Lake Forest New Solid Waste Agreement FAQs

When will the new agreement begin?

The new agreement will begin on July 1, 2025. 

Why does the City of Lake Forest have a new agreement?

The current agreement will expire on June 30, 2025. The City of Lake Forest conducted a bidding process, and CR&R was awarded the new agreement in June 2024. 

How can I find more information about the new solid waste agreement?

If you would like to learn more about the new services being offered to residents and business owners, please visit the City’s webpage at lakeforestca.gov/en/trashandrecycling.   

What are the new service rates?

The new solid waste rates are available on the City’s Trash and Recycling webpage. The solid waste rates will take effect on July 1, 2025.  

Where are my landfill, recycling, and organic materials going after CR&R collects them?

Landfill materials are taken directly to an approved landfill disposal site in Orange County.  

Recyclable materials are taken to CR&R’s MRF (Materials Recovery Facility) in Stanton. The materials are separated into commodities, packaged, and recycled.   

Organics materials are taken to CRT, one of CR&R’s transfer stations. There, the materials are pre-processed and loaded into transfer trucks. The materials are taken to Yuma, AZ for composting.    

How do I report service issues?

Call CR&R’s Lake Forest’s dedicated Customer Service line at (949) 520-6005. 

Residential 

What carts are residential customers required to have? 

All properties are required to have all three waste streams: landfill, recycling and organics. 

Why am I receiving new carts if CR&R is the existing solid waste and recycling contractor? 

Senate Bill 1383 requires specific container colors for waste services: black carts with black lids for landfill, blue carts with blue lids for recycling, and green carts with green lids for organics. This color-coding aims to simplify sorting and improve recycling and composting efforts. 

When will I receive my carts?

Residents will receive their new carts between April 14 to September 30, 2025. Visit the City's Trash and Recycling page for the Cart Exchange Search Tool. Residents will receive an automated phone call the Friday before their schedule exchange date.

What will happen to my old carts?

CR&R will CR&R will pick recycle and repurpose your old carts.

What is included in my service?

 

A: Residential service includes the following: 

Once a week collection for landfill, recyclable, and organic waste.  

 

Residents are entitled to three complimentary bulky item pickups per calendar year, with a 10-item maximum per pickup. Additional pickups can be requested for a fee.  

 

Residents are entitled to two complimentary Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) pickups per calendar year. Additional pickups can be requested for a fee. 

Residents are entitled to one collection from each Residence per year of reusable donated items that are in good condition.  

If a resident is disabled, they are entitled to complimentary backyard wheel-out service with proof of a DMV handicapped placard, or a written notice from a medical doctor.  

Residents can participate in CR&R events, such as the Annual Bulky Item Drop-off day, Household Hazardous Waste Annual Drop-off Event, and Annual compost giveaway events. Additional information about future events will be announced later. 

When will I receive a new kitchen pail?

Residents will receive only one new kitchen pail from CR&R free of charge starting July 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025. Additional kitchen pails can be requested for a fee. 

What are the details regarding CR&R's Bulky Item Pickup Program?

 

Residents are entitled to three complimentary bulky item pickups per calendar year, with a 10-item max per pickup. Additional pickups can be requested for a fee.  

Does CR&R offer a sharps disposal program?

Yes, CR&R offers a complimentary sharp pickup and mail back program.

Where do residents dispose of Household Hazardous Waste (HHW), Electronic Wate (E-Waste), or Universal Waste (U-Waste)?

It is prohibited to dispose of HHW, E-Waste, or U-Waste in your residential carts. Residents are entitled to three complimentary HHW pickups per calendar year. Additional pickups can be requested for a fee. 

How do I change my service levels?

Call CR&R’s Lake Forest’s dedicated Customer Service line at (949) 520-6005. 

Commercial

What carts and bins are my business required to have?

Each business is required to have all three waste streams: landfill, recycling, and organics. Businesses can apply for SB 1383 waivers to opt out of organics. Approval of the waiver is at the sole discretion of the City. If a business's landscaping waste is hauled off-site to be recycled AND a buisness does not have food waste, they may not be required to have an organics container.

