Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Hawthorne
Trash Day
Varies by neighborhood zone
Recycling
Varies by neighborhood zone
Yard Waste
Varies by neighborhood zone
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Curbside waste collection is contracted through Republic Services, and trash day typically coincides with your designated street sweeping schedule. Residents are eligible for 4 free bulky item pickups per year by calling Republic Services at (888) 742-5234.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail
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
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.
Local Tips & Community Info
Waste Management Operations with Republic Services
In Hawthorne, California, Republic Services is the designated partner for keeping the city's residential neighborhoods clean. As the exclusive solid waste hauler, they handle all household garbage, recycling, and yard waste operations. To prepare for your designated collection day, be sure to wheel your carts out either the night before or strictly by 6:00 a.m. Ensure the bins face the street with the wheels firmly against the curb or gutter. Republic Services drivers rely on automated arms to grab the containers, so you must leave at least two feet of space between each cart and five feet of clearance from parked cars, streetlights, or mailboxes.
Maximizing Your Curbside Sorting Effort
California law requires careful separation of household materials, and Hawthorne uses a straightforward three-cart system to achieve this. Your black cart is reserved strictly for non-recyclable refuse. The blue container is for clean recyclables, and Republic Services explicitly asks that all items be Empty, Clean, and Dry to avoid contaminating the rest of the load. Food residue in glass jars or peanut butter containers should be completely wiped or rinsed out. The green cart handles your yard waste, but you must keep prohibited items like dirt, concrete, heavy rocks, and hot ashes out of all three bins to prevent damage to the collection trucks.
Taking Advantage of Bulky Waste Pickups
Disposing of broken appliances or worn-out furniture should not be a massive headache. Hawthorne residents receive special tags that allow for four complimentary bulky waste collections each year. This service is ideal for handling items that easily exceed the capacity of your standard trash cart, such as mattresses, sofas, water heaters, and large electronic waste. They will even accept up to two residential tires per scheduled pickup. To utilize this benefit, you cannot simply leave items out on the curb; you must call Republic Services at 800-299-4898 at least 24 hours prior to your normal service day to formally request a bulky item extraction.
Managing Holidays and Hazardous Materials
Republic Services completely halts their Hawthorne collection routes on six major national holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Should your pickup fall on or after one of these dates during the workweek, expect your service to be delayed by exactly one day. Beyond scheduling, it is crucial to understand that household hazardous waste—such as motor oil, old paint, and batteries—must never enter the municipal waste stream. Hawthorne locals are urged to contact the LA County Hazwaste Hotline to find a safe, legal disposal facility for these dangerous chemicals.
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.