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Residential Waste Services
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Solid Waste Handling Services

Residential solid waste handling services are provided by CR&R Incorporated, under a franchise agreement with the City of Laguna Woods. For more information, please contact CR&R Incorporated at (949) 625-6735 or LagunaWoods-Recycles@CRRMail.com.

The City of Laguna Woods also contracts with WM Curbside, LLC (doing business as “At Your Door Special Collection”) for home-generated sharps waste and household hazardous waste disposal services.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I dispose of construction/demolition materials?
How can I dispose of motor oil or oil filters?

To locate a certified collection center for motor oil or oil filters, please call 1-800-CLEANUP (1-800-253-2687) or click here to visit the Earth911 website.

How can I dispose of personal medication?

California Senate Bill 212 (Jackson, Chapter 1004, Statutes of 2018) requires drug manufacturers and distributors to offer programs to dispose of unwanted personal medication.

Unwanted personal medication can be dropped off at the following location, free of charge:

CVS
24167 Paseo de Valencia
Laguna Woods, CA 92637
(949) 586-3503

Additional disposal locations are available at www.med-project.org.

How can I prevent food waste?

Reducing food waste is one of the easiest ways to save money and protect the environment. When food is wasted, so are the resources used to grow, transport, and dispose of it.

Why It Matters:

Save Money: Buy only what you need, use what you purchase, and waste less.

Protect Resources: Wasting food means wasting land, water, and energy used in production and delivery.

Reduce Greenhouse Gases: Food decomposing in landfills produces methane—a potent greenhouse gas. Preventing waste helps reduce emissions and pollution.

Simple Ways to Reduce Food Waste:

Plan & Shop Smart

  • Plan meals and make a shopping list before heading to the store.
  • Check your refrigerator and pantry first to avoid buying duplicates.
  • Be realistic about how much you will eat and avoid overbuying in bulk.

Cook & Eat Wisely

  • Repurpose aging produce in soups, smoothies, or casseroles.
  • Refrigerate leftovers promptly in clear, dated containers.

If You Can’t Prevent It

  • Donate edible, safe food to local food banks or shelters.
  • Recycle food scraps in a green-lid cart (“organic cart”).

Small actions at home add up to big impacts for your wallet and the planet.

What holidays are observed for waste collection?

Waste collection does not occur on the holidays listed below. When a holiday falls on a weekday, collections will be delayed by one day each for the remainder of the week. If a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there will be no delay in service and collection days will remain unchanged.

  • New Year’s Day
  • Memorial Day
  • Independence Day
  • Labor Day
  • Thanksgiving
  • Christmas Day
What items can and cannot be placed in recycling containers?
Where can beverage containers with a California Redemption Value be redeemed?

Beverage containers with a California Refund Value (“CRV”) can be redeemed at certified recycling centers or certain retailers with a legal obligation to do so. The CRV redemption program is administered by the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (“CalRecyle”).

Where can I drop off household hazardous waste and electronic waste?

The County of Orange operates four household hazardous waste centers, the closest of which is located at 6411 Oak Canyon, Irvine, CA 92618. Each household hazardous waste center allows Orange County residents to drop off household hazardous waste and electronic waste, free of charge. For more information, please visit OC Waste & Recycling’s website or call (714) 834-4000.

Mandatory Programs

Mandatory Multi-Family Residential Recycling

The commercial sector generates nearly three-quarters of California’s waste, much of which is recyclable. The State of California’s Mandatory Commercial Recycling Law (California Assembly Bill 341, Chesbro, Chapter 476, Statutes of 2011) requires businesses that generate four cubic yards or more of solid waste per week, and multi-family residential dwellings of five units or more, to arrange for recycling services.

To make arrangements for recycling services, please contact CR&R Incorporated at (949) 625-6735 or LagunaWoods-Recycles@CRRMail.com.

Mandatory Organic Waste Recycling

Click here for information on residential organics recycling.

Recyclable organic waste accounts for nearly half of the material Californians dispose of in landfills each year. The State of California’s Mandatory Organics Recycling Law (California Assembly Bill 1826, Chesbro, Chapter 727, Statutes of 2014) requires businesses to arrange for recycling services for the following types of organic waste: food waste, green waste, landscape and pruning waste, non-hazardous wood waste, and food-soiled paper. Multi-family residential dwellings must also arrange for recycling services for the same types of organic waste as businesses, with the exception of food waste and food-soiled paper.

To make arrangements for organic waste recycling services, please contact CR&R Incorporated at (949) 625-6735 or LagunaWoods-Recycles@CRRMail.com.

Special Residential Waste Services

Home-Generated Sharps Waste Disposal

Did you know? State law makes it illegal to dispose of home-generated sharps waste in trash or recycling containers. Improperly disposed of sharps waste can also pollute the environment and harm those who sort and handle trash.

Laguna Woods residents are able to drop-off needles, lancets, and other home-generated sharps waste at City Hall during regular business hours. There is no charge for doing so. For everyone’s safety, residents must place sharps waste in a rigid and needle puncture-resistant container (e.g., laundry detergent bottles, soda bottles, or medical sharps containers) before leaving home. Loose materials cannot be accepted. For more information, please call City Hall at (949) 639-0500.

“Home-generated sharps waste” includes needles, lancets, and syringes used to deliver insulin or subcutaneous (“subQ”) fluids to your pets.

Household Battery Disposal

Laguna Woods residents are able to drop-off batteries used at home at City Hall during regular business hours. There is no charge for doing so. For more information, please call City Hall at (949) 639-0500.

Please note that the City of Laguna Woods is unable to accept vehicle batteries.

Household Hazardous Waste Collection

Laguna Woods residents are able to schedule door-to-door collections of household hazardous waste on an as-needed basis. There is no charge for doing so. WM Curbside, the City of Laguna Woods’ contract service provider, will collect materials that residents assemble from outside of their homes. To make arrangements for household hazardous waste collection, please call WM Curbside at (800) 449-7587

Residential Bulky Item Collection

Free bulky item collection is offered to Laguna Woods Village, San Sebastian, and Whispering
Fountains residents on a weekly basis. Residents are encouraged to dispose of their unwanted bulky
items using this service, as placing bulky items in waste containers can cause those containers to be
uncollectable and potentially result in fines and other costs.