Bagging these items in standard plastic is prohibited, as it compromises the composting process at Burrtec's regional processing facilities.
Combating Illegal Desert Dumping with Bulky Pickups
Illegal dumping is a serious threat to the fragile Mojave ecosystem. To combat this, Burrtec provides residential customers with convenient options for disposing of oversized household junk like old mattresses, busted couches, and washing machines. Homeowners can call Burrtec’s local customer service office to arrange for a scheduled curbside bulky item pickup. Utilizing this service keeps heavy debris out of the open desert and ensures safe, legal disposal.
San Bernardino County Hazardous Waste Disposal
Extreme desert heat can turn improper chemical disposal into a major fire hazard. Paint thinners, motor oil, pool chemicals, and lithium batteries must never be tossed into your residential Burrtec bins. Instead, residents must utilize the San Bernardino County Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) program. There are designated drop-off locations and periodic collection events throughout the Morongo Basin where locals can securely discard toxic materials without endangering sanitation workers or the local groundwater.
Altered Routes for National Holidays
While your collection day is usually set in stone, the Burrtec schedule does shift for six major holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. If the holiday lands on a normal weekday, all subsequent pickups for that specific week are pushed back by exactly 24 hours. Normal early-morning collection routines automatically resume on the following Monday.
Drop-off Facilities
Joshua Tree Household Hazardous Waste Collection Site
62499 Twentynine Palms Hwy, Joshua Tree, CA 92252
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Which company handles garbage pickup in Twentynine Palms?
Burrtec Waste Industries is the exclusive franchised waste collection provider for residential and commercial properties in Twentynine Palms.
What should I do if my trash blows out of the bin?
Due to high winds, it is the resident's responsibility to bag loose trash inside the black cart and ensure the lid is tightly closed to prevent littering the neighborhood.
How do I throw away an old television or computer?
Electronic waste cannot go in your curbside carts. You must schedule a bulky item pickup with Burrtec or take the e-waste to a designated San Bernardino County HHW drop-off site.