Black/Grey Cart Bin (Trash)
All standard garbage must be placed inside the container with lids completely closed. Do not overload or overfill the bin, as items placed outside the cart will not be collected.
Accepted Items
- ✓Unrecyclable plastics (#3, #4, #6, #7)
- ✓Styrofoam and foam products
- ✓Plastic bags and film
- ✓Diapers and pet waste
- ✓Palm fronds, succulents, and cacti
- ✓Chip bags and wrappers
Blue Barrel Bin (Recycling)
Recyclables must be completely empty of liquid and food. Place items loosely inside the cart without bagging them in plastic.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics #1, #2, and #5
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (no lids)
- ✓Clean paper, magazines, and mail
- ✓Flattened corrugated cardboard
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, wires, cords)
- ✕Electronic waste
- ✕Food-soiled paper and pizza boxes
- ✕Ceramics and window glass
Yard Waste Bin
Do not place any plastics, bio-plastics, or petroleum-based liners in this cart. Palm fronds, cacti, and pet waste are strictly prohibited from the organics bin.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and weeds
- ✓Leaves and small branches
- ✓Food scraps (meat, dairy, produce)
- ✓100% fiber-based compostable takeout containers
- ✓Greasy pizza boxes and paper napkins
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
On-demand (up to 5 items per pickup)
Placement
Place approved bulky items safely at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your scheduled pickup day, keeping them clear of the street and sidewalks.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture and appliances
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Carpet
- ✓ Bundled yard trimmings (under 4 feet long)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Dirt, concrete, and rocks
- ✕ Hazardous waste
- ✕ Electronic waste (without special arrangement)
This service is free for Downey residential customers. Multi-family and commercial properties should contact Athens directly for pricing and options.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on a weekday (Monday through Friday), collection services for the remainder of the week will be delayed by one day.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste and organics collection follow the exact same one-day holiday delay schedule as standard trash and recycling.
If a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there will be absolutely no delay in your regular collection schedule.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Recyclables Loose
Never bag your recyclables in plastic garbage bags. The plastic film wraps around processing equipment at the Athens MRF, causing severe system shutdowns and safety hazards for workers.
Divert Desert Plants to the Landfill
While most yard trimmings go in the green cart, tough, fibrous plants like palm fronds, cacti, and succulents cannot be composted properly. Place these specifically in your black trash bin.
No Cords or Hoses in the Blue Cart
Tanglers like garden hoses, extension cords, and Christmas lights do immense damage to recycling sorting machinery. Throw them in the black cart or donate them if they still function.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December to JanuaryAthens Services offers an extensive post-holiday tree pickup program. Ensure your Christmas tree is completely free of ornaments, lights, stands, and artificial flocking before placing it at the curb for collection.
Spring
March to MayAs spring cleaning kicks into gear, remember to schedule a bulky item pickup for old furniture rather than overfilling your black cart. You are permitted up to five items per scheduled request.
About Downey Waste Management
Navigating Downey's Athens Services Collection System
In the City of Downey, residential waste and recycling collection is managed through an exclusive franchise agreement with Athens Services, who recently took over operations from CalMet Services. To ensure a smooth, automated pickup, residents must wheel their carts to the curb either the night before or by 6:00 a.m. on their scheduled collection day. Carts must be placed side-by-side with the handles facing the home, keeping a safe distance from parked cars, fire hydrants, and mailboxes so the mechanical arms can safely grab the bins.
Mastering the Blue Recycling Barrel in Downey
Downey utilizes a single-stream recycling system through the iconic Blue Barrel. Residents can mix clean paper, broken-down cardboard boxes, glass bottles, and plastics numbered 1, 2, and 5 all in the same cart. However, a major issue at local material recovery facilities (MRFs) is 'wish-cycling' flexible plastics. Plastic grocery bags, shrink wrap, and chip bags must never go in the blue bin because they easily tangle the intricate sorting screens. Always toss your recyclables into the cart loose rather than bagging them up.
Organics and Food Waste Compliance
Compliant with California’s SB 1383 mandate, Downey's green waste program has expanded into a comprehensive organics recycling effort. Residents are required to place all food scraps, including meat, dairy, vegetables, and 100% fiber-based food-soiled paper (like greasy pizza boxes) into their green cart alongside traditional yard trimmings. Notably, certain desert plants like palm fronds, cacti, and succulents do not decompose correctly in commercial composting facilities and are strictly banned from the green cart—they must be placed in the black landfill cart instead.
Disposing of Bulky Items the Right Way
Instead of resorting to illegal dumping, Downey residents benefit from a generous bulky item pickup program. Each household can request the free collection of up to five large items per scheduled pickup, simply by contacting Athens Services at least 24 hours before their normal trash day. This covers large household goods like mattresses, sofas, washing machines, and even bundled yard waste (tied bundles under four feet long). Please note that construction debris and electronic waste are prohibited from standard bulk pickup without special arrangements.
Drop-off Facilities
Downey Area Recycling and Transfer Facility (DART)
9770 Washburn Rd, Downey, CA 90241
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the residential trash hauler for the City of Downey?
The City of Downey operates under an exclusive franchise agreement with Athens Services, which assumed waste management operations from CalMet Services. You can reach their customer service at (888) 336-6100.
How do I properly dispose of palm fronds and succulents?
Due to their tough, fibrous nature and inability to properly break down in commercial composting facilities, palm fronds, cacti, and succulents must be placed in your black landfill cart, never the green organics cart.
How many bulky items can I throw away for free?
Downey residents can request the free collection of up to five (5) large bulky items per scheduled pickup. You must call Athens Services or use their online portal in advance to get on the routing schedule.
Are trash pickups delayed on all federal holidays?
No, Athens Services only observes six major holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Other holidays like Veterans Day or Presidents' Day will not interrupt your schedule.