Yes, cooked meat and bones can be composted. You can put these items in your compost bin or food waste bin.

No. Clear, plastic bags are preferred for lining your food waste kitchen pail. Reuse your produce bags from the grocery store!

Compostable bags are not required. Once received at the composting facility, Burrtec will open and remove all food waste bags. Food waste contents will then be processed for composting.

Bagging your food waste will help reduce odors in your kitchen and outside green bin. They will not be processed at the compost facility.

Composting is a great way to reduce organic waste! The Riverside County Department of Waste Resources offers FREE educational classes on backyard composting and vermicomposting (with worms). These classes are available in person and online.

Please visit their website at https://www.rcwaste.org/classes for a list of classes and videos. Their composting video can be accessed at https://youtu.be/-_VrnDLtmWU.

Clear, plastic bags are preferred for placing your food waste into. The clear bag allows technicians to see the contents and prevent contamination. A machine at the compost facility will separate the bag from the food waste prior to processing for compost.

Burrtec has already restructured their trash and recycling routes for the collection of food waste in the green bins. This program started November 1, 2022 for all households not in gated communities. There will be additional collection trucks on your pick-up day or you may even see a truck with a split body that can collect different bins. Gated communities will begin this program in Fall of 2023.

Yes. Residential organic waste collection started November 1, 2022 for all those who already have a green bin. You may put food waste and soiled paper in your green bins at that time.

Residents in gated communities may not have a green bin yet but your collection program will start in Fall of 2023.

Yes, compost and mulch made from recycled organic waste is available at Burrtec's Coachella Valley Composting Facility. It is located at 87011 Landfill Rd in Coachella.

Products made from California recovered organic waste that was diverted from landfills and processed in an authorized facility. Examples of recovered organic waste products are compost, mulch, renewable energy from anaerobic digestion, and electricity from biomass conversion.

SB 1383 mandates standardized waste and recycling container colors across California. Residents from San Jose to San Diego will be able to instantly recognize waste container colors and deposit the correct waste and recycling material.

The colors will be Gray for landfill waste, Blue for recycling, and Green for all organic waste. Burrtec will replace and issue new containers with the new standardized colors as older containers reach the end of their useful life. This will occur gradually and as determined by Burrtec. They have until January 2036 to completely switch out all waste and recycling containers.

If any of your bins become damaged (broken wheel, no lid, cracks, etc.) or lost, please call Burrtec for a replacement as soon as possible. Burrtec will issue you the new colored bins with proper labeling.

• Food waste such as food scraps during food prep, uneaten food after the meal, fruit, veggies, bones, eggshells, coffee grounds, etc.

• Green waste such as leaves, grass, and landscape trimmings

• Soiled paper such as paper towels, paper plates, paper cups, pizza boxes, tissues, and napkins

• Untreated wood that is not painted or sealed with chemicals

• Organic textiles

The replacement bins or new bins will match the sizes you currently have.

Residents must contact Burrtec at (760) 340-2113 to request a food waste kitchen pail. Burrtec is not automatically issuing the pail because some residents will not use or don't want to use this kitchen pail. Once requested, Burrtec will deliver the pail with one week.

Yes. Burrtec has already reached out to all gated community HOAs to discuss fee updates.

Yes, Burrtec will reach out to all gated community HOAs prior to service start date to discuss.

You can still use your garbage disposal. The eventual goal is to reduce food waste during food prep and at meals.

• Make a shopping list (and use it) to reduce excess food purchases

• Try to put food on your plate you know you will finish

• When eating out, only order what you can finish or take the leftovers home and eat them

Reducing the food we purchase, prepare, and order will help reduce the food waste afterwards.

Yes. Shredded paper can go in your recycling bin. Please keep the shred material in a closed bag so it doesn't make a mess inside and outside the bin.

No. Soft plastics like grocery bags, dry cleaner film, and ziploc bags are not accepted for recycling in your curbside barrel. You can return grocery bags to the store or reuse as a trash liner in your home/car. You can return dry cleaner film to your dry cleaner. Reusable grocery or shopping bags are a great alternative to plastic.

Yes. Milk paper cartons and plastic jugs are recyclable. Please empty, clean, and dry prior to placing in the recycling bin.

