Lake Forest, CA Trash & Recycling: Pickup Rules & Schedules (2026)

Lake Forest is an incorporated Orange County city that contracts collection to a single franchised hauler, CR&R, Incorporated, which uses natural-gas collection vehicles. Residential customers receive once-a-week collection for each of three streams — landfill trash, recyclables, and organics — picked up on the same regular collection day. The City states that all properties are required to have all three waste streams (landfill, recycling, and organics). Commercial and multi-family customers receive service at an agreed-upon frequency. Carts must be at the curb no later than 6:30 a.m. on the collection day. New solid waste rates took effect July 1, 2025. Collection-related noise from solid waste activities is limited by the City's noise ordinance to between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturdays where audible in residential areas, or as otherwise allowed in the franchise agreement. Because the City franchises a single hauler, residents cannot choose a different trash company; service questions, missed-pickup reports, and cart issues go to CR&R customer service (the City's FAQ lists (949) 520-6005; CR&R also publishes (949) 625-6735 and (800) 826-9677), while the City's Public Works Department is at (949) 461-3400.