RESIDENTIAL DISPOSAL SERVICES

"BLUE" RECYCLING CONTAINER 
 
Use the BLUE cart for recyclable items such as glass jars and bottles,
plastic jars and bottles, metal and aluminum cans, and all clean paper. Click on the following web page for a detailed listing of items you can and cannot recycle.
 
Recycling Tips: 
(1) Turn your kitchen a mini-recycling center by placing a 
      SECOND CAN for recyclables next to your existing trash can.
(2) Sort your items as you are throwing them away.
(3) Toss your items into the appropriate can.

"GREEN" TRASH CONTAINER 
 
Use the GREEN container only for TRASH. Generally a 68-gallon trash container is sufficient for one or two people and a 98-gallon works best for three to four people. You may request additional containers, but there is a charge.
 
Do not use your trash container for recyclable items, yard waste or household hazardous waste (HHW), including household batteries (take these to a HHW collection event or battery drop-off site).

"BLACK" YARD WASTE CONTAINER 
 
Use the BLACK container for yard waste (grass trimmings, yard trimmings, leaves, brush, branches smaller than 4-inches in diameter and 4-feet in length or shorter, Christmas wreaths without decorations attached.)

Do NOT use Black Yard Waste container for trash, pet waste, rocks or dirt or palm fronds as they will contaminate other recyclable yard waste. Cut palm fronds into a size that will fit into your GREEN trash container. Do not wrap fronds separately or leave them outside your container. AWS cannot pick them up unless they are cut to size and placed in the GREEN trash container. 

HOLIDAY TRASH COLLECTION

No trash collection is provided on

• New Year's Day
• Memorial Day
• Fourth of July
• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Christmas Day.

Service will be delayed by one day when the holiday falls on a weekday (Monday-Friday). For example, since Labor Day is always on Monday, Monday trash service will be on Tuesday instead, Tuesday service will be on Wednesday, etc.).
 
HOLIDAY RECYCLING TIPS:

1. Put bows/ribbon in the green trash container. They are not recyclable.
2. Cardboard and gift boxes should be placed in your blue recyclable container. Not all wrapping paper is recyclable. If it has metallic specs, pass it through a shredder and use it as filler for other gifts throughout the year.
3. Put live wreath(s) in the black yard waste container.
4. Remove all items from the tree or wreath, including stands, nails, ornaments and tinsel.
5. Place your tree (including flocked trees) at the curb for collection so it can be recycled as compost, mulch or ground cover at no extra charge to you.

 HOW TO DISPOSE OF BULKY ITEMS

Call AWS (1-888-742-5234) when you need to dispose of bulky items including sofas, mattresses, large appliances and other furniture items. You must call at least a day prior to putting the item(s) out on the curb so they can arrange to come and pick up the item(s) and you should not place item(s) at curbside sooner than noon the day prior to pick up (later in the day is recommended.

• Residents living in gated condos must place bulky items at the curb or in the alley, since the special bulky item truck cannot open their gate. 
• Do not put out more than four items at any one time - excess items cannot be accommodated. If you have more than four bulky items you should consider renting a temporary dumpster by calling AWS at 1-888-742-5234 at least 24-hours in advance of the time you would like delivery of a temporary bin (Monday-Friday delivery only).
• E-waste items (consumer electronics items such as TVs, computers, radios, etc.) are picked up only on Wednesdays and residents must call AWS in advance.
• Do not put out household hazardous waste (HHW) for regular collection of trash - take it to a HHW waste collection event.  
• Do not leave bulky items on the curb for several days, otherwise you could receive a notice from the city's Code Enforcement Department and will be asked to move the item(s) immediately.
• Do not place clothes in your recycling container or leave large bags of clothes on the curb - AWS will not pick them up. Take them to your favorite charity or nearest Goodwill collection site. Local organizations include:
  (1) The Salvation Army, 1010 E. Main St., Alhambra
        626-281-2100; 1-800-SA-TRUCK;
  (2) Vietnam Veterans of America
        (800-775-VETS or 800-775-8387);
  (3) Goodwill Pasadena Donation Center
        112 E. California Blvd., Pasadena 91105, 626-449-3721
        Click here for items accepted/not accepted by Goodwill.

