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
!Contamination Tips
Ditch the Plastic Liners
Never put plastic bags in your blue recycling bin. They jam the spinning screens at the sorting facility. If you collect recyclables in a plastic bag inside your home, empty the items loosely into the blue cart and throw the bag in the black trash bin.
Food Belongs in the Green Bin
Food residue completely ruins clean paper and cardboard in the recycling bin. Make sure all takeout containers are free of grease, or simply toss your 100% fiber-based, food-soiled paper directly into the green organics cart instead.
Avoid Wax-Coated Cartons in Organics
While paper napkins and pizza boxes are great for the green cart, do not toss milk cartons, soup boxes, or any paper containers with a wax or plastic lining into the organics bin, as they will not compost.
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.
About Culver City Waste Management
Complete Municipal Waste Services in the Heart of Screenland
Culver City independently manages its own solid waste through the Public Works Environmental Programs and Operations Division. This dedicated municipal operation ensures that residential trash, recycling, and organic waste are collected efficiently each week. By operating its own fleet, the city maintains strict quality control over its ambitious waste diversion goals and offers tailored, community-focused customer support.
Composting Made Easy with Industrial Organics
Complying with California's SB 1383 mandate is uniquely simple in Culver City thanks to the city's processing partnership with Athens Services. Your green cart accepts a wide range of organic materials, including traditional yard trimmings and complex food scraps like meat, bones, and dairy. Because the organics are processed at an advanced industrial-scale facility, these hard-to-compost items break down safely, turning dinner leftovers into nutrient-rich soil.
Navigating Culver City's Bulky Item Program
If you're clearing out the garage or replacing old furniture, taking advantage of the city's bulky item collection helps keep local streets clean and prevents illegal dumping. Single-family residents are granted two complimentary curbside collections every year, allowing up to six large items per appointment. Multi-family households receive one free pickup annually. Pickups must be scheduled in advance through the city's web portal or by calling customer service.
Protecting Local Waterways from Plastics
Located just a short distance from the Pacific coast, Culver City takes an aggressive stance on plastic pollution and waste reduction. The city has enacted strict bans on single-use plastics, including polystyrene foam (Styrofoam) containers, plastic utensils, and non-compostable takeout packaging. This local legislation reflects a deep community commitment to zero-waste initiatives, pushing residents to use reusable items or 100% fiber-based alternatives.
Stopping 'Wish-Cycling' in the Blue Cart
One of the biggest challenges at local sorting facilities is 'wish-cycling'—the practice of tossing unverified items into the recycling bin hoping they can be salvaged. In Culver City, residents are repeatedly reminded to keep tanglers like garden hoses, electrical cords, and string lights out of the blue bin, as they severely damage mechanical sorting equipment. When in doubt, residents should utilize the Recycle Coach app for instant disposal guidance.
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.