Why am I receiving new carts and bins if CR&R is the existing solid waste and recycling contractor?

Senate Bill 1383 requires specific container colors for waste services: black carts with black lids for landfill, blue carts with blue lids for recycling, and green carts with green lids for organics. This color-coding aims to simplify sorting and improve recycling and composting efforts.

When will I receive my new bins and carts?

Commercial properties will receive their new carts and/or bins beginning in April 2025, and they will be distributed until June 2025. Please continue to use your existing CR&R containers until new CR&R containers have been provided. 

What will happen to my old containers?

CR&R will pick recycle and repurpose your old containers.

What is included in my service?

Commercial service includes the following: 

Agreed upon collection frequency for landfill, recyclable, and organic waste.  

Scout/ Stinger service is also available for an additional fee.  

Bin/Cart wheel-out service for distances between 0’ and 25’. If the distance is greater than 25’, and less than 75’, property owners can elect to wheel-out service for an additional fee.  

What do commercial businesses dispose of Hazardhous Waste, Sharps, Electronic Waste (E-waste), or Universal Waste (U-Waste)?

Businesses should dispose of E-Waste, Sharps, and U-Waste utilizing a third-party source. it is prohibited to dispose of Hazardous Waste in CR&R carts or bins. For a partial list of disposal companies, please visit Business Hazardous Waste | OC Waste & Recycling.

Does CR&R collect on Sundays?

Yes. CR&R can service on Sundays for an additional fee. 

How do I change my service levels?

Call CR&R's Lake Forest's dedicated Customer Service line at (949) 520-6005.

Multi-family

What carts and/or bins are my property required to have?

Each multi-family property is required to have all three waste streams: landfill, recycling, and organics at each trash enclosure.

Why am I receiving new carts and bins if CR&R is the existing solid waste and recycling contractor?

Multi-family properties will receive their new carts and/or bins beginning in April 2025, and they will be distributed until June 2025. Please continue to use your existing CR&R containers until new CR&R containers have been provided.   

What will I receive my new bins and carts?

Multi-family properties will receive their new carts and/or bins beginning in April, and they will be distributed over the next few months. Please continue to use your existing CR&R containers until new CR&R containers have been provided.   

What will happen to my old containers?

CR&R will recycle and repurpose your old containers.

What is included in my service?

Multi-family service includes the following: 

Agreed upon collection frequency for landfill, recyclable, and organic waste.  

Property owners can scheduled bulky item pickups based on the number of enclosures up to 10 bulky items per collection. Additional pickups can be requested for a fee (i.e. If a multi-family has three enclosures located on the multi-family premise, it shall receive up to 30 Bulky Item Collections per calendar year up to 10 Bulky Items per collection at no charge).  

Bin/Cart wheel-out service for distances between 0’ and 25’. If the distance is greater than 25’, and less than 75’, property owners can elect to wheel-out service for an additional fee.  

Scout/ Stinger service is also available for an additional fee.  

Multi-family tenants can participate in CR&R events, such as the Annual Bulky Item Drop-off day, Household Hazardous Waste Annual Drop-off Event, and Annual compost giveaway events. 

What are the details regarding CR&R's Bulky Item Pickup Program?

Multi-family properties can schedule bulky item pickups based on the number of enclosures up to 10 bulky items per collection. For example, if a multi-family property has three (3) enclosures located on-site, multi-family property can receive up to 30 (thirty) Bulky Item Pickups per calendar year of up to ten (10) Bulky Items per pickup at no charge. Additional pickups can be requested for a fee.  

Where do multi-family residents/tenants dispose of Household Hazardous Waste (HHW), Sharps, Electronic Waste (E-waste), or Universal Waste (U-Waste)?

Multi-family residents/tenants can dispose of these items at a local Hazardous Waste Disposal facility. For additional information, please visit oclandfills.com/hazardous-waste.