Irvine, CA trash pickup schedule
Irvine trash and recycling: who collects, how often, how to find your pickup day, and what changes on holidays in 2026.
Population 318,764 (Census 2025 estimate)Last checked Not affiliated with any city, county or hauler.
Contents10 sections
Quick answer
| Who collects | A private hauler under city contract: WM (Waste Management of Orange County) Residential trash, recycling and organics collected by WM under the City's exclusive franchise; residents set up and pay service directly with WM. Most homes have three-cart service; some HOA communities have two-cart service (trash + recycling) with an organics option chosen by the HOA. Commercial: exclusive-village areas must use WM; other commercial areas choose from the City's non-exclusive approved hauler list.2812 |
|---|---|
| How often | Trash weekly, recycling weekly, yard waste weekly (organics cart: food scraps and yard waste)8 |
| Set out | trash cart by 6 a.m.; recycling and organics carts by 7 a.m. on collection day, wheels against the curb, at least 3 ft from cars, mailboxes and other obstacles; remove the same day8 |
| Your pickup day | Hauler’s address lookup: wm.com. App: My WM8 |
| Holiday | Thanksgiving Day, Thu, Nov 26, 2026: Delayed one day. Thursday: Thu-Fri service delayed one day that week8 |
Bulk items: On-call pickup: call or book online (details). Drop-off sites: 2 listed (hours and fees).
Irvine holiday trash schedule 2026
| City’s rule | WM (City's hauler) observes New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day; if your service day falls on or after one of these holidays, service is delayed one day for that week only.8 |
|---|---|
| Official notice | wm.com8 |
| Holiday | Date | Pickup | What the city says |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Thu, Jan 1, 2026 | Delayed one day | Thursday: Thu-Fri service delayed one day that week8 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Mon, Jan 19, 2026 | Not on the city’s list | Not on the city’s list for this year |
| Presidents' Day | Mon, Feb 16, 2026 | Not on the city’s list | Not on the city’s list for this year |
| Memorial Day | Mon, May 25, 2026 | Delayed one day | Monday: Mon-Fri service delayed one day that week8 |
| Juneteenth | Fri, Jun 19, 2026 | Not on the city’s list | Not on the city’s list for this year |
| Independence Day (Fourth of July) | Sat, Jul 4, 2026 | Changes; see details | Falls on Saturday; WM page gives no rule for weekend holidays8 |
| Labor Day | Mon, Sep 7, 2026 | Delayed one day | Monday: Mon-Fri service delayed one day that week8 |
| Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples' Day | Mon, Oct 12, 2026 | Not on the city’s list | Not on the city’s list for this year |
| Veterans Day | Wed, Nov 11, 2026 | Not on the city’s list | Not on the city’s list for this year |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thu, Nov 26, 2026 | Delayed one day | Thursday: Thu-Fri service delayed one day that week8 |
| Christmas Day | Fri, Dec 25, 2026 | Delayed one day | Friday: Friday service delayed one day (to Saturday) that week8 |
Check your own day for the next three holidays with the holiday delay checker, or download a pickup calendar.
Bulk trash pickup in Irvine
| How it works | On-call pickup: call or book online810 |
|---|---|
| How to request | Schedule before your regular collection day: in My WM ('Do More Online' > 'Bulk Pickup'), or call WM Customer Service (949-642-1191) at least 48 hours before your collection day (2025 guide)810 |
| Limits | 4 free collections per calendar year, up to 4 items each (16 items/year): large household items such as furniture, appliances and electronic waste; collected separately from cart service810 |
| Fees | Free 4x/year; additional bulky collection $28.02 (rates effective July 1, 2026)9 |
| Not accepted | Not published by the city (official page) |
Recycling in Irvine
| Pickup | weekly8 |
|---|---|
| Type | single-stream2 |
| Glass | accepted in cart2 |
| Plastics | plastic beverage containers and tubs; buckets and toys #1-#7; plastic to-go cups2 |
Accepted
- Clean metal: aluminum cans, empty aerosol cans, hangers, empty/dry paint cans, tin cans2
- Clean plastic: beverage containers and tubs, buckets (#1-#7), toys (#1-#7), plastic to-go cups2
- Paper (clean, dry): junk mail, envelopes, catalogs, flattened cardboard, file folders, mixed paper, newspapers, magazines, paperboard (cereal, tissue, shoe, egg cartons, beverage boxes), clean dry paper towels, clean pizza boxes, shredded paper in a clear bag, books (no hard covers), phone books, paper cups2
- Glass food jars and beverage bottles2
Programs
- Three free paper shredding events per year for Irvine residents (WM/City)10
Yard waste, food scraps and seasonal pickups
