Click on a category below to view the answers to many of the most frequently asked questions about our company and services.

Some answers may not apply to your particular service area. For additional information, please call our Customer Service Department. Click on your service area to get the Customer Service phone number for your location.

Residential Services

Q: Why do you have to notify the home owner if I pay for trash and am the account holder?


In some areas, the home owner is responsible for unpaid trash bills and therefore is notified if the bill is unpaid.

Q: What’s the difference between Recyclables and Trash?


Recycling material travels directly to a Material Recovery Facility where it is sorted by hand, separated by type, washed (if appropriate), compacted, baled and prepared for sale on the open market. Trash is taken to the landfill.

Q: Why is there Mandatory service?


Some cities require residents to have trash service for health and safety reasons.

Q: Can I set up an account in someone else’s name?


The person that pays the bill must be the one contacting us to establish service.

Q: How do you dispose of electronic waste?


Please check your city specific information to see if we pick up electronic waste for your area.

Q: Can large or bulky items be placed on the driveway?


Large items must be placed on the curb.

Q: Can I place my cart(s) on the sidewalk?


Whenever possible, please place carts on the street. If placing carts on the street in not an option, place them on the sidewalk.

Q: Can we put dirt in our green waste container?


Dirt is not permitted in the green waste carts due to weight limitations.

Q: Can you send a Street Sweeper to my street?


Please call our Customer Service Department. Click on your service area to get the Customer Service phone number for your location.

 

Q: Why don’t you provide a service at an extra cost to offload a dumpster that is overloaded?


We don’t offer this service at this time but will keep it in mind for future services.

Q: How am I supposed to know when my dumpster is at its weight limit?


You won’t know how much the container weighs, but clean-up bins (3 yard) are designed to hold light weight material not heavy construction debris like concrete, brick, dirt, tile, asphalt, etc. If you keep heavy material out of the bin, you should be able to keep within the 500 lb. weight limit.

Q: How do I start/stop service?


Customers who would like to begin or cancel their service may do so by contacting the Customer Service center for their area. Click on your service area to get the Customer Service phone number for your location.

Q: Will the same driver service all 3 barrels?


Not typically, but it depends upon the size of the route.

Q: Are there pictures of the dumpsters online?


Photos are not available at this time.  For more information, click on your service area to get the Customer Service phone number for your location.

Q: How do I schedule an order for a dumpster?


Please call our Customer Service Department. Click on your service area to get the Customer Service phone number for your location.

Q: Temp Services: Are the rules and restrictions available on your website?


We offer containers for rent from 3 cubic yards up to 40 cubic yards. The typical rental schedule for the bin is 7 days. If you need to keep it longer than 7 days, please contact us at least one business day in advance so we can reschedule the exchange or removal upon availability. A charge per each additional day may apply.

The following material cannot be placed in our containers:

  • hazardous waste
  • paints
  • chemicals
  • liquids
  • electronic waste such as TVs or Computer Monitors
  • refrigerators, air conditioners
  • car parts

Material should be distributed evenly in the container with nothing sticking out above the rim. A false run fee maybe assessed if the driver cannot deliver or remove the container for any reason. Contact the Customer Service center for your service area for more information about renting a temporary container.

Q: What holidays are you closed?


Please click on the “Holiday Schedule” for a list of the holidays that we observe in your area.

Q: How do I schedule an order for a large or bulky item to be picked up?


Most residential customers are entitled to a “bulky-item” pick-up without charge. Call our Customer Service department to schedule a pick-up. Click on your service area to get the Customer Service phone number for your location. You will need to provide a description of the material to be collected. If you have more than a few items, we offer “clean-up dumpsters” for rent.

Q: I’ve seen people digging through my trash, and I’ve also witnessed people dumping their trash into my cans. What is CR&R doing about these situations?


Residents can reduce the chances of scavengers having access to recyclables by setting the containers out in the morning of pick-up, rather than the night before. You may also want to consider tearing up or shredding personal documents. Also, try placing items that have value (such as soda cans, bottles) on the bottom of the container.

