Black Bin (Trash)
All regular refuse that cannot be recycled or composted goes here. Place at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your scheduled day and remove from the street by nighttime.
Accepted Items
- ✓Diapers
- ✓Dishware
- ✓Plastic bags or wrap
- ✓Pet waste
- ✓Cactus
- ✓Soiled paper products
- ✓Plastic toys
- ✓Hoses
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Ensure all recyclable containers are empty and dry. Do not bag your recyclables; keep them loose in the blue barrel.
Accepted Items
- ✓Empty aerosol cans
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Cardboard and cartons
- ✓Glass bottles & jars
- ✓Clean paper products and junk mail
- ✓#1 - #7 Plastics
- ✓Styrofoam
Do NOT Include
- ✕Bubble wrap
- ✕Carpet
- ✕Clothing
- ✕Diapers
- ✕Electronic waste
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Wax paper
Yard Waste Bin
Unlike regular yard waste which is placed loosely in the bin, all food waste and food-soiled paper MUST be sealed in a tied plastic bag before being placed in the green barrel.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged food waste
- ✓Bagged food-soiled paper
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Weeds
- ✓Small branches and prunings
- ✓Dead plants
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Up to four (4) times per rolling calendar year.
Placement
Place bulky items at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your regularly scheduled collection day, ensuring they are clear of vehicles and your standard bins.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Appliances
- ✓ Electronic waste
- ✓ Items too large to fit in the black trash barrel
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Liquids
- ✕ Business waste
- ✕ Dirt or concrete
This service is completely free for residential barrel customers. Multi-family unit customers with dumpster service must contact their property management for pickup details.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When a major observed holiday falls on a weekday, collection services will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Organics and yard waste collections are subject to the same standard holiday delay as trash and recycling.
If the holiday actually falls on a Saturday or Sunday, your regular weekday collection schedule will not be affected at all.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep plastic films out of the blue bin
While Burrtec accepts a variety of plastics, flexible grocery bags and plastic wrap easily tangle in their sorting machines. Either drop them off at a local grocery store for recycling or throw them in your black trash barrel.
Bag your organics properly
Food waste goes in the green barrel, but Upland strictly requires it to be bagged and tied first. Never toss loose food scraps directly over your grass clippings, as this attracts pests and violates local collection rules.
No batteries in any curbside barrel
Single-use and rechargeable batteries are strictly prohibited from all curbside bins because they are known to spark fires in collection trucks. Take them to the Saturday HHW drop-off at the Upland City Yard.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuaryCurbside Christmas tree pickup runs during the first two weeks of the New Year. Burrtec will collect bare trees at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your normal collection day. Flocked trees are also accepted. Trees taller than 6 feet must be cut in half.
Autumn/Winter
October - FebruaryUpland frequently experiences strong Santa Ana winds. On incredibly windy nights, wait until the morning of your collection to roll out your bins, or ensure the lids are firmly secured to prevent debris from blowing into the streets.
Summer
July - SeptemberDuring extreme heat waves where temperatures reach 100 degrees or above, the Upland City Yard HHW center will temporarily close for the safety of the staff and public. Verify the weather before planning a Saturday drop-off.
About Upland Waste Management
Navigating Upland's Burrtec Waste Collection Services
The City of Upland partners exclusively with Burrtec Waste Industries to manage all residential solid waste. Residents are provided with a streamlined automated three-barrel system: a black barrel for standard refuse, a blue barrel for recyclables, and a green barrel for organics and yard clippings. To ensure a smooth weekly collection, always place your barrels on the street with the wheels pressed against the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your designated pickup day. If you have alley service, keep bins away from any structures.
Important Food Waste Bagging Rules for Upland Residents
In compliance with California's SB 1383 organics recycling mandate, Upland has a very specific protocol for food scraps that differs from neighboring cities. Burrtec requires Upland households to collect food waste in a separate plastic-lined container and tie the bag securely before tossing it into the green barrel. You can easily reuse standard grocery, produce, or bread bags for this—they do not need to be compostable, as long as they are sealed tight and mixed in with your loose yard trimmings.
How to Handle Large Junk with Free Bulky Item Pickups
Whether you are cleaning out the garage or replacing old furniture, Upland residential barrel customers are entitled to four free bulky item pickups every rolling calendar year. You can set out up to five large items per scheduled collection, which covers items like mattresses, old appliances, and electronic waste that simply will not fit in your black bin. Just remember to contact Burrtec Customer Service at least a week before your normal collection day to secure your spot on the schedule.
Upland's Convenient Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Facility
Properly disposing of dangerous chemicals, old paint, and batteries is incredibly simple for Upland residents. The city operates a dedicated HHW Collection Center located directly at the Upland City Yard on North Benson Avenue. Open on Saturday mornings, this drop-off site accepts everything from pool chemicals and used motor oil to electronic waste and medical sharps. Keep in mind that the facility will temporarily close during severe weather, including heavy rain, high wind storms, or temperatures exceeding 100 degrees.
Drop-off Facilities
Upland City Yard HHW Collection Center
1370 N Benson Ave, Upland, CA 91786
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I correctly dispose of food scraps in Upland?
Unlike other cities that accept loose organics, Upland requires residents to bag and tie their food waste in a plastic-lined bag before placing it inside the green yard waste barrel. You can use standard plastic grocery or bread bags for this.
What do I do if my Burrtec barrel is damaged or missing?
If your black, blue, or green barrel is cracked, missing a lid, or completely lost, you can request a free barrel replacement by calling Burrtec Customer Service directly at (909) 949-0500.
Can I put Styrofoam in my blue recycling bin in Upland?
Yes, according to Burrtec's specific recycling guidelines for Upland, clean Styrofoam is accepted in the blue recycling barrel, along with cardboard, glass jars, and plastic containers #1-#7.
Where can I take my old paint and pool chemicals?
Upland residents can drop off household hazardous waste, including paint, pool chemicals, and used motor oil, at the Upland City Yard located at 1370 N. Benson Ave. It is open every Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., weather permitting.