Public Works
Recycling

City Refuse and Recycling Hotline: (949) 497-0323
Waste Management of Orange Co.: (949) 642-1191

Residential Recycling Program

The residential waste stream accounts for about one-third of the City's total generated waste.  Residential recycling was introduced in 1989 using a source-separated milk crate type system.  The three-cart residential program has been in operation since April 1999.  The results have been consistently impressive. Following is a summary of the materials diverted from the residential collection program for the past several years:

In 1998, 2,975 tons of recycled materials were collected.  In 2001, 9,315 tons were collected from the residential recycling program, representing a 213% increase over three years.  The diverted total for 2001 is comprised of 55 percent mixed recyclables and 45 percent green waste.  It should be noted that while residents recycled 984 more tons in 2001 compared to 2000, the overall amount of waste generated by this category also increased by 1,549 tons in this period.

Residential Three Cart Collection System

Your waste carts have been specially designed to accommodate your refuse and recyclable collection needs. The gray-lidded cart is for your recyclables, the green-lidded cart is for your green waste, and the blue-lidded cart is for trash - household waste that cannot be recycled.

Recycling Cart (gray lid)

The gray lidded cart is part of the City's recycling program expanded in 1999.  In addition to glass, paper, aluminum, metals and plastic containers, you can now recycle all paper materials in the same container - junk mail, cereal boxes, cardboard, magazines - just about anything that tears!

• Place all recyclable materials in the recycling cart. Do not place liquid or food waste in this cart.
• Refer to the "Reference Card" and the cart lid for a listing of acceptable materials.
• If you are not sure, dispose of it in the trash cart.
• Recycling preserves our environment and valuable resources. Please recycle!

Green Waste Cart (green lid)

The green lidded cart is a relatively new addition to the City's recycling program. Green waste includes all yard trimmings, grass, tree branches, sawdust, green plants, weeds etc, - basically, all organic materials generated from your yard work.

• Place only yard trimmings in the green waste cart.
• Do not place green waste in plastic bags.
• Ice plant and palm branches cannot be placed in the green waste cart.
• Animal and food waste cannot be placed in the green waste cart.
• You can leave your cut grass on the lawn. It's a good source of nitrogen and acts as a fertilizer!

Trash Cart (blue lid)

The blue lidded cart is for your household refuse.  When in doubt, throw it out with the trash. This will minimize contamination.

Recycling Reference Card

Recycling Do's
- Paper - Newspaper, Magazines Mixed Paper, Telephone Books, White Paper, Cereal Boxes, Cardboard, Detergent Boxes, Junk Mail, Tissue Boxes
- Containers - Plastic Bottles, Tin Cans, Glass Jars, Food Cans, Liquor Bottles, Juice Cans, Soda Bottles, Empty Aerosol Cans, Juice Bottles, Aluminum Cans, Pie Tins, Aluminum Foil, Plastic Milk Containers, Steel Cans
Recycling Don'ts
Waxed Paper, Paint Cans, Milk Cartons, Oil Cans Pet-soiled Paper, Auto Glass, Ceramics, Mirrors, Disposable Diapers, Plastic Bags, Plastic Toys, Window Glass, Pyrex Glass, Light Bulbs, Fluorescent Light Tubes, Plastic Buckets, Styrofoam, Rubber Products

Green Waste Do's
Grass, Tree Limbs, Leaves, Wood Chips, Green Plants, Sawdust, Weeds, Small Wood Scraps, Garden Trimmings
Green Waste Don'ts
Plastic Bags, Tree Stumps, Pet Waste, Painted or Treated Wood, Palm Branches, Soil/Rocks, Ice Plant Animal or food waste cannot be placed in the green waste cart. Place it in plastic bag and then discard it in the trash cart.

Commercial Recycling Program

About 30 percent of Laguna Beach's solid wastes come from the commercial sector.  Waste reduction and recycling are important components to the City's waste management plan.  The Laguna Beach Commercial Recycling Program allows "commingled" collection, that is all acceptable materials can be placed in the same container.  This means businesses do not need  to invest time or space separating recyclables to help cut down on the amount of waste we sent to our overburdened landfills.

Recycling services are offered to any Laguna Beach business with a commercial trash account.  Recycling containers can be emptied up to three times each week and it's free.  To begin commercial recycling, call Waste Management of Orange County at (949) 642-1191.  Your customers will appreciate it.  Recycling sends a positive message that your company cares about the environment and it saves money too.