Black Bin (Trash)
Place the black cart at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on Wednesday. Ensure 3 feet of clearance between the cart and any other obstacles (cars, mailboxes, other carts). Keep out of bike lanes when possible.
Accepted Items
- ✓Pet waste and kitty litter
- ✓Diapers
- ✓Polystyrene (Styrofoam #6) packaging
- ✓Plastics labeled #7 (BPA, PLA)
- ✓Treated or painted wood
- ✓Non-recyclable wrappers and film
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Items should be placed loosely in the blue cart without bags. Containers should be completely empty and reasonably clean of food residue.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics #1 through #5 (look for the triangle symbol)
- ✓Flattened cardboard and paperboard
- ✓Mixed paper, junk mail, and books without bindings
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum, tin cans, and clean foil
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and grocery sacks
- ✕Styrofoam (#6 plastic)
- ✕Other plastics (#7 plastic)
- ✕Food waste or liquids
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses, wires)
Yard Waste Bin
Do not place any plastic bags in the green cart, even those labeled 'compostable'. Organic material must go in loose or be wrapped in plain paper.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings, leaves, and weeds
- ✓Tree branches and prunings
- ✓Food scraps (meat, bones, dairy, produce)
- ✓Food-soiled paper products
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly (Wednesdays), strictly regulated placement times
Placement
Place bulky items safely on the parkway/curb on Tuesday evening after 6:00 p.m. Do not block the sidewalk, bike lanes, or regular waste carts.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, chairs, tables, dressers)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Large household appliances (refrigerators, washers)
- ✓ Rolled and tied carpet
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris (concrete, dirt, tile)
- ✕ Car parts and tires
- ✕ Hazardous waste (paint, chemicals, motor oil)
- ✕ Bagged regular household trash
Contact Republic Services at (800) 299-4898 to log your bulky items for Wednesday pickup and confirm your annual free item allowances.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Republic Services does not collect on these six major holidays. If the holiday falls on a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, Cudahy's standard Wednesday collection will be delayed by one day (to Thursday).
Yard Waste Exception
Organics and recycling services follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as the standard trash service.
If a major holiday falls on a Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, Cudahy's Wednesday collection is not affected.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Check the Plastic Numbers
Cudahy's recycling facility only accepts plastics labeled #1 through #5. If a container is labeled #6 (Styrofoam) or #7 (Other/BPA/PLA), it is considered contamination and must be thrown in the black trash cart.
Never Bag Your Recyclables
The most common recycling contaminant is the plastic garbage bag. Republic Services requires all recyclables to be tossed loosely into the blue cart, as plastic bags jam the automated sorting equipment at the Material Recovery Facility.
Books Need Prep Before Recycling
While mixed paper is highly encouraged in the blue cart, fully bound books are not accepted due to the glues and tough bindings. You must remove the bindings before placing the pages in your recycling.
Seasonal Information
Winter Holidays
Late December to Early JanuaryRepublic Services provides seasonal curbside Christmas tree collection. Because Christmas and New Year's Day often push the Wednesday pickup schedule back by one day, check the city's holiday calendar to ensure you place your un-flocked, bare tree out on the correct makeup day.
Spring Cleaning
March to MayAs residents tackle spring yard cleanups, remember that you are entitled to a second green organics cart at no additional charge. Call Republic Services in advance of the heavy growing season to secure your extra capacity and avoid overloading your single cart.
About Cudahy Waste Management
City-Wide Wednesday Waste Collections
Unlike many municipalities that stagger trash pickup throughout the week, the City of Cudahy operates on a streamlined, city-wide schedule. All residential curbside collection for trash, recycling, and organic waste occurs every Wednesday morning. Republic Services, acting as the city's exclusive franchise hauler, manages this consolidated route, meaning the entire community prepares their carts on Tuesday evenings.
Strict Bulky Item Placement Regulations
Cudahy enforces stringent municipal codes regarding bulky waste to maintain clean neighborhood streets. Residents are strictly prohibited from leaving large items on the curb during the week. Bulky waste may only be placed outside on Tuesday evenings after 6:00 p.m. in preparation for Wednesday morning's pickup. Placing items on the parkway on any other day is considered illegal dumping and is actively subject to a city citation.
Cart Storage and Visibility Rules
To preserve the aesthetic appeal of local neighborhoods, Cudahy requires residents to store their waste carts out of public view. On non-collection days, all black, blue, and green carts must be stored within, adjacent to, or behind a structure, fence, or landscaping barrier that substantially screens them from the street. Carts can be rolled out up to 12 hours before Wednesday's collection and must be returned to their screened storage location within 12 hours after being emptied.
Navigating California's Organics Mandate (SB 1383)
In full compliance with California’s SB 1383 climate legislation, Cudahy residents must divert all organic materials from local landfills. This means that your green yard waste cart must also be used for all household food scraps, including meat, bones, dairy, and food-soiled paper. By capturing this organic material, Republic Services redirects it to composting and anaerobic digestion facilities, significantly reducing the generation of harmful greenhouse gases.
Free Additional Carts for High-Volume Recyclers
To encourage maximum waste diversion, the City of Cudahy and Republic Services offer a generous cart expansion program. If your household consistently generates more recyclables or green waste than your standard-issue carts can hold, you can request one additional blue recycling cart and one additional green yard waste cart entirely free of charge. Requesting more than two extra green carts or an extra black landfill cart will incur an additional fee.
Drop-off Facilities
Los Angeles County S.A.F.E. Collection Centers
Various locations (Call 888-Clean-LA for nearest weekend event)
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What day is trash picked up in Cudahy?
Trash, recycling, and organic waste are picked up city-wide every Wednesday morning. Carts should be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on Wednesday, but no earlier than 12 hours before collection.
Can I leave a mattress on the curb on Monday?
No. Cudahy strictly prohibits placing bulky items on the curb on any day other than Tuesday evening (after 6:00 p.m.) for Wednesday morning pickup. Doing so on other days can result in a citation.
Does it cost money to get an extra recycling bin?
No. Republic Services will provide one additional blue recycling cart and one additional green yard waste cart to Cudahy residents at no extra charge. Extra black trash carts do incur a fee, however.
Where should I store my trash bins on non-pickup days?
City code requires that all waste containers be stored out of public view from the street. They must be kept within, adjacent to, or behind a structure, building, fence, or landscaping.