 HOW TO ORDER A TEMPORARY TRASH BIN

Use a temporary trash bin for disposing large items such as furniture, when you’re moving or cleaning out the garage or attic, when you need to remove large trees, small construction or remodeling projects, or any other short-term endeavor. A street encroachment permit will be required if you place the bin on the street. This permit can be obtained at the Public Works Department at City Hall.

• AWS (1-888-742-5234) offers temporary trash bins - standard rental fee applies to deliver and haul away waste on a one-time basis; requires at least 24-hour notice in advance of the time you would like delivery of the temporary bin (Monday-Friday delivery only); If you have more than one bin full of discards the same rental charge will apply each time you have to have the bin emptied. No more than 600 lbs. may be placed in the bin. Do not place dirt or quantities of brick, concrete, tile or roofing material in the bin. If you have a large amount of construction or demolition debris, it might be more appropriate to order a “lowboy” or roll-off box. No bundling of items is required.
• Direct Disposal is a recycling facility, certified by CALrecycle, that can handle up to 174 tons a day of construction and demolition material. Located at 3720 Noakes St., Los Angeles 90023, it processes wood, metal, concrete, drywall, cardboard, you name it! The company can also provide any recycling reports needed and can complete any LEED requirements. For more information, call Sam at 714-625-7544, or email sam@directdisposal.com.
• No hazardous waste or electronic waste may be placed in any temporary waste bin. You will need to take this type of waste to a Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection event. Common HHW materials include such products as used motor oil and filters, paint, turpentine, acid or lye-based cleaners, household and car batteries, pesticides and garden herbicides. Electronic waste items include VCRs, stereos, fax machines, copiers, computer keyboards and cellular telephones. To find out about upcoming HHW/E-Waste collection events, call 1 (888) CLEAN LA, or visit www.cleanla.com.

HOW TO DISPOSE OF SHARPS WASTE AND MEDICATION  

• DO NOT flush medications down the toilet, in the trash or in your recycling or yard waste container. These substances are bad for the environment, including the ground, water, and air around us, and should be taken to a Household Hazardous Waste event. Do not place sharps waste in used plastic milk cartons, bleach bottles, etc.
• Syringes include those used on humans or pets such as hypodermic needles, pen needles, intravenous needles, lancets, and other devices for the delivery of medications. These can injure people, spread germs and disease such as hepatitis and HIV/AIDS.
• Pick up locations for FREE, state-approved sharps:
   (1) L.A. County Department of Public Works, 900 S. Fremont Ave. 
         (Annex Building - Third Floor) , Alhambra; 1-888-CleanLA
    (2) Accurate Home Health Care, Inc., 1104 S. Garfield Ave., 
          Suite B, Alhambra, 91801; 626-576-5006 
    (3) Other Distribution Sites
• Disposal locations for permanently-sealed sharps containers:
   (1) Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Roundup Events*
   (2) Other L.A. County Medical Waste Collection Sites 
   (3) Other Medical Disposal Facilities - such as local hospitals,
          doctor's offices, health clinics, pharmacies, health
          departments, community organizations and animal hospitals.
   (4) Mail-back services. The cost of using this service will depend
         on the size of the container you choose. You will receive a
         sharps container and mail-back packaging to mail back your
         container once it is full.
   (5) Although disposing waste sharps in a red sharps container is
         the preferable means of disposal, L.A. County HHW
         Roundup sites will accept sharps in containers that do not
         leak, break or puncture. The container must be taped, sealed
         and labeled "SHARPS." For additional information, view 
         "Home-Generated Sharps Waste Management Program." 
  (6) For additional information about disposing of medication,
        click here in English / Spanish. 

REDUCED TRASH RATES FOR LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS  

Those who qualify will have their bi-monthly trash bill decreased by $4 bi-monthly (or $2 per month). The discount is offered by AWS through its exclusive franchise agreement with the City. The low-income limits are established by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.  The City requires proof of the income of all adults living in the household.  A copy of the most recent federal income tax returns (block out Social Security numbers) is required along with the City’s application form. For more information, call the City Manager’s office at 626-570-5010. 

REDUCED TRASH RATE APPLICATION
(English)  /  (Spanish)  /   (Chinese)
# of persons in household

(Requires Income Qualification):
Eligible if annual household
income is less than

1

$47,850

2

$54,650

3

$61,500

4

$68,300

5

$73,800

6

$79,250

7

$84,700

8

$90,200