What Goes in Which Bin?

Orange County is serviced by several different waste haulers across all cities and unincorporated areas. That means each hauler can differ in terms of recycling do's and don'ts, as well as the varying colors of bins provided for residential green waste, recyclables and trash. Confusion can be the leading cause of contamination. The good news is, County haulers are a valuable resource for tips and information.

The first step is knowing who services your neighborhood. For a list of Orange County haulers, visit our contact page here. Next, contact your hauler or visit the website to find out detailed information about your program. If your curbside bins don't have labels, ask your hauler or consider getting some online here.

In general, following are the most common items for each of your curbside bins.

Green Waste:
Yard waste such as:

  • Grass clippings
  • Leaves
  • Twigs
  • Small branches
  • weeds


Recyclables:
Non-soiled, dry items such as:

  • Paper
  • Plastic
  • Cardboard
  • Aluminum and metal cans
  • Glass


Trash:
Any soiled, broken, or unusable or items that can't be repurposed:

  • Bathroom waste
  • Rags and sponges
  • Mirrors
  • Cigarette butts
  • Broken glass/dishes
  • Food scraps (that cannot be composted)

For tips and additional information on recycling opportunities in your community, visit Earth911.