| Yard waste pickup | Yes3 |
|---|---|
| Season | Not published by the city (official page) |
| How often | weekly (organics cart: food scraps and yard waste)8 |
| Rules | Green-lid organics cart: untreated yard waste (leaves, grass, small branches, plants) plus food scraps; compostable bags allowed3 |
| Food scraps | Yes: food scraps in the organics cart (three-cart homes), loose or in compostable bags; WM kitchen pail provided3 |
| Christmas trees | WM collects real trees curbside on the regular collection day after Christmas, no extra cost; remove all decorations and stands. Sources conflict on details: WM's live Irvine page says the two weeks following Dec 25, trees over 6 ft cut in half, flocked trees not accepted (may also go in the green cart with lid closed); the City's undated notice says three weeks, trees over 4 ft cut in half, flocked trees collected but not recycled; WM's 2025 guide says three weeks, over 6 ft. No 2026-27 dates published. Drop-off also at Sunset Environmental, 16122 Construction Circle West (7 a.m.-2 p.m.).7810 |
| Leaf collection | Not published by the city (official page) |
Drop-off sites: landfill, recycling and hazardous waste
Irvine Regional Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center (OC Waste & Recycling)
| Type | Household hazardous waste |
|---|---|
| Run by | county (OC Waste & Recycling) |
| Address | 6411 Oak Canyon, Irvine, CA 92618 (adjacent to the City of Irvine O.S.F.) · Map4 |
| Hours | Tuesday-Saturday 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; closed on rainy days and holidays4 |
| Fees | free4 |
| Who can use it | Orange County residents only (City page: proof of OC residency required; County page: proof may be requested); max 15 gallons or 125 pounds per trip; no medications; no businesses4 |
| Phone | 714-834-4000 |
| Notes | Lease extended to December 31, 2027. Other OC centers: Anaheim (1071 N. Blue Gum St), Huntington Beach (17121 Nichols St), San Juan Capistrano (32250 La Pata Ave) |
Sunset Environmental (Christmas tree drop-off)
| Type | Compost / yard waste site |
|---|---|
| Run by | private (named by City) |
| Address | 16122 Construction Circle West, Irvine · Map7 |
| Hours | 7 a.m.-2 p.m.7 |
| Fees | Not published by the city (official page) |
Item guides: Mattress · Couch and furniture · Appliances · Paint · Batteries · Electronics · Tires · Motor oil · Christmas tree.
Missed pickup and contacts
| Missed pickup form | wm.com (My WM account: Report a Missed Pickup, within 3 days)8 |
|---|---|
| Phone | WM: 949-642-119118 |
| 311 | Not published by the city (official page) |
| Official website | cityofirvine.gov2 |
| City hotline | Irvine Recycle Hotline 949-724-7669; [email protected]13 |
Nearby cities
- Costa Mesa, CA8 miles · A private hauler under city contract
- Santa Ana, CA8 miles · A private hauler under city contract
- Orange, CA9 miles · A private hauler under city contract
- Anaheim, CA12 miles · A private hauler under city contract
- Garden Grove, CA13 miles · A private hauler under city contract
- Huntington Beach, CA13 miles · A private hauler under city contract
Other cities served by WM (formerly Waste Management)
- Fort Worth, TXWaste Management (WM)
- Seattle, WAWaste Management of Washington (northwest and south Seattle); Recology King County (northeast and central Seattle)
- Oklahoma City, OKWM (Waste Management)
- Detroit, MIWaste Management (west side north of I-94); Priority Waste (east side and southwest Detroit south of I-94)
- Portland, ORNine City-franchised private haulers, each with its own exclusive area: Arrow Sanitary, Portland Disposal & Recycling, Waste Management of Oregon, Heiberg Garbage Service, City Sanitary, Wacker Sanitary, Walker Garbage Service, Republic Services of Lake Oswego and Recology Clackamas (per the City hauler-area layer)
- Long Beach, CACity of Long Beach Energy and Environmental Services (trash and organics); Waste Management (recycling, under city contract)
- Oakland, CAWaste Management of Alameda County, Inc. (trash, compost, bulky); California Waste Solutions (recycling, household batteries, used motor oil)
- Stockton, CARepublic Services or WM (Waste Management) - two franchised haulers, each serving part of the city
- Reno, NVWaste Management (WM)
- Moreno Valley, CAWaste Management of the Inland Empire (WM)
- Little Rock, ARWM (curbside recycling only)
- Providence, RIWM (Waste Management)
- Fort Lauderdale, FLWM (Waste Management)
- Oceanside, CAWM (Waste Management of North County)
- Lancaster, CAWM (Waste Management)
- Palmdale, CAWM (Waste Management)
- Corona, CAWM (Waste Management / USA Waste of California) under a franchise agreement with the City of Corona
- Kansas City, KSWM (Waste Management of Kansas City, Inc.)
