5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 9 cities in Orange County, California.
Verified from official government sources
In unincorporated Orange County, OC Waste & Recycling franchises specific haulers by community: Waste Management, CR&R, Republic Services, and Midway City Sanitary District serve different areas. Residential trash and recycling collection is provided once each week, and there is no collection on six legal holidays (with service delayed one day after a weekday holiday).
California SB 1383 (Lara, 2016) — Short-lived climate pollutants: methane emissions: dairy and livestock: organic waste: landfills
SB 1383, Lara. Short-lived climate pollutants: methane emissions: dairy and livestock: organic waste: landfills. (1) The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 designates the State Air Resources Board as the state agency charged with monitoring and regulating sources of emissions of greenhouse gases. The state board is required to approve a statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit equi...
In unincorporated Orange County, residents place their three wheeled carts (trash, recycling, organics) at the curb for once-weekly automated collection following hauler set-out instructions. Carts must not be overfilled and lids must close. OC Code Enforcement lists trash cans left at curbside outside collection times as a common code violation under Title 4, Sec. 4-3-45.
Unincorporated Orange County residents receive free bulky-item collection from their franchised hauler. Per the County of Orange Unincorporated WM Service Guide, residents get three free bulky-item collections per calendar year, up to four items each time. Christmas trees are collected free for three weeks after December 25, and free household hazardous waste drop-off is at four County centers.
Unincorporated Orange County uses a three-cart system; recyclables go in the recycling (blue-lid) cart and must be loose, clean, and dry. Accepted items include paper, cardboard, glass bottles/jars, metal/aluminum cans, and plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs. Bagged recyclables and plastic film are contamination and are prohibited. Recycling and organics diversion are reinforced by California SB 1383.
Mandatory organics recycling in unincorporated Orange County is driven by California SB 1383, not a unique county rule. Effective January 1, 2022, all residences and businesses must separate organic waste (food scraps and yard waste) into the organics cart. The County adopted Ordinance No. 21-011 to implement SB 1383, with enforcement beginning January 1, 2024. Residents cannot opt out.
9 cities in Orange County have their own trash & recycling rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
4 verified rules • Bin Placement Rules, Bulk Item Disposal
4 verified rules • Bin Placement Rules, Bulk Item Disposal
4 verified rules • Bin Placement Rules, Bulk Item Disposal
4 verified rules • Bin Placement Rules, Bulk Item Disposal
4 verified rules • Bin Placement Rules, Bulk Item Disposal
4 verified rules • Bin Placement Rules, Bulk Item Disposal
4 verified rules • Bin Placement Rules, Bulk Item Disposal
4 verified rules • Bin Placement Rules, Bulk Item Disposal
4 verified rules • Bin Placement Rules, Bulk Item Disposal
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