Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Culver City
Trash Day
Trash collection runs Monday through Friday, depending on your neighborhood route zone.
Recycling
Recycling (blue bin) is collected weekly on the same day as your scheduled trash pickup.
Yard Waste
Organics and yard waste (green bin) are collected weekly on the same day as your regular trash pickup.
Set Out Time
By 7:00 AM on collection day (no earlier than 4:00 PM the day before)
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Culver City manages trash, recycling, and organics directly through its Public Works Environmental Programs & Operations Division, and invoices can be paid online or set up with automatic ACH withdrawals.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay (ACH), Mail, Phone
Black Bin (Trash)
Place carts in the street or alley by 7:00 a.m. on collection day (no earlier than 4:00 p.m. the day before) with handles pointing toward your home. Keep them 2 feet away from vehicles or poles.
Accepted Items
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Diapers and pet waste
- ✓Kitty litter
- ✓Broken plates and pottery
- ✓Incandescent light bulbs
- ✓Disposable razors and ice packs
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag recyclables; place them loosely in the bin. Ensure all glass and plastic containers are rinsed and completely empty of food and liquids.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean cardboard (flattened)
- ✓Paper and mail
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Plastic jugs and bottles
- ✓Empty cartons
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, cords, wires)
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Food-soiled paper
Yard Waste Bin
No wax-coated cartons or plastics. While fully transparent clear plastic bags are accepted, the city strongly encourages placing organic waste directly into the bin bagless.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and weeds
- ✓Leaves and branches
- ✓Fruits, vegetables, and breads
- ✓Meat, bones, and dairy
- ✓Food-soiled paper (pizza boxes, paper napkins)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
By appointment only (2 free pickups per year for single-family homes)
Placement
Place approved items at the curb no earlier than 4:00 p.m. the day before your scheduled appointment and no later than 6:00 a.m. on collection day. Keep items clear of sidewalks and vehicles.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture and mattresses
- ✓ Appliances (all fluids removed)
- ✓ Gasoline lawn mowers (fluids removed)
- ✓ Bundled pipes, lumber, or large tree trimmings (max 4 inches diameter and 5 ft long)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Commercial waste
- ✕ Dirt, rocks, bricks, and concrete
- ✕ Glass panes
- ✕ Household garbage
- ✕ Heavy auto bodies or engines
Exceeding your allotted free pickups or placing loose, improperly prepared items at the curb will result in extra charges based on the city's Adopted Refuse Rates.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If New Year's Day or Christmas Day falls on your scheduled collection day, your trash, recycling, and organics service will be delayed by one day.
Yard Waste Exception
Organics and recycling follow the exact same holiday collection schedule as standard trash.
Unlike many municipalities, Culver City maintains normal collection schedules on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving Day. Street sweeping, however, may be canceled on these dates.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Summer
June - SeptemberKeep your green organics bin smelling fresh during hot summer months by freezing smelly food scraps (like meat and dairy) until collection day. Sprinkle baking soda inside your kitchen pail to help absorb strong odors.
Fall
October - NovemberWhen doing heavy fall landscaping, ensure that all tree twigs and branches placed in the green cart are 4 feet or less in length and no more than 6 inches in diameter so the truck can easily collect them.
Winter
December - JanuaryCulver City offers a 'Park Your Tree' program for holiday tree recycling. You can drop off un-flocked trees (decorations removed) at local parks like Fox Hills or Syd Kronenthal, or cut them into pieces to fit inside your green cart.
Local Tips & Community Info
Culver City Trash & Recycling Collection Schedule
Keeping Culver City clean relies on a consistent and dependable refuse collection schedule managed by the Environmental Programs and Operations (EPO) Division. Depending on your neighborhood, your standard trash, recycling, and organics bins are collected once a week. To ensure smooth service and avoid missed pickups, residents should have all receptacles out at the curb by 6:00 AM on their designated collection day. For detailed mapping and specific neighborhood collection days, residents can verify their route on the official Culver City public works website. If you are setting up service at a new home or need to make changes to your existing service, you can easily activate your account by contacting EPO customer service directly at (310) 253-6400 during regular business hours.