Click here to view the current recycling rates from Burrtec, effective July 1, 2023.

SB 1383 mandates standardized waste and recycling container colors across California. Residents from San Jose to San Diego will be able to instantly recognize waste container colors and deposit the correct waste and recycling material.

The colors will be Gray for landfill waste, Blue for recycling, and Green for all organic waste. Burrtec will replace and issue new containers with the new standardized colors as older containers reach the end of their useful life. This will occur gradually and as determined by Burrtec. They have until January 2036 to completely switch out all waste and recycling containers.

If any of your bins become damaged (broken wheel, no lid, cracks, etc.) or lost, please call Burrtec for a replacement as soon as possible. Burrtec will issue you the new colored bins with proper labeling.

Click the link for the Burrtec Map of pick-up days in your area.

Examples of acceptable items for recycling in La Quinta are:

• Office/School paper

• Newspapers

• Envelopes and junk mail

• Magazines and books

• Cereal boxes

• Cardboard (clean and flattened, no greasy pizza boxes)

• Milk paper cartons (clean and dry)

• Aluminum, steel, and tin cans

• Glass bottles and jars

• Plastic bottles, jugs, and containers numbered 1-7 (look for recycle symbol)

Please contact Burrtec at (760) 340-2113 for specific items not listed above. Click here for a pamphlet of Burrtec services.

The replacement bins or new bins will match the sizes you currently have.

The next HHW collection event will take place in the City Hall South Parking Lot on Saturday, December 16, 2023. The event will be open from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

2023 HHW Event Brochure (English)  /  2023 HHW Event Brochure (Español)

The next Shred event will take place in the City Hall North Parking Lot on Saturday, November 4, 2023. The event will be open from 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM.

Both of these waste collection events are FREE!

  Residents can take used tires to the Coachella Valley Transfer Station.

  87011 Landfill Rd, Coachella, CA 92236

  Monday - Friday: 8 AM to 5 PM / Saturdays: 8 AM to 12 PM

Please contact Burrtec customer service at (760) 340-2113 for assistance with your used medical sharps. You can always take your medical sharps to the Palm Springs HHW Collection Facility (1100 Vella Rd, Palm Springs) every non-holiday Saturday, between 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM.

Additionally, the City hosts HHW collection events twice a year in the City Hall South Parking Lot. The next HHW collection event is Saturday, December 16, 2023.

Used batteries must be taken to a HHW facility to properly dispose of. Residents can take to the Coachella Valley Transfer Station (87011 Landfill Rd, Coachella, CA) or the Palm Springs HHW Collection Facility (1100 Vella Rd, Palm Springs CA).

**NEW: Burrtec is now collecting Household Hazardous Waste items directly from residential households. These HHW items include batteries. Place used batteries in a clear Ziploc-style bag  and tape both terminal end. Scotch, masking, or electrical tape are fine. Call Burrtec at (760) 340-2113 or email CustomerService@burrtecdesert.com to schedule a battery pick-up.

Visit the City's HHW webpage for more details on acceptable items for pick-up.

Yes, cooked meat and bones can be composted. You can put these items in your compost bin or food waste bin.

No. Clear, plastic bags are preferred for lining your food waste kitchen pail. Reuse your produce bags from the grocery store!

Compostable bags are not required. Once received at the composting facility, Burrtec will open and remove all food waste bags. Food waste contents will then be processed for composting.

Bagging your food waste will help reduce odors in your kitchen and outside green bin. They will not be processed at the compost facility.

Clear, plastic bags are preferred for placing your food waste into. The clear bag allows technicians to see the contents and prevent contamination. A machine at the compost facility will separate the bag from the food waste prior to processing for compost.

Education is our number one priority! From January 2022 - December 2023, residents found not in compliance with SB 1383 will be given educational materials and outreach to assist with achieving compliance. Notices of violation and monetary penalties may be issued starting in 2024.

Burrtec has already restructured their trash and recycling routes for the collection of food waste in the green bins. This program started November 1, 2022 for all households not in gated communities. There will be additional collection trucks on your pick-up day or you may even see a truck with a split body that can collect different bins. Gated communities will begin this program in Fall of 2023.

