Black Bin (Trash)
All refuse must be placed completely inside the cart with the lid closed. Excess bags of trash that do not fit in your barrel will not be collected as bulky items; avoid overfilling.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard non-recyclable garbage
- ✓Pet waste and kitty litter
- ✓Diapers
- ✓Chip bags and multi-layer snack wrappers
- ✓Broken ceramics and heavily soiled materials
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Items should be clean, dry, and empty of food or liquid residue. Do not place recyclables inside opaque bags; place them loose in the blue cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean, dry paper and mail
- ✓Broken-down cardboard and corrugated fiberboard
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (empty)
- ✓Plastic containers, jugs, and bottles (#1-7)
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Electronic waste (flashlights, circuit boards)
- ✕Tanglers (extension cords, hoses)
- ✕Food waste and liquids
- ✕Plastic grocery bags and film
- ✕Construction and demolition debris
Yard Waste Bin
Organic materials must never go in the black or blue carts. If you choose to bag your food waste before placing it in the green cart, you MUST use clear or transparent bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Food waste (meat, dairy, bones, vegetables)
- ✓Green waste and grass clippings
- ✓Landscape and pruning waste
- ✓Food-soiled paper mixed with food waste
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Unlimited (Can be requested weekly)
Placement
Place your scheduled items at the curb the night before or by 6:00 a.m. on the day of your confirmed service.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (chairs, sofas, rugs)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Major appliances (refrigerators, washers, dryers)
- ✓ Water heaters and plumbing fixtures
- ✓ Tied bundles of brush and tree trimmings
Not Accepted
- ✕ Electronic waste (TVs, computers)
- ✕ Universal and hazardous waste (paint, oil)
- ✕ Car bodies and automotive parts
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris (asphalt, concrete)
- ✕ Items weighing over 60 pounds or exceeding 4x8 feet
Single-family residents receive this unlimited scheduling service for no additional charge as part of their standard Athens Services waste account.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Holidays create a strict one-day delay in collection service for the remainder of the week if the holiday falls on a weekday.
Yard Waste Exception
Green organics carts and blue recycling carts follow the exact same delayed holiday collection schedule as the black trash carts.
If an observed holiday falls on a weekend (Saturday or Sunday), there is typically no delay to your normal weekday residential collection schedule.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Ditch the Opaque Bags in the Green Cart
Athens Services strictly requires that any bagged food waste placed in the green organics cart be inside clear or transparent bags. Opaque bags conceal the contents and will automatically be flagged as contamination at the compost facility.
Keep E-Waste Out of the Blue Bin
Flashlights, extension cords, and circuit boards might contain metal or plastic parts, but they are classified as e-waste and tanglers. They will severely damage the sorting equipment at the Materials Recovery Facility and must be kept out of your recycling cart.
No Construction Debris in Curbside Carts
Materials like asphalt, bricks, drywall, and heavy dirt are not considered standard household waste or bulky items. These heavy materials will damage the automated collection trucks and must be disposed of via a privately rented roll-off dumpster.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuaryAthens Services collects holiday trees at the curb for composting at their American Organics facility. Trees that have been treated with artificial flocking or fire retardants cannot be composted and are strictly prohibited from the green waste stream.
Year-Round
January - DecemberThe San Gabriel Valley is highly prone to strong Santa Ana winds. Ensure all three of your carts have their lids securely closed to prevent lightweight recyclables and loose trash from blowing into Azusa's streets and local waterways.
Spring/Summer
March - AugustWhen trimming overgrown shrubs or trees during the peak growing season, you can tie large brush trimmings into bundles and easily schedule them for your free weekly bulky item pickup if they do not fit inside your green organics cart.
About Azusa Waste Management
Embracing Azusa's SB 1383 Organic Waste Mandates
Since January 2022, Azusa has partnered with Athens Services to implement a fully automated three-cart waste collection system, transitioning away from the old manual hand-tossed service managed directly by Azusa Light & Water. This modernization ensures full compliance with California’s Senate Bill 1383, which mandates the diversion of methane-producing organic waste from local landfills. Every single-family residence is now equipped with a 96-gallon green cart specifically reserved for landscape trimmings and food scraps, which are subsequently processed into nutrient-rich compost or mulch.
The Unique Benefit of Unlimited Bulky Item Pickups
While many Southern California municipalities heavily restrict residents to just two or three bulky item collections a year, the City of Azusa offers an incredible residential perk: unlimited weekly bulky waste pickups at no additional charge. Residents can effortlessly dispose of old mattresses, couches, and large household appliances year-round. However, to guarantee collection and avoid missed stops, you must contact Athens Services at least 24 hours prior to your normal service day to schedule the pickup. The hauler highly recommends placing no more than five items on the curb per individual request.
Strict Transparent Bag Rules for Food Waste
When collecting messy food scraps like meat bones, coffee grounds, and vegetable peels, residents often prefer to bag their waste before tossing it into the green organics cart. However, Azusa enforces a very specific rule regarding this practice: if you choose to bag your organic waste, you are exclusively permitted to use clear or transparent bags. Standard opaque black or white trash bags are strictly prohibited in the green cart because they prevent processing facilities from visually verifying the contents, leading to widespread system contamination.
Navigating Household Hazardous and Electronic Waste
Household hazardous waste (HHW) such as wet paint, motor oil, and pool chemicals—along with electronic waste like old televisions, computers, and flashlights—are strictly banned from all curbside carts. Tossing these volatile items into your black or blue bins poses a severe fire hazard to Athens Services' automated collection trucks. Azusa residents are encouraged to safely utilize Los Angeles County's free HHW roundups (accessible via 888CleanLA) or attend the city's periodic local Shred-a-Thon and E-Waste drop-off events.
Drop-off Facilities
Los Angeles County SAFE Centers (S.A.F.E. Collection Centers)
Multiple regional locations (Visit 888CleanLA.com for the nearest center)
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Is bulky waste pickup really unlimited in Azusa?
Yes! Unlike many neighboring cities, Azusa residents can request bulky item pickup weekly at no additional charge. However, Athens Services recommends setting out no more than five items per request, and you must schedule the pickup at least 24 hours in advance by calling (888) 336-6100.
Can I use regular trash bags for my food waste in the green cart?
No. If you choose to bag your food scraps before placing them in the green organics cart, you are strictly required to use clear or transparent bags. Opaque bags prevent visual inspection and will be treated as contamination by the sorting facility.
What happens to my recyclables after they are collected by Athens?
Athens Services transports Azusa's recyclables to a specialized Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), where commingled paper, glass, plastics, and metals are sorted, recovered, and baled so they can be manufactured into new products instead of rotting in a landfill.
Are Christmas trees collected curbside in Azusa?
Yes, Athens Services collects holiday trees at the curb, delivering them to landfills for beneficial mulch or to their American Organics compost facility. However, trees treated with artificial flocking or fire retardants will not be accepted for composting and must be disposed of as trash.