Paper

• White and colored paper
• Phone books
• Magazines
• Junk Mail
• Envelopes
• File folders
• Cardboard (flattened)
• Cartons (milk, juice, & broth)
• Books (remove hard covers or binding)
• Cardboard boxes, e.g. cereal, etc.

Plastic

• Styrofoam packing blocks
• Plastic medicine bottles (empty)
• Plastic bottles numbered 1-7 (remove plastic film or wrap)

Metal & Glass

• Aluminum, steel, and tin cans
• Clean aluminum foil
• Glass bottles and jars (remove lids)

Palm Desert residents can dispose of large, bulky items that do not fit in their regular trash bin by calling Burrtec Waste and Recycling Services to schedule a Bulky Item Pickup. Residents simply contact Burrtec at (760) 340-2113, or complete an online request to schedule a pick-up and place up to four (4) items out at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on their regular trash day.

The following are examples of bulky items:

• Large appliances
• Furniture
• Mattresses and box springs
• Barbeques
• Bicycles and swing sets
• Carpet rolled and bundled (bundles should not exceed 4’)
• Computer monitors, laptops computers, and standard and LCD televisions up to 37” (for televisions over 37” please advise for special handling)
• Unacceptable items include: industrial waste, business waste, hazardous waste, building materials, engines, and lawnmowers, tires, and any item more than 8 ft. long, 4 ft. wide or more than 150 lbs. 

Residents of multi-family complexes may schedule a pickup or have their property manager call to schedule a Bulky Item Pickup. 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 items free of charge.

Please call Burrtec for additional information at (760) 340-2113, or email customerservice@burrtecdesert.com.

Electronic Waste (E-Waste) includes items that contain cathode ray tubes (CRTs), lead, and other materials which are considered by the Environmental Protection Agency to be hazardous waste and should NEVER be placed in regular trash or recycling bins (E-Waste is generally considered anything with a plug/circuit board).

The following are examples of E-Waste:

• Monitors and computer systems
• Televisions
• VCR and DVD players
• Cell phones
• Printers, fax machines, and copiers
• Radios and tape players
• Microwaves and toasters/toaster ovens
• Vacuum cleaners

Residents
To dispose of E-Waste, the City of Palm Desert and Burrtec Waste and Recycling Services encourages residents to schedule a Bulky Item Pick-up. Residents simply contact Burrtec at (760) 340-2113 to schedule a pick-up and place up to four (4) items out at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on their regular trash day.

Residents can also dispose of E-Waste by dropping items off at Burrtec’s Recycle Center located at 41-800 Corporate Way in Palm Desert. The facility accept E-Waste free of charge, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Verification of residency is required (e.g. drivers license or utility bill with name and Palm Desert address).

Businesses 
Palm Desert businesses that generate small quantities of hazardous waste, including E-Waste, (up to 27 gallons or 220 lbs. or 2.2 lbs of extremely hazardous waste per month) are considered Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generators (CESQG). Qualifying businesses simply contact the CESQG hotline at (951) 749-7301 to schedule an appointment to drop-off their hazardous waste.

This facility accepts both Universal Waste and E-Waste and is located at 41-800 Corporate Way in Palm Desert. The City pays for the first $300.00 of disposal costs annually for qualifying businesses and verification of business location is required (e.g. a City business license).

Palm Desert residents and businesses should consider donating their working computers or other electronic devises to a local charity or thrift store for reuse. Many organizations will pick-up items free of charge.

Universal Waste (U-Waste) includes products containing low levels of hazardous metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and chromium. These items can potentially contaminate soil and ground water if deposited into landfills, and should never be placed in the regular trash or recycling bins.

The following are examples of U-Waste:

• Common household batteries
• Fluorescent tubes and bulbs
• Halogen bulbs
• Lamps containing mercury
• Thermostats
• Electrical switches and relays
• Pilot light sensors
• Mercury gauges and thermometers
• Non-empty aerosol cans (if empty, these can be disposed of in the regular trash bin)

 Residents
To dispose of U-Waste, the City of Palm Desert and Burrtec Waste and Recycling Services encourages residents to use the At-Home HHW Collection Program. Residents simply contact Burrtec at (760) 340-2113 to schedule a pick-up. Materials must be placed in a secure location not accessible to the general public until collection day. Collections are limited to four (4) per calendar year and items cannot exceed 15 gallons or 125 lbs. per pick up. Smaller items must fill a 13" x 15" box (mixed items acceptable) to be eligible for pick-up. Minimum pick-up for household batteries, fluorescent tubes, bulbs, and halogen bulbs is a 29 oz. coffee can full of batteries and at least 10 bulbs.