Yes. Residential organic waste collection started November 1, 2022 for all those who already have a green bin. You may put food waste and soiled paper in your green bins at that time.

Residents in gated communities may not have a green bin yet but your collection program will start in Fall of 2023.

Yes, compost and mulch made from recycled organic waste is available at Burrtec's Coachella Valley Composting Facility. It is located at 87011 Landfill Rd in Coachella.

SB 1383 mandates standardized waste and recycling container colors across California. Residents from San Jose to San Diego will be able to instantly recognize waste container colors and deposit the correct waste and recycling material.

The colors will be Gray for landfill waste, Blue for recycling, and Green for all organic waste. Burrtec will replace and issue new containers with the new standardized colors as older containers reach the end of their useful life. This will occur gradually and as determined by Burrtec. They have until January 2036 to completely switch out all waste and recycling containers.

If any of your bins become damaged (broken wheel, no lid, cracks, etc.) or lost, please call Burrtec for a replacement as soon as possible. Burrtec will issue you the new colored bins with proper labeling.

Tier 1 Edible Food Generators must arrange to recover the maximum amount of edible food that would otherwise be disposed by January 1, 2022. They must contract, or enter a written agreement, with a Food Recovery Organization or Food Recovery Service for the collection of all unspoiled edible food.

• Grocery stores and supermarkets equal to or greater than 10,000 square feet
• Food service providers
• Food distributors
• Wholesale food vendors

Tier 2 Edible Food Generators must arrange to recover the maximum amount of edible food that would otherwise be disposed by January 1, 2024. They must contract, or enter a written agreement, with a Food Recovery Organization or Food Recovery Service for the collection of all unspoiled edible food.

• Restaurants with 250 or more seats, or equal to or greater than 5,000 square feet
• Hotel with on-site food facility and 200 or more rooms
• Health facility with on-site food facility and 100 or more beds
• Large venue (permanent facility that serves 2,000 or more people per day such as sports stadium, arena, zoo, amusement park, conference center, airport, performing arts theater, etc.)
• Large event (an event that charges admission and serves 2,000 or more people per day such as sporting event, music festival, flea market, golf tournament, etc.)
• State agency with a cafeteria with 250 or more seats
• Local education agency with on-site food facility

In September 2016, the State Legislature set Short-lived Climate Pollutants reduction targets for California in Senate Bill 1383 (SB 1383), as a statewide effort to reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses (such as methane, a byproduct of organic waste) in an effort to combat climate change.

SB 1383 establishes statewide targets to reduce the amount of organic waste disposal in landfills by 75% by 2025. It also sets a goal to recover at least 20% of edible food by 2025 that is normally thrown away.

From 2016-2020, CalRecycle worked to develop regulations to achieve the goals of SB 1383. These new regulations were finalized in November 2020 and took effect in January 2022.

The City and Burrtec will conduct inspections, remote monitoring, and compliance reviews from January 2022 through December 2023. Those found not in compliance with SB 1383 regulations will be provided educational materials to assist with compliance. Beginning January 2024, the City may enforce non-compliance by issuing violations with monetary penalties.

SB 1383 mandates standardized waste and recycling container colors. The colors will be Gray for landfill waste, Blue for recycling, and Green for all organic waste.

Burrtec will replace and issue new containers with the new standardized colors as older containers reach the end of their useful life. This will occur gradually and as determined by Burrtec. They have until January 2036 to completely switch out all waste and recycling containers.

If your burgundy/dark red bin is damaged such as a broken wheel, no lid, cracked barrel, etc., please call Burrtec. They will relabel your existing Gray bin for trash and issue you the new Blue bin with proper labeling for recycling.

Residents must contact Burrtec at (760) 340-2113 to request a food waste kitchen pail. Burrtec is not automatically issuing the pail because some residents will not use or don't want to use this kitchen pail. Once requested, Burrtec will deliver the pail with one week.

Visit our SB 1383 section on the City website here.

View our recent SB 1383 Community Webinar, held on July 13, 2022!

Webinar Presentation Slides

Webinar Video

View our recent SB 1383 in-person workshop, held on October 22, 2022!

