Black Bin (Trash)
All refuse must be placed inside the container with the lid closed completely. Do not overfill or place extra bags on the ground.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard non-recyclable garbage
- ✓Diapers and pet waste
- ✓Polystyrene foam (Styrofoam)
- ✓Chip bags and multi-layer snack wrappers
- ✓Broken ceramics and glassware
- ✓Treated or painted wood
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Items must be empty, clean, and dry. Do not bag recyclables; place them loose directly into the blue container.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean, dry paper and mail
- ✓Flattened cardboard and corrugated fiberboard
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (rinsed)
- ✓Plastic containers, jugs, and bottles (#1-7)
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Food waste and liquids
- ✕Electronic waste
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses, wires)
- ✕Food-soiled paper
Yard Waste Bin
Place organic materials directly into the green cart. Do not use plastic bags. Keep the lid closed to deter pests.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings, leaves, and weeds
- ✓Branches and plant prunings
- ✓Food scraps (meat, bones, dairy, fruit, veggies)
- ✓Coffee grounds and paper filters
- ✓Food-soiled paper (pizza boxes, paper napkins)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
On-demand (Request required)
Placement
Place items at the curb only on your confirmed pickup day. Keep items clear of sidewalks, mailboxes, and collection carts.
Accepted
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Large furniture (sofas, tables, chairs)
- ✓ Major household appliances
- ✓ Electronic waste (upon special request)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste (chemicals, paint, oil)
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Automotive parts and tires
- ✕ Items that cannot be safely lifted by two people
Standard residential accounts typically include an allotment for bulky item pickups. Additional fees may apply for excessive quantities.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Collection is delayed by one day if your service day falls on or after an observed holiday during the week.
Yard Waste Exception
All organic and recycling collection follows the same holiday delay schedule as trash.
If a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there is no delay to your regular weekly collection schedule.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Plastic Bags Out of the Blue Bin
Plastic shopping bags and film are the most common contaminants in Cerritos' recycling stream. They tangle in the facility's sorting equipment and often force the entire load to be sent to the landfill. Use a reusable tote for your groceries instead.
Clean Pizza Boxes Go in Organics
If your cardboard pizza box is soaked in grease, it should go into the green organics cart, not the blue recycling cart. Grease residue prevents cardboard from being recycled into new paper products.
Stop Bagging Your Food Scraps
Unless you are using an approved ASTM D6400 certified compostable bag (where specifically allowed), please place your food scraps loose in your green cart. Standard plastic bags ruin entire loads of compost, causing them to be rejected.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuaryFollowing the holidays, Athens Services provides curbside Christmas tree collection for composting. Remove all tinsel, lights, ornaments, and stands. Flocked trees cannot be composted and must be disposed of as trash.
Summer
June - AugustDuring peak summer heat, food scraps in your green cart can generate strong odors. Try freezing meat and dairy scraps in a container inside your freezer until collection morning to keep your bin clean and pest-free.
Fall
October - NovemberAs the season turns and leaves begin to fall, avoid overstuffing your green cart. If the lid does not close, the automated truck arm may be unable to lift it, and high winds common in the region could blow debris into the street.
About Cerritos Waste Management
Mastering the Three-Cart System in Cerritos
In compliance with California's SB 1383 mandate, the City of Cerritos partners with Athens Services to provide an automated three-cart waste collection system. Residents utilize a black cart for general landfill trash, a blue cart for recyclable materials, and a green cart specifically for organic waste. Properly sorting your waste into these three streams is essential for meeting state diversion goals and keeping our community environmentally sustainable.
SB 1383 and Your Green Organics Cart
Organic waste recycling is no longer optional for Cerritos households. All food scraps—including meat, dairy, eggshells, and coffee grounds—along with yard trimmings must be placed directly into your green organics cart. To avoid contamination, please do not use standard plastic or bio-plastic bags to line your organics container, as these materials do not break down in the industrial composting process.
Convenient Bulky Item Collection
Cerritos residents can easily dispose of large, oversized items through Athens Services’ on-call bulky item pickup program. Whether you are discarding old mattresses, sofas, or worn-out major appliances, simply submit a request through the Athens Services portal or by phone. Please remember to schedule your pickup at least 24 hours in advance and refrain from placing items on the curb until your request has been formally confirmed by the hauler.
Safe Disposal of Hazardous and Electronic Waste
For the safety of our sanitation workers and the environment, items like batteries, motor oil, electronic devices, and paint are strictly prohibited from all curbside carts. Tossing these items into your blue or black bins can cause hazardous fires in collection trucks. Cerritos residents are encouraged to utilize Los Angeles County’s Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection centers for the responsible disposal of these toxic materials.
Drop-off Facilities
Los Angeles County HHW Collection Center
Various regional locations (e.g., S.A.F.E. Centers)
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I schedule a bulky item pickup in Cerritos?
You must contact Athens Services at (855) 557-1007 or use their online service request form. Please wait for a confirmation from the hauler before placing any items on the curb.
Are my recyclables really being recycled if I put plastic bags in the blue bin?
No. Plastic bags and film are 'tanglers' that stop recycling facility machinery. When sorting centers detect them, they often reject the entire batch of recycling. Always keep your recyclables loose and bag-free.
Can I put my food scraps in a plastic bag before throwing them in the green bin?
No. Plastic bags are prohibited in the green organics cart because they cannot be composted. Please place food scraps directly into the green cart or use a paper bag.
What should I do if a holiday falls on my trash day?
If your collection day falls on or after an observed holiday, your service will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week. If the holiday falls on a weekend, your schedule will remain unchanged.