Black Cart Bin (Trash)
Bag all trash to prevent odors. Place the black cart at the curb with wheels against the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your designated service day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Non-recyclable household garbage
- ✓Diapers and pet waste
- ✓Styrofoam packing materials
- ✓Chip bags and wrappers
- ✓Treated or heavily painted wood
Blue Cart Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag recyclables; place them loosely in the blue cart. Flatten all cardboard boxes. Ensure containers are empty and lightly rinsed.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean cardboard and paper
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Rigid plastic containers (#1-#7)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Food or liquid waste
- ✕Plastic grocery bags (unless used for organics in the green cart)
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, wires, cords)
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Electronic waste
Yard Waste Bin
Unlike most cities, Hacienda Heights residents are required to place food waste into plastic bags before tossing them into the green cart. Yard trimmings should remain loose.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings, leaves, and weeds
- ✓Tree branches and brush
- ✓Fruit and vegetable scraps (bagged in plastic)
- ✓Meat, dairy, and bones (bagged in plastic)
- ✓Food-soiled paper
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Unlimited free on-call pickups per year for eligible residents.
Placement
Do not place bulky items at the curb until you have received confirmation from VVS. Place them out the night before or by 6:00 a.m. on your scheduled pickup day.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, tables, chairs)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Large household appliances
- ✓ Electronic waste (TVs, computers)
- ✓ Bundled green waste
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household hazardous waste (paint, oil)
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Dirt, concrete, or rocks
- ✕ Tires (commercial) or car parts
Bulky item pickup is included in your standard LA County franchise service fee at no additional cost.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a designated holiday falls on a weekday, collection for that day and the remainder of the week will be postponed by one day. Friday routes will be serviced on Saturday.
Yard Waste Exception
All three carts (trash, recycling, and organics) run on the exact same holiday delay schedule.
If a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there are no delays to your regular weekday collection schedule.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
The Exception to the Plastic Bag Rule
While you are uniquely required to use plastic bags for food scraps in your green organics cart, plastic bags are still strictly prohibited in your blue recycling cart. Keep your recyclables loose.
No E-Waste in Standard Carts
Never place items with a circuit board or battery in your regular bins. Valley Vista Services will collect electronic waste, such as old TVs and computers, for free if you schedule a bulky item pickup.
Keep Tanglers Out
Garden hoses, extension cords, and Christmas lights will break the sorting machinery at the Grand Central MRF. Throw these non-recyclable 'tanglers' into your black trash cart.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuaryFree holiday tree collection is provided in the weeks following Christmas. Trees must be completely stripped of lights, ornaments, tinsel, and stands. Flocked trees are typically collected as trash.
Summer
June - SeptemberSummer heat can accelerate decomposition. Since LA County requires you to bag food scraps in the green cart, ensure the plastic bags are tied tightly to prevent odor leakage and maggot infestations during hot weather.
About Hacienda Heights Waste Management
Standard Franchise Service in Unincorporated LA County
Because Hacienda Heights is an unincorporated community, its residential waste services are governed by a Los Angeles County Public Works franchise agreement. Valley Vista Services (VVS) holds the exclusive contract to provide weekly collection. Each single-family household receives three standard 96-gallon automated carts: a black cart for refuse, a blue cart for commingled recyclables, and a green cart for yard trimmings and organics.
The Unique LA County SB 1383 'Plastic Bag' Rule
In a highly unique approach to California's SB 1383 organics mandate, Los Angeles County Public Works actively instructs Hacienda Heights residents to use plastic bags for food waste. While almost all other California municipalities strictly ban plastic from the green cart, Hacienda Heights residents are required to bag their food scraps in plastic before placing them in the green organics cart. The county's specific processing facilities are designed to separate these bags, which helps reduce severe odors and pests in residential green bins.
Unlimited Bulky Item Pickups
Residents of Hacienda Heights benefit from an exceptional bulky item program included in their franchise agreement. Homeowners can schedule unlimited on-call curbside pickups for large items like furniture, appliances, and bundled green waste throughout the year at no additional charge. However, pickups must be scheduled directly with Valley Vista Services at least 24 hours in advance to guarantee collection.
Annual Cleanups and Compost Giveaways
Beyond weekly curbside pickup, the franchise agreement provides community-wide environmental perks. Valley Vista Services and LA County Public Works coordinate annual neighborhood clean-up events, as well as free mulch and compost giveaway days. These events are designed to give residents easy access to nutrient-rich soil amendments for their foothill gardens while keeping excess yard debris out of the local landfill.
Drop-off Facilities
Grand Central Recycling and Transfer Station
999 S Hatcher Ave, Industry, CA 91748
Materials Accepted
Puente Hills MRF
13130 Crossroads Pkwy S, City of Industry, CA 91746
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it true I have to put my food waste in a plastic bag in Hacienda Heights?
Yes. Unlike most of California, Los Angeles County Public Works explicitly requires residents in unincorporated Hacienda Heights to place their food waste inside a plastic bag before tossing it into the green organic waste cart [4.1.1]. The processing facility is equipped to separate the bags.
How many bulky item pickups do I get per year?
Under the LA County franchise agreement with Valley Vista Services, Hacienda Heights residents are entitled to unlimited free bulky item pickups. You simply need to contact VVS at least 24 hours in advance to schedule the collection.
What should I do if my garbage day falls on a holiday?
If your scheduled collection day falls on or after an observed holiday (such as Thanksgiving or July 4th), your pickup will be delayed by one day. If the holiday is on a weekend, your schedule will not change.
Where can I drop off hazardous waste like old paint?
Household hazardous waste cannot go in any of your carts. Hacienda Heights residents must wait for a free LA County Mobile HHW Collection event (often held at local schools like Dibble Adult School) or take items to a permanent S.A.F.E. Collection Center in Los Angeles.