- Hayward, CAWaste Management of Alameda County (WM); curbside recycling by Tri-CED Community Recycling
- Joliet, ILWM (Waste Management)
- Simi Valley, CAWM (Waste Management)
- Lowell, MAWM (Waste Management)
- Menifee, CAWaste Management (WM) of the Inland Empire
- Rio Rancho, NMWM (Waste Management of New Mexico)
- Murrieta, CAWM (Waste Management)
- Everett, WARubatino Refuse Removal (UTC certificate G-58) or WM North Sound (Waste Management of Washington, UTC certificate G-237), depending on area
- Sparks, NVWM (Waste Management)
- Gresham, ORFive City-franchised haulers by area: Arrow Sanitary, Gresham Sanitary Service, Hoodview Disposal, Rockwood Solid Waste, Waste Management (WM)
- Hillsboro, ORSeveral City-franchised haulers by area, incl. Hillsboro Garbage Disposal, WM, Garbarino Disposal, Evergreen Disposal, Pride Disposal & Recycling (list from Metro's official address lookup and hauler pages)
- Spokane Valley, WAWM (formerly Waste Management)
- Chico, CAWaste Management (North Valley Waste Management)
- Federal Way, WAWM (Waste Management)
All California cities: California trash pickup schedules.
Irvine trash pickup FAQ
What day is trash picked up in Irvine?
Trash is collected weekly. Irvine does not use one citywide day: your day depends on your address. Look it up with the city’s hauler’s address lookup (wm.com) or the My WM app.
Is trash picked up on Thanksgiving Day 2026 in Irvine?
Thanksgiving Day falls on Thu, Nov 26, 2026. Delayed one day: Thursday: Thu-Fri service delayed one day that week
Is trash picked up on Christmas Day 2026 in Irvine?
Christmas Day falls on Fri, Dec 25, 2026. Delayed one day: Friday: Friday service delayed one day (to Saturday) that week
Is trash picked up on New Year's Day 2026 in Irvine?
New Year's Day falls on Thu, Jan 1, 2026. Delayed one day: Thursday: Thu-Fri service delayed one day that week
How do I get rid of bulky items in Irvine?
On-call pickup: call or book online. Schedule before your regular collection day: in My WM ('Do More Online' > 'Bulk Pickup'), or call WM Customer Service (949-642-1191) at least 48 hours before your collection day (2025 guide) Fees: Free 4x/year; additional bulky collection $28.02 (rates effective July 1, 2026).
Does Irvine recycle glass?
Glass: accepted in cart.
How do I report a missed trash pickup in Irvine?
Use the city’s online form (wm.com) or call WM: 949-642-1191.
Sources
- 1 Hauler Information (City of Irvine Sustainability Division)City · cityofirvine.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 2 Household Recycling (City of Irvine)City · cityofirvine.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 3 Three-Cart Waste Collection (City of Irvine)City · cityofirvine.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 4 Hazardous Waste Collection Centers (City of Irvine)City · cityofirvine.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 5 Household Hazardous Waste (City of Irvine)City · cityofirvine.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 6 Thanksgiving Holiday Closure (City of Irvine news, Nov 20, 2025)City · cityofirvine.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 7 Christmas Tree Recycling (City of Irvine news, undated)City · cityofirvine.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 8 Irvine, CA Trash Pickup (WM city page)Contracted hauler · wm.com · checked October 30, 2026
- 9 City of Irvine - WM of Orange County rates effective July 1, 2026 (PDF)City · cityofirvine.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 10 City of Irvine Residential Recycling and Refuse Service Guide 2025 (City/WM PDF)Contracted hauler · wm.com · checked October 30, 2026
- 11 Labor Day Holiday Closures (City of Irvine news, Sep 2, 2026)City · cityofirvine.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 12 Two-Cart Waste Collection (City of Irvine)City · cityofirvine.gov · checked October 30, 2026
- 13 Household Hazardous Waste (OC Waste & Recycling)County · oclandfills.com · checked October 30, 2026
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Second-pass verification against every source: October 30, 2026. Not affiliated with any city, county or hauler.