Gray Bin (Trash)
Use the Gray cart exclusively for non-recyclable, non-organic, and non-hazardous waste. All trash should be bagged, and the lid must close completely. Do not overfill the container.
Accepted Items
- ✓Pet waste and cat litter
- ✓Diapers
- ✓Styrofoam and foam containers
- ✓Broken ceramics and dishes
- ✓Candy wrappers and chip bags
- ✓Waxed paper containers
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Place recyclables loosely in the Blue cart. Materials must be empty, clean, and dry. Never bag your recyclables, as plastic bags jam the sorting machinery at the material recovery facility.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastic bottles and containers
- ✓Clean paper and junk mail
- ✓Flattened cardboard and paperboard
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Food waste and liquids
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Garden hoses and cords
- ✕Clothing and textiles
- ✕Electronic waste
Yard Waste Bin
The Green cart is for organic materials only. Do not place plastic bags, treated lumber, dirt, rocks, or animal waste in this bin. Food scraps can be layered with yard waste to minimize odors.
Accepted Items
- ✓Meat, fish, poultry, and dairy
- ✓Fruits, vegetables, and grains
- ✓Coffee grounds and tea bags
- ✓Food-soiled paper and pizza boxes
- ✓Leaves, branches, and grass clippings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Unlimited free bulky item pickups per calendar year for residential customers.
Placement
Place items in front of your property on the parkway by the night before your scheduled collection. Do not place items out earlier than the Thursday before a Friday pickup.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture and couches
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Large appliances (water heaters, microwaves)
- ✓ Electronic waste (televisions, computers)
- ✓ Bundled tree trimmings
- ✓ Extra bags of trash
Not Accepted
- ✕ Automotive parts and tires
- ✕ Asphalt, concrete, cement, and dirt
- ✕ Hazardous wastes (paint, solvents, pesticides)
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
The pickups are free of charge. However, placing items on the curb without officially scheduling an appointment through WM may result in an administrative citation and cleanup fee from Public Works.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When a designated holiday falls on a weekday, your collection day, and all subsequent collection days that week, will be delayed by one day. If the holiday falls on a weekend, there are no service delays.
Yard Waste Exception
Organics and recycling carts follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as the standard trash collection.
Minor holidays such as Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, and Veterans Day do not cause service interruptions.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastic Bags Out of the Blue Cart
The most common recycling mistake is bagging recyclables in plastic garbage bags. Plastic bags wrap around the spinning gears at the recycling plant, causing major breakdowns. Always keep your recyclables loose.
Styrofoam is Not Recyclable Curbside
Even if your Styrofoam cup or packaging block has a recycling symbol on it, it cannot go into your Blue cart. Expanded polystyrene must always be thrown into the Gray trash cart.
Animal Waste Belongs in the Trash
While dog poop and kitty litter might seem 'organic', they contain harmful pathogens that ruin commercial compost. Never place pet waste in your Green cart; it must be securely bagged and placed in the Gray cart.
Seasonal Information
Post-Holiday
Late December to Mid-JanuaryWaste Management typically offers a free curbside Christmas tree recycling program. Natural trees must be completely stripped of all decorations, lights, tinsel, and stands before being placed at the curb on your regular collection day.
Year-Round
VariousKeep an eye on the city calendar for L.A. County's mobile Household Hazardous Waste and E-Waste roundups, which are occasionally held locally at Morgan Park (4100 Baldwin Park Blvd).
About Baldwin Park Waste Management
Mastering Baldwin Park's Automated Three-Cart System
Residential waste collection in Baldwin Park is managed exclusively by Waste Management (WM). To align with state standards, the city utilizes a strict three-cart system: a Gray cart for standard refuse, a Blue cart for recyclables, and a Green cart for organics and yard waste. Residents must place their carts on the street with the wheels against the curb by 6:00 A.M. on their scheduled collection day. Per city municipal codes designed to maintain neighborhood aesthetics, carts cannot be placed on the curb more than 24 hours before collection and must be stored out of public view immediately following service to avoid administrative citations.
Complying with the SB 1383 Organics Mandate
In a concerted effort to combat climate change and reduce methane emissions, Baldwin Park strictly enforces California Senate Bill 1383. This law fundamentally changes how you dispose of kitchen scraps. Instead of tossing food waste into your Gray trash cart, all food scraps—including meat, dairy, coffee grounds, and food-soiled paper—must now be placed directly into your Green organics cart alongside your yard trimmings. WM will randomly audit carts, so proper sorting is critical to avoid contamination tags and ensure the material can be successfully converted into compost or renewable energy.
Take Advantage of Unlimited Free Bulky Item Pickups
Unlike many neighboring municipalities that limit residents to just two or three bulk collections a year, Baldwin Park offers its residential customers an incredible benefit: unlimited bulky item pickups at no additional cost. You can place up to three cubic yards of bulky waste (such as old furniture, mattresses, and e-waste) out for collection per request. However, this is not a free-for-all; you must call Waste Management at (800) 266-7551 at least 48 hours before your regular pickup day to schedule the service. Leaving items on the parkway without an appointment is considered illegal dumping and will result in a fine from Public Works.
Safely Disposing of Household Hazardous Waste
Toxic chemicals, wet paint, motor oil, and old batteries are strictly prohibited from all three of your curbside carts. To help residents properly dispose of these dangerous materials, Los Angeles County Public Works and the Sanitation Districts host free mobile HHW and E-Waste Roundup events throughout the year, occasionally right in Baldwin Park at locations like Morgan Park. Alternatively, residents can safely transport up to 15 gallons or 125 pounds of hazardous waste to any permanent L.A. City S.A.F.E. Center, which operates on weekends year-round.
Drop-off Facilities
Washington Blvd. S.A.F.E. Center
2649 E. Washington Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90021
Materials Accepted
Randall Street S.A.F.E. Center
11025 Randall Street, Sun Valley, CA 91352
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How early can I put my trash cans out in Baldwin Park?
To comply with city property maintenance codes, waste containers may be placed at the curb for removal no earlier than 24 hours before your collection day. They must be removed from public view immediately following collection.
Does Baldwin Park have a limit on bulky item pickups?
No. Baldwin Park residential customers are granted unlimited free bulky item pickups throughout the year. However, you are limited to 3 cubic yards per pickup, and you must call Waste Management at (800) 266-7551 at least 48 hours in advance to schedule.
Can I throw food scraps in my Gray trash cart?
No. Under the state-mandated SB 1383 guidelines, all organic waste—including meat, dairy, vegetables, coffee grounds, and food-soiled paper—must be disposed of in your Green organics cart to keep it out of the landfill.
What happens if a holiday falls on a Wednesday?
If an observed holiday (like Christmas or the 4th of July) falls on a Wednesday, collections for Monday and Tuesday will occur as normal. However, Wednesday's collection will shift to Thursday, Thursday to Friday, and Friday to Saturday.