Food scrap pails, recycling details and hauler info
Orange County residents are required to sort organic waste, including specific food items, into their organics cart. Below are links to resources for organics recycling, composting tips, household hazardous waste, local waste haulers, recycling coordinators, food donation opportunities and more.
Food scrap pail tips
Food scrap pails serve as a resource for residents to successfully implement an organics recycling routine. When in doubt, contact your local waste hauler to determine whether an item can be placed in your organics bin!
Line or Bag it! Uncoated paper, such as newspaper or grocery store paper bags, serve as a great liner for food scrap containers. Lining your container will cut down on the amount of liquid residue left in your pail once emptied into your organics cart. Plastic bags are NOT compostable and should never be place in your food pail. *NOTE: Based on your haulers processing practices, compostable bags MAY NOT be acceptable to place in your organics cart.
Keep it Cool! Residents are encouraged to place food scrap pails in their refrigerator or freezer until collection day.
Create a routine! If space constraints prevent you from storing your pail in the refrigerator or freezer, place it in a convenient location near your trash can as a reminder to place food scraps in the pail.
The County of Orange provides waste and recycling hauler services to the below unincorporated areas. For details regarding your services, please contact the service provider below. All other Cities and Special Districts have separate services. Click HERE for a list of haulers.
Waste hauler contacts and service guides
| Waste Hauler | Unincorporated Services Area(s) | Guides |
| CR&R | Rossmoor, Orange Islands, El Modena, Rancho Mission Viejo, Sendero, Ortega Highway | Residential |
| Republic Services | Yorba Linda Islands, Placentia Islands, Buena Park Islands, Fountain Valley Islands, John Wayne Airport | Residential |
| Waste Management | Orange Park Acres, Modjeska Canyon, Silverado Canyon, Lemon Heights, North Tustin, Cowan Heights, Emerald Bay | Residential |
City residents and unincorporated residents can find phone numbers for their local waste hauler here.
Quick links for what goes where, waste haulers by city, recycling coordinators, Household Hazardous Waste Centers and more
