Black Bin (Trash)
Use the black cart for all non-recyclable, non-compostable household refuse. Ensure the lid is completely closed, and place the cart at the curb on your assigned service day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Diapers and bathroom tissue paper
- ✓Palm fronds
- ✓Particle board and treated/painted wood
- ✓Compostable plastics
- ✓Pet waste and dog poop
- ✓Cold ashes and briquettes
- ✓Styrofoam
Blue Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be relatively clean and dry. Do not bag your recyclables. Cardboard boxes must be broken down and flattened before placement.
Accepted Items
- ✓Glass jars and bottles (tops removed)
- ✓Plastic bottles and containers
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Tetra Pak cartons (milk and juice)
- ✓Clean paper and cardboard
- ✓Dry food boxes (inner plastic bags removed)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Tissue box plastic inserts
- ✕Plastic windows from pasta boxes
- ✕Plastic bags or film
- ✕Polystyrene (Styrofoam)
Yard Waste Bin
Do not put standard plastic bags, palm fronds, pet waste, or large amounts of dirt and rocks in the green container. Layer wet food waste with dry yard trimmings to prevent sticking.
Accepted Items
- ✓Raw and cooked food scraps (meat, dairy, bread)
- ✓Food-soiled paper and pizza boxes
- ✓Grass, leaves, weeds, and brush
- ✓Tree trimmings (under 4 feet long and 6 inches in diameter)
- ✓Untreated and unpainted wood
- ✓Certified biodegradable bags
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Available weekly on your regular collection day.
Placement
Place items curbside by 6:00 a.m. on your collection day, ensuring they don't block sidewalks or driveways. Do not set items out before noon the preceding day to avoid Code Enforcement notices.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (couches, tables, chairs)
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Non-freon appliances
- ✓ Large bundles of yard waste (under 50 lbs and 4 ft length)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Electronic waste (unless scheduled in advance)
- ✕ Car bodies and automotive parts
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
The pickup is free for residents, provided it is within the 6-item limit. More than 6 items require advanced scheduling and may necessitate a roll-off service charge.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on a weekday (Monday through Friday), collection services for the remainder of that week will be delayed by one day.
Yard Waste Exception
Organics and recycling follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as regular trash.
If a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there are no delays in service, and regular collection days apply.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Remove tops from glass containers
When recycling glass jars and bottles in your blue cart, the metal or plastic tops are only recyclable if they are completely removed from the glass vessel and placed loosely in the cart.
Tear out plastic windows from cardboard
Before recycling cardboard packaging like pasta boxes or tissue boxes, you must rip out the thin plastic window or dispenser film and throw it in the black trash cart. Only the clean cardboard can go in the blue bin.
Compostable plastics go in the trash
Even if a plastic cup or utensil is marketed as 'compostable,' Alhambra's local processing facilities cannot break it down properly. All compostable plastics must be placed in the black trash cart, not the green organics bin.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuaryRepublic Services provides curbside holiday tree recycling starting the day after Christmas through the second Friday in January. Trees are picked up on your regular collection day by a different truck. Remove all decorations and stands, and cut trees over 6 feet in half.
Spring
March - MayOrganic waste collected in Alhambra's green bins is processed into nutrient-rich compost. The city periodically gives this finished compost back to the community for free during scheduled Alhambra Recycles Events, perfect for spring gardening.
Autumn
October - NovemberAs yard maintenance increases during the fall, ensure branches placed in the green cart are shorter than 4 feet and less than 6 inches in diameter. Oversized branches can jam the automated collection arms.
About Alhambra Waste Management
Republic Services Franchise and Discounted Rates for Residents
The City of Alhambra operates an exclusive franchise agreement with Republic Services to manage all residential and commercial solid waste. Residents utilize a standard three-cart system: a black cart for trash, a blue cart for recycling, and a green cart for organics. To support the community, Alhambra offers a Reduced Trash Rate program for eligible low-income households based on Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) limits. Approved residents can receive a quarterly discount on their refuse bill by submitting an application and proof of income to the City Manager's office.
Navigating Alhambra's Mandatory Organics Recycling Program
In compliance with California's SB 1383, Alhambra requires all households to participate in organics recycling. Food scraps, including meat, dairy, and bones, as well as food-soiled paper like pizza boxes, must be placed in the green organics container alongside regular yard trimmings. To keep your kitchen pail and green cart clean, the city recommends wrapping food waste in newspaper or using brown paper bags or certified biodegradable bags. Standard plastic bags are strictly prohibited in the green cart.
Alhambra's Reinstated Bulky Item Sweep Service
To combat illegal dumping and keep neighborhoods clean, Alhambra reinstated a unique Bulky Item Sweep service in April 2023. Unlike many neighboring cities that require scheduling for every large item, Alhambra allows residents to place up to six bulky items at the curb on their regular trash collection day without any prior notice. Items such as couches, mattresses, and non-freon appliances are seamlessly collected. If you have more than six items, however, you must contact Republic Services in advance to arrange the pickup.
Strict Rules for E-Waste and Household Hazardous Materials
While standard bulky items enjoy a relaxed pickup rule, electronic waste (e-waste) such as televisions, computers, and monitors strictly requires advanced scheduling regardless of the quantity. Residents must email or call Republic Services to have e-waste collected curbside. Furthermore, hazardous materials like paint, motor oil, batteries, and pesticides are entirely banned from curbside collection and bulky pickups. Illegal dumping of these materials carries administrative fines ranging from $100 to $500.
Drop-off Facilities
SOS Recycling Center
5540 Alhambra Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90032
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to schedule a bulky item pickup in Alhambra?
As of April 2023, if you have 6 or fewer standard bulky items (like furniture or mattresses), you do not need to schedule a pickup. You can simply place them at the curb on your normal trash day. However, if you have more than 6 items or any electronic waste, you must contact Republic Services in advance.
Are compostable plastics allowed in the green organics bin?
No. Even if a plastic item is labeled 'compostable,' Alhambra requires it to be placed in the black trash container. Only certified biodegradable bags or simple brown paper bags can be used to hold food scraps inside the green cart.
How do I properly recycle wine or alcohol bottles?
Rinse out the bottles first. If the bottles have traditional corks, you can leave the corks inside the bottle. However, if they have metal or plastic screw tops, you must remove the screw tops and place them loosely in the blue recycling cart separate from the bottle.
Is there a discounted trash rate for low-income residents in Alhambra?
Yes, the City of Alhambra offers reduced trash rates for eligible low-income households based on HUD limits. Approved residents can receive a discount on their quarterly Republic Services bill. Applications must be submitted with proper tax or Social Security documentation directly to the City Manager's office.