How to Schedule a Bulky Waste Pickup
Getting rid of large furniture, mattresses, or old appliances is a straightforward process for Culver City residents. Single-family homes receive up to two free bulky item collections per calendar year, with a maximum of six items permitted per appointment. Multi-family residents are entitled to one free pickup annually. Because bulky waste collection is strictly managed by appointment, you must call (310) 253-6400 between 7:00 AM and 3:00 PM to reserve a slot with the city. Alternatively, you can use the city's online web form and expect an email confirmation within 72 hours. Remember that items must be placed out by 6:00 AM on the scheduled date, and materials like construction debris, hazardous waste, or heavy engine parts are strictly prohibited.
Organics and Yard Waste Disposal Rules
Culver City emphasizes sustainable waste management, which includes strict guidelines for proper yard waste and organics disposal. Yard trimmings, grass clippings, and leaves must be placed inside the designated green organics bin. If you need to dispose of branches, lumber, or shrub trimmings that will not fit into the cart, they must be bundled securely with string. Ensure these bundles do not exceed four inches in diameter or five feet in length. Mixing regular household garbage or plastic bags into the green organics bin will result in contamination, meaning your waste might not be collected until the bin is properly sorted and cleaned.
Holiday Service Interruptions and Delays
Most national holidays do not disrupt the standard Culver City refuse schedule, but there are two important exceptions to remember. Trash and recycling services operate completely normally on major holidays like Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving. However, if Christmas Day or New Year's Day happens to fall on your regular trash collection day, all city collections for the rest of that week will be pushed back by one day. It is highly recommended to mark your calendar so you do not inadvertently leave your carts out on the street longer than necessary and risk a neighborhood code violation.
Cart Placement Tips and Missed Pickups
Proper bin placement prevents skipped collections and keeps the streets safe for neighborhood traffic and municipal street sweepers. Always place your bins directly at the curb, ensuring they are not behind a fence or blocking the pedestrian sidewalk. Ensure there is plenty of space around each cart so the automated collection trucks can easily grab them. Keep all bins away from parked cars, mailboxes, and fire hydrants. If your trash was completely missed despite following all the rules, or if your cart lid or wheel is physically broken, contact EPO at (310) 253-6400 to request a repair or report the skipped route. Keep in mind that dirty or foul-smelling carts will not be replaced; only structurally damaged bins qualify for city replacement.
Drop-off Facilities
Hyperion S.A.F.E. Collection Center
7660 West Imperial Highway, Gate B, Playa Del Rey, CA 90293
Materials Accepted
UCLA S.A.F.E. Center
550 Charles E. Young Dr. West, Los Angeles, CA 90025
Materials Accepted
Julian Dixon Branch Library (Battery Drop-off)
4975 Overland Ave, Culver City, CA 90230
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put meat and bones in my Culver City green bin?
Yes. Because Culver City's organic waste processor (Athens Services) uses industrial-scale composting, items like meat, bones, and dairy can break down properly, unlike in typical backyard compost setups.
Will my trash pickup be delayed on Thanksgiving or Labor Day?
No. The Culver City Environmental Programs division maintains regular collection schedules on most holidays, including Thanksgiving, Labor Day, and Independence Day. Trash is only delayed if New Year's Day or Christmas Day falls on your regular pickup day.
How many free bulky item pickups do I get in Culver City?
Single-family households are eligible for two free bulky item pickups per calendar year (with a maximum of 6 items per pickup). Multi-family residents receive one free pickup per year. Appointments must be scheduled by calling 310-253-6400 or using the city's web portal.
Where can I safely dispose of old paint and chemicals?
Household hazardous waste (HHW) is strictly prohibited from curbside bins. You can take paint, motor oil, and other toxics to the Hyperion S.A.F.E. Center located at 7660 West Imperial Highway in Playa Del Rey, which operates on weekends from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.