Black Bin (Trash)
Place carts 18 inches apart with handles and wheels facing the curb. Carts must not exceed 336 lbs for 96-gallon models. Set out between 5:00 p.m. the day before and 6:00 a.m. on collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓General household trash
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Styrofoam
- ✓Pet waste
- ✓Diapers
- ✓Broken ceramics
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Ensure all recyclable materials are empty, clean, and dry. Do not place recyclables inside plastic bags; keep them completely loose in the cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean and dry cardboard
- ✓Paper (junk mail, magazines, office paper)
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum, tin, and steel cans
- ✓Clean rigid plastic containers
Do NOT Include
- ✕Food-soiled paper and pizza boxes
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕E-waste
- ✕Hoses, cords, and tanglers
Yard Waste Bin
Materials can be placed loose, in paper bags, or in compostable plastic liners. Do not include pet waste, rocks, or treated wood.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass, leaves, and plant trimmings
- ✓Fruits and vegetables
- ✓Meat, dairy, and bones
- ✓Coffee grounds (no K-Cups)
- ✓Food-soiled paper
- ✓Compostable plastic liners
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
4 free bulky item pickups per year.
Placement
Place bulky items at your curb only after scheduling and confirming your pickup date with UWS customer service to avoid municipal fines for illegal dumping.
Accepted
- ✓ Household appliances
- ✓ Furniture (under a 2-person lift requirement)
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Rugs
- ✓ Bundled wood (no longer than 4 feet)
- ✓ E-waste
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste (paint, oil, chemicals)
- ✕ Construction/demolition debris exceeding 2 bags/70 lbs
- ✕ Dirt and rocks
- ✕ Auto parts
Commercial customers do not receive free bulky collections; instead, they receive unlimited on-demand pickups for a flat rate of $35.00 per item.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a recognized holiday falls on a weekday (Monday-Friday), collection services for the remainder of the holiday week will be delayed by exactly one day. Friday customers will be serviced on Saturday.
Yard Waste Exception
No exceptions. The green organics cart follows the exact same delayed holiday schedule as regular trash and recycling.
If a designated holiday falls on a weekend, your standard collection schedule remains completely unaffected.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Never Bag Your Recyclables
Bagging your recyclables in plastic ruins the automated sorting process at the UWS recovery facility. Plastic bags wrap around the gears of the processing machinery and cause systemic shutdowns. Leave all cardboard, cans, and plastics completely loose inside your blue cart.
Rethink Your Greasy Pizza Boxes
If a pizza box is heavily soiled with grease or melted cheese, it should no longer go in the blue recycling bin. Instead, tear the box up and place the soiled portions directly into your green organics cart for composting, as oil-coated paper will contaminate clean paper streams.
Keep E-Waste Out of the Black Bin
Never hide batteries, old cell phones, or cords in your regular trash. These items pose serious fire risks during transit and compaction. UWS provides residential customers with one free household hazardous waste (HHW) pickup per quarter—just box the items up and leave them safely on your porch after scheduling.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuaryFollowing Christmas Day, UWS offers seasonal holiday tree collection for Altadena residents. Ensure your tree is stripped of all ornaments, lights, metal stands, and tinsel before placing it at the curb. Heavily flocked trees are typically treated as standard trash rather than green waste.
Spring
March - MayLos Angeles County Public Works and UWS frequently sponsor free mulch and compost giveaway events in the spring. Residents can collect nutrient-rich soil amendments generated directly from the community's green organic carts to use in their spring landscaping projects.
Summer/Fall
July - NovemberDuring Southern California's peak wildfire season and notorious Santa Ana wind events, ensure your cart lids remain tightly closed and securely latched. If you utilize the Kodiak bear-resistant carts, always lock the mechanism to prevent windblown debris from scattering across the foothills.
About Altadena Waste Management
Los Angeles County Franchise System in Altadena
Because Altadena is an unincorporated community, its residential waste services are managed by Los Angeles County Public Works under an exclusive franchise agreement [1.2.1]. Universal Waste Systems, Inc. (UWS) is currently the designated waste hauler for all local residential properties. The basic service tier guarantees a weekly three-cart system, ensuring all households have the capacity to easily separate their landfill refuse, comingled recycling, and organic waste to meet regional environmental targets.
Complying with Mandatory SB 1383 Organics Collection
In strict compliance with California Senate Bill 1383, Altadena residents must divert food scraps and yard trimmings away from local landfills. UWS provides every household with a green organic waste cart. You must deposit all fruit and vegetable scraps, meat, bones, and soiled paper products into this cart. While materials can be tossed in loosely, residents are also permitted to use a paper bag or a certified compostable plastic liner for easier kitchen cleanup.
Fostering Coexistence with the Bear-Resistant Cart Program
Nestled against the San Gabriel Mountains, Altadena's hillside neighborhoods frequently encounter foraging wildlife. To mitigate human-bear conflicts, LA County and UWS offer an exceptional Bear-Resistant Cart Program. Residents can swap their standard bins for heavy-duty 96-gallon Kodiak bear-resistant carts at no additional cost. These specially designed carts feature robust locking mechanisms certified by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee to keep wildlife safely out of human-generated waste.
Convenient Bulky Item and E-Waste Pickups
To help keep local streets free of illegal dumping, UWS provides a highly generous bulky waste program for the community. Residential properties can request up to four free bulky item pickups every year, with a limit of four large items allowed per collection. Additionally, residents receive one free Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) pickup per quarter for items like e-waste. Simply contact the UWS customer service team to schedule your collection date before placing items on your porch or curb.
Drop-off Facilities
Universal Resource Recovery Facility
9010 Norwalk Boulevard, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670
Materials Accepted
S.A.F.E. Center Los Angeles (Glendale Facility)
4600 Colorado Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90039
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I replace a broken trash or recycling cart in Altadena?
You can contact Universal Waste Systems (UWS) customer service directly at (800) 631-7016 or via email. If your cart is damaged through normal wear and tear, UWS will schedule an exchange or repair at no additional cost.
How does the Altadena Bear-Resistant Cart Program work?
Because Altadena borders hillside wildlife habitats, residents can request free 96-gallon Kodiak bear-resistant carts to replace their standard black, blue, and green bins. These certified carts feature heavy-duty locking mechanisms to deter bears and protect both the animals and the community. Simply call UWS or (888) CleanLA to request the swap.
Does UWS offer a trash service discount for seniors or low-income residents?
Yes. A 25% senior discount is available for head-of-household residents 62 or older who either qualify for financial-need utility discounts or generate minimal waste and downsize to a 32-gallon trash cart. UWS also offers free roll-out service for elderly or disabled residents who cannot maneuver their bins to the curb.
What should I do with excess yard waste that doesn't fit in my green cart?
UWS allows Altadena residents to schedule an excess green waste pickup for up to 10 bags or bundles of landscaping debris, provided you make the request at least 24 hours in advance. Ensure any bundled branches are cut to less than four feet in length.