Workshop Presentation Slides

Visit CalRecycle's website here.

The State has committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve human health, and create clean jobs that support resilient local economies. Implementing the statewide plan under SB 1383 will reduce short-lived, harmful, super pollutants with significant climate warming impacts, and is essential to achieving California’s climate goals.

Organic waste in landfills emit 20% of the state’s methane, a super pollutant 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Organic waste such as food scraps, yard trimmings, and soiled paper and cardboard make up one-third of what Californians send to landfills.

Yes. Burrtec has already reached out to all gated community HOAs to discuss fee updates.

Yes, Burrtec will reach out to all gated community HOAs prior to service start date to discuss.

Burrtec provides pick-up and haul away services for bulky items. Items that are too large to fit in your trash barrel are considered bulky items. This includes furniture, mattresses, appliances, and more. Bulky item pick-up is FREE to residents for up to four (4) items each week. Please contact Burrtec customer service at (760) 340-2113 to schedule a bulky item pick-up or click here to request online.

If items are in good condition, residents should consider donating them to a local charity or thrift store for reuse. Many organizations will pick-up free of charge.

Click here to view the current trash rates from Burrtec, effective July 1, 2023.

SB 1383 mandates standardized waste and recycling container colors across California. Residents from San Jose to San Diego will be able to instantly recognize waste container colors and deposit the correct waste and recycling material.

The colors will be Gray for landfill waste, Blue for recycling, and Green for all organic waste. Burrtec will replace and issue new containers with the new standardized colors as older containers reach the end of their useful life. This will occur gradually and as determined by Burrtec. They have until January 2036 to completely switch out all waste and recycling containers.

If any of your bins become damaged (broken wheel, no lid, cracks, etc.) or lost, please call Burrtec for a replacement as soon as possible. Burrtec will issue you the new colored bins with proper labeling.

Click the link for the Burrtec Map of pick-up days in your area.

The replacement bins or new bins will match the sizes you currently have.

SB 1383 mandates standardized waste and recycling container colors. The colors will be Gray for landfill waste, Blue for recycling, and Green for all organic waste.

Burrtec will replace and issue new containers with the new standardized colors as older containers reach the end of their useful life. This will occur gradually and as determined by Burrtec. They have until January 2036 to completely switch out all waste and recycling containers.

If your burgundy/dark red bin is damaged such as a broken wheel, no lid, cracked barrel, etc., please call Burrtec. They will relabel your existing Gray bin for trash and issue you the new Blue bin with proper labeling for recycling.

The next HHW collection event will take place in the City Hall South Parking Lot on Saturday, December 16, 2023. The event will be open from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

2023 HHW Event Brochure (English)  /  2023 HHW Event Brochure (Español)

The next Shred event will take place in the City Hall North Parking Lot on Saturday, November 4, 2023. The event will be open from 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM.

Both of these waste collection events are FREE!

  Residents can take used tires to the Coachella Valley Transfer Station.

  87011 Landfill Rd, Coachella, CA 92236

  Monday - Friday: 8 AM to 5 PM / Saturdays: 8 AM to 12 PM

Please contact Burrtec customer service at (760) 340-2113 for assistance with your used medical sharps. You can always take your medical sharps to the Palm Springs HHW Collection Facility (1100 Vella Rd, Palm Springs) every non-holiday Saturday, between 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM.

Additionally, the City hosts HHW collection events twice a year in the City Hall South Parking Lot. The next HHW collection event is Saturday, December 16, 2023.

Used batteries must be taken to a HHW facility to properly dispose of. Residents can take to the Coachella Valley Transfer Station (87011 Landfill Rd, Coachella, CA) or the Palm Springs HHW Collection Facility (1100 Vella Rd, Palm Springs CA).

**NEW: Burrtec is now collecting Household Hazardous Waste items directly from residential households. These HHW items include batteries. Place used batteries in a clear Ziploc-style bag  and tape both terminal end. Scotch, masking, or electrical tape are fine. Call Burrtec at (760) 340-2113 or email CustomerService@burrtecdesert.com to schedule a battery pick-up.

Visit the City's HHW webpage for more details on acceptable items for pick-up.