Universal Waste can also be disposed of at Burrtec's Recycle Center located at 41-800 Corporate Way in Palm Desert. The facility accepts these items free of charge, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Verification of residency is required (e.g. drivers license or utility bill with name and Palm Desert address). There is no minimum disposal requirement.

Businesses
Palm Desert businesses that generate small quantities of hazardous waste (up to 27 gallons or 220 lbs. or 2.2 lbs of extremely hazardous waste per month) are considered Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generators (CESQG). Qualifying businesses simply contact the CESQG hotline at (951) 749-7301 to schedule an appointment to drop-off their hazardous waste, which includes U-Waste and E-Waste, to the City’s HHW facility located at 41-800 Corporate Way.

The City pays for the first $300.00 of disposal costs annually for qualifying businesses and verification of business location is required (e.g. a City business license).

There are easy ways for residents to dispose of their used motor oil, tires, and filters:

Curbside Oil and Filter Pick-Up
Palm Desert residents can dispose of used motor oil and filters by calling Burrtec Waste and Recycling Services at (760) 340-2113 to schedule a pick-up at least 48 hours in advance of their regular trash day. Used motor oil must be drained into a transparent plastic one-gallon container and oil filters must be completely drained and sealed in a zip type bag. The containers and filters should be placed out at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on the resident’s regular trash day.

Check Your Number Campaign
Due to advances in modern engines and improved oil formulas, CalRecycle and the City of Palm Desert encourage drivers to check the recommended oil change interval for their vehicle in their owner’s manual. Doing so can save time and money and is also good for the environment. For more information on CalRecycle’s “Check Your Number” campaign, click here.

Tire Disposal
Residents of Palm Desert can bring of up to four passenger and/or light truck tires to the Edom Hill Transfer Station (70-100 Edom Hill Road, Cathedral City, CA 92234) on a quarterly basis at no charge.

Contact Burrtec for more information at (760) 340-2113.

Special Oil Collection Events 
Events are open to all Coachella Valley residents. Bring your used oil filters to the event and receive a new replacement filter (of equal or lesser value) for free. Limit two per household. Bring your used oil for recycling (up to five gallons per vehicle). Participants will also receive a shop rag and funnel for free (while supplies last).

For questions about these events call Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) at (760) 346-1127 or the City Special Programs Department for additional information at (760) 776-6342, or email recycling@palmdesert.gov.

To apply for a commercial self-haul or back-haul permit, as outlined in Palm Desert Municipal Code §8.16.060, please click here. Please note that you will need to create an account through Clariti, Palm Desert’s permitting portal, before submitting your self-haul or back-haul permit application. 

Self-Haul Permit Guidelines
The City of Palm Desert’s Municipal Code allows for solid waste generators within the City’s boundaries to self-haul their waste for recycling and disposal under specific conditions listed in Chapter 8.16 and otherwise in accordance with applicable law, including 14 California Code of Regulations, Div. 7, Chapter 12, Section 18988. The following guidelines provide a high- level overview of the specific requirements for a permitted self-hauler. Failure to follow all requirements may result in fines, fees, and/or denial of future permits.

