Homeowners in unincorporated areas can take advantage of landfill visits they already pay for

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story used the word “free” in the headline, which certainly isn’t the case if you are the one responsible for paying your property taxes. We’ve adjusted the headline to be more accurate.

It’s too late to call it “spring cleaning” as the first day of summer is officially this weekend, but if you haven’t been outside to take care of your weeds this is a good time to do it.

Dried out invasive grass spreads wildfires fast, so cleaning up your yard is a good preventative move for what is sure to be another volatile fire season. Weeds and other organic materials can be put into the green cart if you are contracted with local waste management company Burrtec and you may be unaware that living in an unincorporated area grants you some extra privileges at local landfills, too.

Permit allows weekly landfill visits

Homeowners in unincorporated places like Joshua Tree, Landers, and Wonder Valley may have already received their new Disposal Use Permit from the San Bernardino County Department of Public Works for 2026. The little card allows a weekly disposal of up to 500 pounds of household garbage and flammable vegetation at your local landfill or transfer station.

While you won’t get charged if you stay within the guidelines of the program, you already pay for the privilege of hauling trash and refuge to San Bernardino County dump sites. In unincorporated areas, its part of your yearly tax bill from the County, separate from the monthly curbside service that residents are required to have. The charge is part of Land Use Fees outlined by San Bernardino County.

In the municipalities of Twentynine Palms and Yucca Valley, curbside trash service with Burrtec is part of your tax roll.

That doesn’t include stuff like tires, dirt, construction debris and larger vegetation, but it does include foliage and branches under four feet in length, tumbleweeds, pine needles and other smaller native shrubs. You can haul more than 500 pounds a week but each additional 500 pounds is another punch on your permit, which is good for up to 65 uses through June of 2027.

The benefits of the Disposal Use Permit transfer to renters as well, so if you have some extra garbage or flammable yard waste around the home you rent, reach out to your landlord to ask about the permit.

“Bulky items” also can be collected, but plan ahead

Anyone who is contracted with Burrtec for curbside garbage service also has the option for bulky item pickup at no extra charge. This could be something like scrap metal, an old appliance, furniture, mattresses or large vegetation like tree branches. There are some size and weight limits and you need to plan ahead by contacting Burrtec, but the service will gather up the items for you along with your weekly trash pickup.

Don’t forget to get receipts

If the DIY approach isn’t for you and you want to pay a local company to come haul household garbage away – be sure to ask for the crew to bring back receipts from the Landfill to prove that your waste actually made it to the landfill. Illegal dumping in the desert is a constant problem, and unscrupulous work crews can often save a few bucks by leaving loads of junk in washes, on dirt roads and out in the open desert.

If a load of illegally dumped trash is traced back to your property, you could face fines of up to $1,000 dollars and possibly worse… public shaming on local Facebook groups.