Local police recommend that you not confront the individual, but call the police Dispatch number (do NOT call 911). Without endangering yourself, try to obtain a description of the individual (s) and their vehicle, as well as a license plate number.

Q: What can go inside the recycle container? Do I have to wash out the items for the recycle container?


An expanded list of recyclables is provided in your service area’s Recycling link. Briefly, plastics exhibiting the numbers 1-7 in recyclable arrows; most glass food and beverage containers, milk or juice cartons, uncoated, uncontaminated paper, including business papers, shoe boxes, cereal and cracker boxes, newspapers, metals, such as tin and aluminum cans, empty paint cans with dry paint, food and juice cans and some lawn furniture.

With regard to washing recyclables, it is only necessary to rinse out the bulk of the contents of recyclable containers.

Q: Why are we not receiving the proceeds from the sale of recyclables?


The commodities market is highly volatile, unpredictable and subject to wide market swings. The cities served by CR&R have arranged for CR&R’s material recovery facility (MRF) to assume that risk by taking all recyclables regardless of the market fluctuations. While the cities do not earn revenue for the recyclables, they also do not pay for landfill disposal of the less desirable materials or pay a processing fee when the sales price of recyclables is less than the cost of processing.

Q: I live in California, why do we have to take a recycle container if we do not wish to recycle? Why can’t we just have a trash can?


One of the goals of California State Law AB939 was to encourage recycling and required cities to divert 50 percent of their waste from landfills by the year 2000. The commingled automated recycling program has proven extremely effective in improving diversion rates allowing many cities to meet the mandated California target.

Q: What size are your rental bins?


CR&R provides rental bins with a capacity of approximately three (3) cubic yards for small jobs, and 10- to 40-cubic yard capacity bins for larger disposal needs.

Q: What is my trash collection day?


Residents may call the Customer Service center to request collection schedule information. Click on your service area to get the Customer Service phone number for your location.

Q: Why can’t the driver pick up one little extra bag?


The majority of residential waste is collected using an automated collection system operated by a single driver. This methodology allows the driver to collect waste without having to stop and get out of the truck to manually pick up the waste. This methodology also results in the most efficient and safest way to collect residential waste which, in turn, is reflected in the residential rate.

Q: How can I get extra trash picked up?


Call our Customer Service department to see what options are available for your area. Click on your service area to get the Customer Service phone number for your location.

 

Q: Why didn’t the driver pick up my cart this week, when it was out in time on collection day?


This could be the result of “stop-service” because of non-payment on an account or perhaps the containers were obscured from the driver’s view. If a collection was missed for any reason other than non-payment, CR&R will send a driver out upon request. Click on your service area to get the Customer Service phone number for your location.

Q: Why can’t I choose to have another company pick up my trash?


Most cities prefer to have one company responsible for service to limit the number of trucks on the streets, centralize reporting, standardize containers and collection days, and benefit from the economies of a single contractor which contributes to rate stability.

Q: Why is the amount of trash limited to only the three containers (or in some areas two)?


One of the goals of California State Law AB939 was for its cities to divert 50% of its waste from landfills by the year 2000. One of the methods to encourage residential recycling is through either a multi bin recyclable system or a single commingled recyclable system. In either event, the goal is to maximize the amount recycled and to reduce the amount of waste generated. Limiting the amount of waste generated to two or three containers encourages consumers to maximize the use of the recycling carts and to explore other techniques to minimize the amount of household waste generated.

Business Services

Q: What’s the difference between Recyclables and Trash?


Recycling material travels directly to a Material Recovery Facility where it is sorted by hand, separated by type, washed (if appropriate), compacted, baled and prepared for sale on the open market. Trash is taken to the landfill.

Q: How do you dispose of electronic waste?


Please check your city specific information to see if we pick up electronic waste for your area.

