The short answer
Inland Empire cities run very different programs. City of Riverside: 2 appointments a year, 5 items each. Moreno Valley: up to 4 bulky or e-waste pickups a month. Corona: 3 a year, 6 bulk items plus 5 e-waste. Ontario: 4 a year for single-family homes, 5 items each. Fontana: 3 a year. Rialto: 2 a year for single-family homes. All are curbside. When an item is excluded, too heavy, still inside, or needed gone today, a flat pickup covers it: a sofa is $126, a refrigerator $164.
The comparison table
| City | Who runs it | Free pickups | Key limits and exclusions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside | City bulky-item program | 2 per address per year | 5 items per appointment (3 bags of 20 lb or less = 1 item); curbside by 5:30 am, not out more than 24 hours early; no TVs or e-waste, no refrigerators, freezers or A/C, mattresses must be fully wrapped or bagged, no tires or auto parts, no construction debris, no hazardous waste |
| Moreno Valley | Waste Management | Up to 4 bulky and/or e-waste per month | Book at least 24 hours ahead; curbside by 6 am; no items one person cannot safely lift, no spas or hot tubs, no trailers, car bodies or hazardous waste |
| Corona | Waste Management | 3 special collections per year | Up to 6 bulk items, 5 e-waste and 15 u-waste per pickup; book at least 48 hours ahead; mattresses wrapped and taped; no oversized or heavy items, car parts, construction debris, tires or hazardous waste |
| Ontario | City Integrated Waste | 4 per calendar year (single-family) | 5 large items per appointment; takes furniture, mattresses, appliances, water heaters, e-waste and carpet; apartments go through their manager; quarterly community cleanups at 1425 S. Bon View Ave |
| Fontana | Burrtec | 3 per year | Check the city's page for item limits |
| Rialto | Burrtec | 2 per calendar year (single-family) | Up to 2 tires per pickup; no vehicle parts, construction debris or hazardous waste; apartments, condos and mobile-home parks go through the property manager |
| San Bernardino | Burrtec (city contract) | Bulky pickups offered | Limits are not published on the city page; ask Burrtec |
How to book each one
Every program is booked in advance, and most still run on a phone call.
- City of Riverside: call the City at (951) 826-5311. Have your address and your item list ready, and count bags in threes.
- Moreno Valley: schedule with Waste Management at 800-423-9986 at least 24 hours before your service day.
- Corona: book through the City's Waste Management program at least 48 hours ahead.
- Ontario: call the City at (909) 395-2050 to book one of your four yearly appointments.
- Fontana: call Burrtec at (909) 822-9739.
- Rialto: call Burrtec at 909-877-1596.
- San Bernardino: call Burrtec at (909) 804-4222 and ask what the current limits are.
Write down the date you are given and the item count you agreed. If something on your list is excluded, you will usually find out at the curb on collection morning, not on the phone.
Cities not in the table
Temecula, Murrieta, Menifee, Lake Elsinore, Rancho Cucamonga, Upland, Chino, Redlands, Hemet and unincorporated areas of both counties all have programs run by city crews or haulers such as CR&R, Waste Management or Burrtec. We have not listed their rules here because we could not confirm them from an official source. Check your own city's waste page before you set anything out, and do not assume your neighbor's rule applies to you across a city line. That matters in places where city limits are hard to see, such as the seams between Riverside, Jurupa Valley and Norco, or between Fontana, Rialto and unincorporated Bloomington.
What every program has in common
- Curbside only. Nobody comes into your house, garage or backyard.
- Booked in advance. By phone or online, 24 to 48 hours ahead or more.
- Early set-out. Items out by 5:30 or 6 am on the day.
- Item caps. Five or six items per pickup in most cities.
- The same hard exclusions. Hazardous waste and construction debris almost everywhere; refrigerant appliances and electronics in the City of Riverside.
- Single-family focus. Ontario and Rialto send apartment residents to the property manager.
Mattresses: the rule that trips people up
Mattresses are accepted in several programs, but with conditions. The City of Riverside requires them to be fully wrapped or bagged, and Corona requires them wrapped and taped. An unwrapped mattress is left behind. If you are hauling one yourself, Riverside County landfills take mattresses and box springs free when they are kept separate from other trash: up to five a day at Badlands and Lamb Canyon, and two a day at El Sobrante. A flat pickup needs no wrapping at all: a queen mattress is $103, and a queen with its box spring as a set is $143.
When the free program is the right answer
Use it when all of these are true: your items are on the accepted list, you can get them to the curb yourself, you have appointments left, and you can wait for the date. A Moreno Valley household with a couple of chairs and an old TV, an Ontario homeowner with a washer and four other items, a Corona family with six bulky items and a box of electronics: those are exactly what the programs are for.
When it is not
| The gap | Example | Flat price |
|---|---|---|
| Excluded in Riverside | Standard refrigerator | $164 |
| Too heavy for Moreno Valley | 3-piece sectional | $185 |
| Excluded in Moreno Valley | Hot tub / spa | $390 |
| Heavy item in Corona | Upright piano | $364 |
| Apartment in Ontario | Sofa and queen set | $126 + $143 = $269 |
| Third pickup of the year in Riverside | Quarter-truck garage pile | $241 |
Each is carried out from wherever it is, on any floor, with no stairs fee, and disposal is included. Many households use both: put the light, accepted items out on your City appointment and book a pickup for the rest. Price the leftovers from a photo on the instant quote page; same-day pickup is available when you book by 4 PM.
Frequently asked questions
How many free bulky pickups do I get in Riverside?
Two appointments per address per year, with up to five items each, in the City of Riverside. Three bags of 20 pounds or less count as one item. Book by calling the City at (951) 826-5311.
Which Inland Empire city has the most generous bulky program?
Moreno Valley, where Waste Management offers up to four bulky and/or e-waste pickups a month. It excludes items one person cannot safely lift, and spas and hot tubs. Book at least 24 hours ahead.
Can apartment residents use these programs?
Often not directly. Ontario and Rialto send apartment residents to their property manager. Rialto does the same for condos and mobile-home parks.
Does Ontario take appliances at the curb?
Yes. Ontario's single-family program accepts appliances, water heaters and e-waste among its five large items per appointment. Each address gets four appointments per calendar year. The City also holds quarterly community cleanups at 1425 S. Bon View Ave.
What if my city is not listed?
Check your own city's waste or bulky-item page. Rules differ across Temecula, Murrieta, Menifee, Rancho Cucamonga and other IE cities. Do not rely on a neighboring city's rules.