Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Azusa
Trash Day
Varies by neighborhood zone
Recycling
Same day as trash pickup
Yard Waste
Same day as trash pickup
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Curbside trash and recycling services are billed directly by Athens Services on a quarterly basis rather than bundled on your city water and electric bill.
Billing Cycle
Quarterly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail
Pro Tip / Discount
Low-income, senior (age 62+), and disability assistance programs are available for qualifying city utility assessments and services.
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
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.
Local Tips & Community Info
Regular Trash & Recycling Pickup Schedule in Azusa
In the city of Azusa, California, regular curbside garbage collection is managed by Athens Services. To ensure your waste is picked up without any issues, residents must roll their trash, recycling, and organics bins to the curb the night before their scheduled collection day, or by 6:00 A.M. at the latest on the day of service. It is essential to leave adequate space between each container so the automated trucks can grab them easily. Be sure that all refuse is placed entirely inside the barrels with the lids completely closed. Overloaded bins will not be serviced, and placing additional trash bags on the ground could result in a code violation. For questions regarding your specific neighborhood's collection day, you can check the interactive collection map on the Athens Services or city website.
Sorting Your Azusa Recycling and Trash
Proper sorting helps the city meet California's strict recycling goals. Your blue recycling bin is reserved for clean, dry recyclables. This includes broken-down cardboard boxes, newspapers, magazines, office paper, and mail. You can also recycle empty plastic bottles, beverage jugs, detergent containers, and clean glass jars. Keep in mind that food residue ruins a recycling load, so always rinse your containers before tossing them. Items that belong in the standard trash barrel include non-recyclable plastics, wrappers, heavily soiled paper, and general household refuse. Never place e-waste, hazardous materials, or bulky items into any of your standard curbside carts.
How to Schedule a Bulky Item Pickup
Got an old couch, mattress, or broken refrigerator taking up space? Azusa residents are eligible for free bulky item pickups through Athens Services. Instead of risking a service interruption by stuffing large items into your regular trash bin, simply request a special collection. You can schedule this convenient service by calling the customer support line at (855) 557-1007 or by filling out a Bulky Item Pick-Up form online. Please remember to schedule your pickup in advance, as the trucks need to be properly routed to accommodate oversized appliances and furniture. The city highly encourages donating gently used items to local charities before sending them to the landfill.
Handling Yard Waste and Organics
California law requires all municipalities to separate organic waste from regular trash. In Azusa, your green waste bin is meant for both yard trimmings and food scraps. Acceptable organic waste includes grass clippings, leaves, small branches, fruit peels, vegetable scraps, and coffee grounds. By keeping organic matter out of the landfill, the city reduces harmful greenhouse gas emissions. Make sure not to throw plastic bags, treated wood, or dirt into the green waste container, as these contaminants can ruin the composting process.
Azusa Holiday Trash Delay Schedule
Trash collection schedules in Azusa are adjusted for major national holidays. Athens Services observes New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. If one of these observed holidays falls on a weekday, all garbage and recycling collection will be delayed by exactly one day for the remainder of that week. For example, if July 4th is on a Tuesday, Tuesday's pickup will happen on Wednesday, and Friday's route will be collected on Saturday. If the holiday lands on a weekend, your standard collection schedule remains completely unaffected.
Dealing with Missed Pickups and Hazardous Waste
Occasionally, a bin might get missed during the morning route. If your containers were out by 6:00 A.M. but were skipped, wait until late afternoon and then contact the Athens Services residential customer service line at (833) 791-2375 to report the issue. They will typically dispatch a truck to resolve the missed pickup promptly. For hazardous waste such as motor oil, paint, batteries, or harsh cleaning chemicals, you cannot use curbside collection. Residents must bring these dangerous materials to an L.A. County Household Hazardous Waste collection event, or call to schedule a specialized drop-off appointment.
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.