Organic Waste

Organic waste includes the following material: green waste (landscape and pruning waste), food waste (including fats, oils, grease, and food-soiled paper waste that is mixed in with food waste), and nonhazardous wood waste.

Green waste refers to waste resulting from maintenance or removal of vegetation, including but not limited to: grass, brush, branches, leaves, flowers, shrubs and small trees.

Wood waste refers to nonhazardous wood waste such as untreated and non-laminated lumber.

Food waste for residential purposes includes fruits and vegetables.

Recycling and Disposal Options

Green Waste Recyclers

For a list of green waste processors in Riverside County, click HERE.

Self-Composting

Learn how to compost! Visit our composting class page to find an upcoming class or watch our on-demand class for FREE. Low cost compost bins are available for purchase.

Solid Waste Haulers

Place your green waste and wood waste in your green waste container to be picked up by your trash service hauler.

Check with your hauler to see if they accept food waste.

Keeping trash, glass and other unacceptable items out of your green waste container helps to keep the cost of green waste recycling down and improves the quality of the final compost and mulch.

Riverside County Landfills

Green Waste and Wood Waste- Accepted at all Riverside County Landfills with no special conditions.

Food Waste - Accepted at all Riverside County Landfills with the following conditions:

If less than 50% moisture content and non-putrefied: accepted at all Riverside County Landfills with no special conditions.
If greater than 50% moisture content - See the Liquid Waste page.

Locations & hours

Fee schedule

Food Banks

Food banks are large warehouses that store and distribute food to local organizations. The food is then given to the people who need it through community groups like senior centers, day care centers, homeless shelters and youth programs. The food banks listed in the Department of Environmental Health's document are an excellent resource in finding community food donation programs in your area. Donations of both perishable and non-perishable food items are accepted in most cases.

This information above is offered as a public service in an effort to eliminate illegal and improper waste disposal. As the information may not be comprehensive, the Department encourages the public to research additional companies that are available for the services sought. The companies are not affiliated, endorsed or regulated by the Department. Accordingly, as with any professional service, please confirm the accuracy of the company’s information and request copies or verification of the company's license and/or permits to provide the service, prior to utilizing its services. Under no circumstances, directly or indirectly, shall the Department be held responsible or liable for reliance on this information. If you would like to include your company on the list, please contact Waste-Approval@rivco.org or call (951) 486-3200.