Q: Why don’t you provide a service at an extra cost to offload a dumpster that is overloaded?


We don’t offer this service at this time but will keep it in mind for future services.

Q: How am I supposed to know when my dumpster is at its weight limit?


You won’t know how much the container weighs, but clean-up bins (3 yard) are designed to hold light weight material not heavy construction debris like concrete, brick, dirt, tile, asphalt, etc. If you keep heavy material out of the bin, you should be able to keep within the 500 lb. weight limit.

Q: How do I start/stop service?


Customers who would like to begin or cancel their service may do so by contacting the Customer Service center for their area. Click on your service area to get the Customer Service phone number for your location.

Q: Are there pictures of the dumpsters online?


Photos are not available at this time.  For more information, click on your service area to get the Customer Service phone number for your location.

Q: How do I schedule an order for a dumpster?


Please call our Customer Service Department. Click on your service area to get the Customer Service phone number for your location.

Q: Temp Services: Are the rules and restrictions available on your website?


We offer containers for rent from 3 cubic yards up to 40 cubic yards. The typical rental schedule for the bin is 7 days. If you need to keep it longer than 7 days, please contact us at least one business day in advance so we can reschedule the exchange or removal upon availability. A charge per each additional day may apply.

The following material cannot be placed in our containers:

  • hazardous waste
  • paints
  • chemicals
  • liquids
  • electronic waste such as TVs or Computer Monitors
  • refrigerators, air conditioners
  • car parts

Material should be distributed evenly in the container with nothing sticking out above the rim. A false run fee maybe assessed if the driver cannot deliver or remove the container for any reason. Contact the Customer Service center for your service area for more information about renting a temporary container.

Q: What holidays are you closed?


Please click on the “Holiday Schedule” for a list of the holidays that we observe in your area.

Q: I’ve heard that some of the recyclables are simply dumped in landfills. Is this true?


No. Once the recycling trucks pick up the materials on collection day, the material travels directly to the Material Recovery Facility. After delivery, the materials are sorted by hand, separated by type, washed (if appropriate), compacted, baled and prepared for sale on the open market.

Q: What can go inside the recycle container? Do I have to wash out the items for the recycle container?


An expanded list of recyclables is provided in your service area’s Recycling link. Briefly, plastics exhibiting the numbers 1-7 in recyclable arrows; most glass food and beverage containers, milk or juice cartons, uncoated, uncontaminated paper, including business papers, shoe boxes, cereal and cracker boxes, newspapers, metals, such as tin and aluminum cans, empty paint cans with dry paint, food and juice cans and some lawn furniture.

With regard to washing recyclables, it is only necessary to rinse out the bulk of the contents of recyclable containers.

Q: Why are we not receiving the proceeds from the sale of recyclables?


The commodities market is highly volatile, unpredictable and subject to wide market swings. The cities served by CR&R have arranged for CR&R’s material recovery facility (MRF) to assume that risk by taking all recyclables regardless of the market fluctuations. While the cities do not earn revenue for the recyclables, they also do not pay for landfill disposal of the less desirable materials or pay a processing fee when the sales price of recyclables is less than the cost of processing.

Q: What size are your rental bins?


CR&R provides rental bins with a capacity of approximately three (3) cubic yards for small jobs, and 10- to 40-cubic yard capacity bins for larger disposal needs.

Q: What is my trash collection day?


Residents may call the Customer Service center to request collection schedule information. Click on your service area to get the Customer Service phone number for your location.

Q: Why can’t I choose to have another company pick up my trash?


Most cities prefer to have one company responsible for service to limit the number of trucks on the streets, centralize reporting, standardize containers and collection days, and benefit from the economies of a single contractor which contributes to rate stability.

Construction

Q: Why don’t you provide a service at an extra cost to offload a dumpster that is overloaded?


We don’t offer this service at this time but will keep it in mind for future services.

Q: How am I supposed to know when my dumpster is at its weight limit?


