Brown or Black Bin (Trash)
All waste must be contained within the cart with the lid completely closed. Hazardous materials, dirt, rocks, and hot ashes are strictly prohibited.
Accepted Items
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Palm fronds
- ✓Ivy and iceplant
- ✓Cactus
- ✓Small pieces of wood
- ✓General non-recyclable household garbage
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Items should be Empty, Clean, and Dry. Wipe or rinse food residue from containers to prevent contamination of clean paper products.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean Styrofoam
- ✓Plastic containers and bottles
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and steel items
- ✓All paper products (newspaper, cardboard, mail)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Yard waste
- ✕General garbage
- ✕Oily or heavily soiled containers
Yard Waste Bin
Materials must not extend beyond the container rim. Do not place palm fronds, cactus, or ivy in this cart; they belong in the brown trash cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Houseplant clippings
- ✓Small branches (must fit completely inside the cart)
- ✓Leaves and weeds
- ✓Flower trimmings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Four (4) free pickups per year per residential property
Placement
Schedule the pickup at least 24 hours in advance by calling Republic Services. Place items at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your designated service day.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (chairs, sofas, rugs)
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Appliances (refrigerators, washers, water heaters)
- ✓ Electronic waste
- ✓ Residential tires (maximum 2 per pickup)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste
- ✕ Chemicals and paint
- ✕ Construction dirt, rock, or concrete
- ✕ Hot ashes
The first four requests per year (up to 64 cubic feet each) are free. Residents also receive 4 free 'tags' annually to dispose of extra bagged refuse (up to 60 lbs per bag).
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your scheduled pickup day falls on or after an observed holiday, your service will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week. If the holiday falls on a weekend, standard collection schedules usually remain unaffected.
Yard Waste Exception
All carts (trash, recycling, and yard waste) follow the same holiday delay schedule.
Hawthorne specifically lists Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a holiday that causes a one-day delay in trash service, which differs from some surrounding municipalities.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Sort Problematic Plants Correctly
Fibrous and succulent plants like palm fronds, ivy, iceplant, and cactus do not break down easily in standard municipal composting facilities. Hawthorne requires these specific green waste items to be thrown in your brown trash cart, not the green cart.
Batteries Go ON the Bin, Not IN It
Never toss batteries inside your recycling or trash carts, as they can spark and cause truck fires. Place them in a clear plastic bag and lay them directly on top of the blue recycling cart lid for safe collection.
Clean Your Styrofoam
Unlike many neighboring cities, Hawthorne accepts Styrofoam in the blue recycling cart, but it must be completely clean. Food-soiled foam takeout containers belong in the brown trash cart.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuaryEach year, Republic Services will collect all holiday greenery placed on the curb by residents on their regular trash collection days. Ensure all tinsel, ornaments, and flocking are completely removed before setting the tree out.
Year-Round
January - DecemberFor excess hazardous household waste that cannot be collected curbside, residents can utilize the Hyperion Treatment Plant (S.A.F.E. Center) located at 7660 W. Imperial Highway, Playa del Rey. It is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm for free drop-offs.
About Hawthorne Waste Management
Residential Waste Collection in Hawthorne
The City of Hawthorne partners exclusively with Republic Services (formerly Allied Waste) to manage residential solid waste, recycling, and yard debris. Ensuring compliance with state recycling laws, Republic Services utilizes an automated three-cart system. Carts must be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your designated service day, facing the street with the wheels against the curb. For most Hawthorne residents, street sweeping is coordinated to occur on the very same day as trash collection to keep the community exceptionally clean.
Navigating the Green, Blue, and Brown Cart System
Hawthorne has specific and sometimes highly unique rules for its color-coded bins. The Green cart is reserved strictly for standard yard waste like grass clippings and houseplant trimmings. Uniquely, the City of Hawthorne directs residents to place difficult-to-compost organics—such as palm fronds, ivy, iceplant, cactus, and even food waste—directly into the Brown (or Black) Trash cart. The Blue cart is for recyclables and notably accepts clean Styrofoam alongside standard plastics, glass, aluminum, and paper products.
Curbside E-Waste and Battery Disposal Perks
One of the most convenient features of Hawthorne's waste management program is the curbside collection of electronic waste and batteries at no additional cost. Residents can simply lay smaller e-waste items or plastic bags filled with used household batteries directly on top of their Blue recycling cart. If an e-waste item is too large to safely rest on the lid, it can be placed securely on the ground next to the Blue cart for pickup.
Maximizing Your Four Free Annual Bulky Item Pickups
Hawthorne residents who utilize standard trash carts are entitled to four free special bulky item pickups per calendar year. Each requested pickup can include up to 64 cubic feet of material, which easily accommodates old sofas, mattresses, plumbing fixtures, or major household appliances. Up to two residential car tires are also accepted per pickup. To utilize this service, residents must call Republic Services at (888) 742-5234 at least 24 hours in advance of their normal collection day.
Drop-off Facilities
S.A.F.E. Collection Center at Hyperion Treatment Plant
7660 W. Imperial Highway, Gate B, Playa del Rey, CA 90293
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get rid of an old mattress or refrigerator in Hawthorne?
Hawthorne residents get four free bulky item pickups every year, each covering up to 64 cubic feet of material. Simply call Republic Services at (888) 742-5234 at least 24 hours before your regular trash day to schedule the removal.
Can I put palm fronds or cactus in the green yard waste bin?
No. The City of Hawthorne specifically requires residents to place fibrous and succulent plants like palm fronds, cactus, ivy, and iceplant into the brown trash cart, as they do not compost well in standard green waste facilities.
What is the proper way to dispose of e-waste and batteries curbside in Hawthorne?
Hawthorne offers a unique curbside e-waste program at no extra cost. You can lay small e-waste items and bagged household batteries directly on top of your blue recycling cart. If the e-waste is too large for the lid, place it safely on the ground next to the blue cart.
Does Hawthorne accept Styrofoam in the recycling cart?
Yes, Hawthorne uniquely allows clean Styrofoam to be placed in the blue recycling cart. However, any Styrofoam that is soiled with food or grease must be thrown in the brown trash cart.