Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Gardena
Trash Day
Varies by neighborhood zone
Recycling
Varies by neighborhood zone (collected weekly on trash day)
Yard Waste
Varies by neighborhood zone (collected weekly on trash day)
Set Out Time
By 7:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Curbside waste collection is provided by WM. Depending on your service address, billing is handled either directly through WM or bundled on your Golden State Water utility statement.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail
Pro Tip / Discount
Residents age 60 and older or individuals receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) can apply for a Utility Users Tax (UUT) exemption through the City Administrative Services Department.
Black Bin (Trash)
Place all non-recyclable, non-compostable household refuse in the black trash cart. Trash should be bagged to prevent litter and spills when the truck empties the cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastic film and shrink wrap
- ✓Polystyrene foam containers
- ✓Diapers and bagged pet waste
- ✓Broken glass and ceramics
- ✓Shoes, clothing, and toys that cannot be donated
- ✓Chip bags and candy wrappers
- ✓Hoses, disposable gloves, and hairnets
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Keep recyclables loose! Do not bag your recycling materials. Place items directly into the blue cart, ensuring they are relatively clean and dry.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard and mixed paper
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Clean foil
- ✓Rigid plastic bottles, tubs, and jugs
- ✓Milk and juice cartons
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Food waste and liquids
- ✕Foam packaging
- ✕Clothing and textiles
- ✕Batteries and electronics
- ✕Hazardous waste
Yard Waste Bin
Place food scraps into a clear plastic bag before depositing them into the green cart. Yard trimmings and untreated wood should remain loose in the container.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings, leaves, and flowers
- ✓Small branches (under 3 inches thick and 4 feet long)
- ✓Untreated, clean wood scraps
- ✓Food scraps (meat, dairy, coffee grounds, leftovers)
- ✓Food-soiled paper and greasy pizza boxes
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Four free pickups per calendar year.
Placement
You must call WM Customer Service at (310) 366-7600 by 2:30 p.m. the day prior to your regularly scheduled service day to arrange the pickup.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (chairs, sofas)
- ✓ Bagged mattresses
- ✓ Appliances (dishwashers, microwaves)
- ✓ E-waste (TVs, computers, monitors)
- ✓ Bundled tree branches and scrap wood
Not Accepted
- ✕ Loose trash
- ✕ Household hazardous waste (paint, cleaners)
- ✕ Spas, camper shells, and pianos
- ✕ Items requiring more than two people to safely handle
- ✕ Construction and demolition dirt/concrete
If you require more than four pickups in a year, or if your items exceed the three-cubic-yard limit, additional collections can be scheduled for a fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When a designated holiday falls on a weekday, collection services will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Green organics carts are subject to the exact same holiday delay schedule as black trash and blue recycling carts.
If the holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there will be no delay in your scheduled weekday service. Always place carts curbside by 7:00 a.m.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Spring & Fall
April & OctoberGardena hosts biannual community events, typically in the Spring and Fall, which include free residential paper shredding (up to 5 file boxes per tenant) at Rowley Park and neighborhood cleanups for multi-family complexes.
Winter
Late December to JanuaryDuring the winter holiday season, remember that metallic wrapping paper, ribbons, and tissue paper cannot be recycled and must go in the black trash cart. Check WM's schedule for post-holiday tree collection dates.
Local Tips & Community Info
Waste Collection Services in Gardena
As of May 2026, the City of Gardena transitioned its residential and commercial refuse collection exclusively to Waste Management (WM). Whether you live in a single-family home or manage a local business, understanding your specific pickup timeline is key to keeping our neighborhoods clean. Most residences receive a standard 64-gallon gray cart with a black lid for general household trash, though larger 96-gallon upgrades are available upon request for an additional fee. To discover your exact neighborhood collection day, you can utilize the interactive schedule map provided on the official waste portal.
Curbside Container Guidelines
To guarantee smooth automated truck servicing, all garbage, recycling, and organics bins must be wheeled to the curb no later than 7:00 a.m. on your designated service day. When positioning your carts, make sure the wheels rest against the curb and face your property. A crucial rule to remember is the three-foot clearance distance—your bins must be situated at least three feet away from parked vehicles, trees, fire hydrants, and mailboxes. Be sure that all bagged trash fits entirely inside the gray cart so the lid completely shuts, preventing loose litter from blowing into the streets.
California Organics and Recycling Mandates
Gardena fully complies with the state's SB 1383 legislation, which means residents can no longer throw food scraps into their regular garbage cans. Instead, you must carefully separate all yard debris, food-soiled paper, and kitchen food scraps into the designated organics cart. Standard recyclables—such as flattened cardboard, rigid plastics, and empty glass bottles—have their own separate bin. Keeping contaminants like plastic bags out of the organics and recycling carts is strictly enforced. If you need a refresher on what goes where, the city's visual sorting guide is available for download online.
Managing Bulky Waste and Large Items
When you are clearing out the garage or replacing old furniture, do not leave oversized items sitting on the sidewalk. Mattresses, broken appliances, and heavy couches require a special bulky item pickup. Residents must directly schedule this heavy lifting service ahead of time through the customer support portal or by calling the main dispatch line at (310) 366-7600. Keep in mind that construction debris, such as drywall or concrete, as well as hazardous materials like motor oil and wet paint, are strictly prohibited from both curbside carts and standard bulk collections.
How Holiday Disruptions Work
Trash collection schedules throughout Los Angeles County are typically impacted by major national holidays. When holidays like Independence Day, Thanksgiving, or Christmas occur during the standard workweek, your routine garbage pickup will be pushed back by one full day. For example, if your usual collection falls on a Thursday holiday, expect the truck to arrive on Friday. Regular schedules resume the following week, so always double-check the local holiday calendar online during the festive seasons to ensure your bins are out at the proper time.
Steps for Missed Servicing
Occasionally, a bin might get overlooked during a route. If you correctly placed your containers out before 7:00 a.m. and they remain unemptied by the evening, you can quickly report the issue. Gardena residents can submit a missed pickup ticket via the digital guest portal or by calling the service center within 24 hours of the missed collection. Prompt reporting ensures that a recovery truck can be dispatched to your street as soon as possible. Additionally, eligible residents have the option to apply for convenient door-to-door Valet Service if bringing bins to the curb is difficult.
Drop-off Facilities
S.A.F.E. Collection Center (Hyperion)
7660 W. Imperial Hwy, Gate B, Playa Del Rey, CA
Materials Accepted
Amerigas Gardena (Propane Tanks Only)
16800 S. Main St, Gardena, CA 90248
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Did the trash collection company in Gardena recently change?
Yes. Effective May 1, 2026, Waste Management (WM) officially took over residential and commercial waste hauling services from Waste Resources. However, collection days, rates, and cart colors remain the same for residents.
How do I dispose of food scraps in Gardena?
Under SB 1383, all food scraps must go into your green organics cart. According to WM guidelines for Gardena, residents should place food waste (including meat, dairy, and leftovers) into a clear plastic bag before putting it in the green container alongside loose yard waste.
How many free bulky item pickups do Gardena residents receive?
Residents get up to four (4) free bulky item or e-waste pickups per calendar year. Each pickup is limited to three (3) cubic yards of material. You must call WM at (310) 366-7600 by 2:30 p.m. the day before your regular service day to schedule it.
Does WM pick up trash on holidays in Gardena?
WM observes six major holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. If the holiday falls on a weekday, service is delayed by one day for the rest of that week. Weekend holidays do not cause a delay.