You won’t know how much the container weighs, but clean-up bins (3 yard) are designed to hold light weight material not heavy construction debris like concrete, brick, dirt, tile, asphalt, etc. If you keep heavy material out of the bin, you should be able to keep within the 500 lb. weight limit.

Q: Are there pictures of the dumpsters online?


Photos are not available at this time.  For more information, click on your service area to get the Customer Service phone number for your location.

Q: How do I schedule an order for a dumpster?


Please call our Customer Service Department. Click on your service area to get the Customer Service phone number for your location.

Q: Temp Services: Are the rules and restrictions available on your website?


We offer containers for rent from 3 cubic yards up to 40 cubic yards. The typical rental schedule for the bin is 7 days. If you need to keep it longer than 7 days, please contact us at least one business day in advance so we can reschedule the exchange or removal upon availability. A charge per each additional day may apply.

The following material cannot be placed in our containers:

  • hazardous waste
  • paints
  • chemicals
  • liquids
  • electronic waste such as TVs or Computer Monitors
  • refrigerators, air conditioners
  • car parts

Material should be distributed evenly in the container with nothing sticking out above the rim. A false run fee maybe assessed if the driver cannot deliver or remove the container for any reason. Contact the Customer Service center for your service area for more information about renting a temporary container.

Q: What holidays are you closed?


Please click on the “Holiday Schedule” for a list of the holidays that we observe in your area.

Q: What size are your rental bins?


CR&R provides rental bins with a capacity of approximately three (3) cubic yards for small jobs, and 10- to 40-cubic yard capacity bins for larger disposal needs.

Billing and Rates

Q: Can you post-date a payment?


No, we cannot accept a post-dated check as our payments are processed automatically.

Q: The website isn’t letting me set up an account. What am I doing wrong?


You need your account number and access code from a recent bill to set up an online account. Please make sure that you are entering the account number in this format: XX-9999999.

Q: What is the status of my account?


You can check your balance and payments online or call Customer Service. Click on your service area to get the Customer Service phone number for your location.

Q: When is my bill due?


Please check your bill for the Due Date field.

Q: Can I setup a payment plan?


Yes, please contact the Customer Service center for your area and ask to speak with our Credit Department.

Q: How do I create an on-line account?


Please click on the “Manage Your Account” link to set up an online account.

Q: Can I make a payment over the phone?


Yes you can, please call our Customer Service Department. Click on your service area to get the Customer Service phone number for your location. Or you can make a payment online, if you prefer.

Q: How do I check my balance and did my payment already post?


Please access your account information through our website. Please click on the “Manage Your Account” button to set up an online account or access an existing account.

Q: When does the auto pay deduct from my account?


Your automatic payment will be processed by the 25th of the month.

Q: Have your bills gone out already; I haven’t received mine yet?


Most bills are generated at the beginning of the month. Residential customers are typically billed quarterly, every January, April, July and October. Please allow for printing and mailing time.

Q: Is there an additional fee to pay my bill over the phone/online?


No, there is no additional fee to pay your on our website or over the phone.

Q: Why am I being charged 1.00 on my bill?


Bills reflect quantity of services and dollar amounts being billed. Please check the total column for the amounts that are billed.

Q: I have a question about my billing statement / or making payments.


Please call our Customer Service Department. Click on your service area to get the Customer Service phone number for your location.

Q: Am I setup on Auto Pay? Do Not Pay note on billing blends in with the rest of their bill.


Customers that are set up on our automatic payment plan have a message on their bill indicating “Do Not Pay – Autopay Will Be Processed” along with “Autopay” in the check number field on the return portion of the bill. In addition, you can access your online account through our website and click on Billing Options to verify or change the automatic payment option.

Q: Why am I billed three months in advance for services not yet rendered?


Customers are billed early in the quarter in which service will be rendered, with the payment due within 30 days. Quarterly billing has resulted in lower printing, postage and collection costs, which helps stabilize the rates.