General Requirements:

• Self-haulers are only permitted to self-haul their own solid waste generated on their premises.
• Single-family residences and multi-family premises with less than five units may not self-haul.
• Self-haulers must provide and utilize their own containers for solid waste collection and disposal. Containers must be maintained in good condition and have a watertight seal.
• Self-haulers must recycle all recyclable materials in accordance with local and state recycling regulations, including AB 341, AB 1826, and SB 1383. Recyclable materials include cardboard, paper, plastic, metal cans, glass bottles, etc. Organic materials include yard waste, food waste, and food soiled paper. Both recyclables and organic materials must be diverted from landfills at a processing facility as identified in the permit application.
• Mixed waste collection streams containing unsegregated organic waste, including paper and cardboard, must be taken to a certified high diversion organic waste processing facility. These facilities must meet 50% recovery of organic waste, or 75% on and after January 1, by 2025. Use of other facilities for processing mixed waste organic collection streams will be denied.
• Per Section 8.16.020 of the Palm Desert Municipal Code, all landfill waste and food waste must be removed from the premises of any multi-family premises with more than five units at least once a week. All waste must be removed from any commercial or industrial premises not less than twice a week. Alternate collection and disposal frequencies must be approved by the City in writing.
• Landscapers will be separately verified to haul organic waste to an organics processing facility by Burrtec, and do not need to complete a self-haul application.

Self-Haul Permit Application and Recordkeeping Requirements:

The self-haul permit application requires the following records:

• A list of all containers to be used.
• A list of all transport and disposal equipment to be used, including the license plate number and VIN for all vehicles to be used for self-hauling purposes.
• A written explanation of where all solid waste will be delivered for disposal and diversion with facility names and addresses.
• A written plan explaining how at least 50% of solid waste collected will be diverted from landfill disposal.

Non-residential self-haulers must also keep the following records for the permit renewal process:

• Receipts from self-hauling activities (weight tickets) to demonstrate proper diversion and disposal frequency and that the minimum required level of solid waste was diverted.

Self-Haul Permit Fee Requirements
A completed permit application is required annually. All self-haul permits are valid until January 31 of the next calendar year. Renewal applications are due annually by that same date.

To apply for a commercial back-haul permit, as outlined in Palm Desert Municipal Code §8.16.060, please click here. Please note that you will need to create an account through Clariti, Palm Desert’s permitting portal, before submitting your back-haul permit application. 

Back-Haul Permit Guidelines
The City of Palm Desert’s Municipal Code Section 8.16.010 includes in the definition of self-hauling the practice of entities to haul or transport solid waste materials, with their own equipment and employees, to a destination owned and operated by the entity for proper management and diversion (“back-hauling"). Based on Senate Bill 1383 regulations, back-hauling is a subcategory of self-haul requirements. The following guidelines provide a high- level overview of the specific requirements for a permitted back-hauler. Failure to follow all requirements may result in fines, fees, and/or denial of future permits.

General Requirements:

• Only applicants who own and operate a facility intended for the management and diversion of that applicant’s solid waste materials may qualify as a back-hauler and obtain a back-hauling permit.
• Back-haulers may only use their own employees and equipment to haul or transport their solid waste.
• Back-haulers are only permitted to back-haul their own solid waste generated on their premises.
• Back-haulers must maintain records to demonstrate that materials are taken back to a central or corporate location for proper management.
• Back-haulers must recycle all recyclable and organic materials in accordance with local and state recycling regulations including AB 341, AB 1826, and SB 1383. Recyclable materials include cardboard, paper, plastic, metal cans, glass bottles, etc. Organic materials include yard waste, food waste, and food soiled paper. Both recyclables and organic materials must be diverted from landfill at a processing facility.

Back-Haul Permit Application and Recordkeeping Requirements:
The back-haul permit application requires the following records:

• Fully complete and sign the back-haul permit application form.
• Submit a copy of the official back-hauling or corporate waste removal policy for the business.
• Submit a list of facilities owned and operated by the applicant utilized for end-use recovery and processing, including material(s) accepted at each vendor or facility.
• Reminder for Automatic Annual Renewal Requirements during 5-year Term:
  • Submit records in the form of an annual report to the City of Palm Desert from all back-hauling activities in the prior year that demonstrate proper diversion (including volume or weight transported for each material). Improper diversion strategies or insufficient records may result in denial of automatic renewal applications and will require immediate subscription with the City’s then-current franchise waste hauler(s) to avoid possible penalties or violations.
  • Provide a formal statement that the official back-hauling or corporate waste removal policy for the business has not changed or provide updated policy.

Back-Haul Permit Fee Requirements
A completed back-haul permit application, if approved by the City of Palm Desert, expires 5 years after the date of its issuance.