Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for La Puente
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
Residential waste services are franchised through Valley Vista Services, which bills residents directly on a quarterly schedule.
Billing Cycle
Quarterly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Mail, Phone, In Person
Pro Tip / Discount
Senior residents aged 60+ may qualify for a 10% discount (standard cart) or 25% discount (downsized 70-gallon cart). Qualified extremely low-income households can receive a 50% rate reduction.
Brown or Black Bin (Trash)
Lids must remain fully closed down. Loose trash stacked next to or piled high on top of the brown/black container will not be picked up by automated routes.
Accepted Items
- ✓Non-recyclable plastic packaging and stretch wrap
- ✓Diapers, sanitary products, and bagged pet waste
- ✓Broken window glass, lightbulbs, and ceramics
- ✓Soiled food containers and heavily waxed papers
- ✓Worn-out textiles and multi-material consumer trash items
Blue Bin (Recycling)
All materials must go into the blue container loose, empty, dry, and entirely unbagged. Trapping clean materials in plastic bags results in the entire bag being rejected at the sorting station.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean aluminum beverage cans and steel soup cans
- ✓Glass jars and clear or tinted bottles
- ✓Rigid plastic bottles, jugs, and jars labeled #1 through #7
- ✓Flattened cardboard shipping boxes and clean paperboard
- ✓Newspapers, magazines, mail flyers, and office catalogs
Do NOT Include
- ✕Loose plastic grocery sacks or heavy stretch films
- ✕Polystyrene foam packaging blocks and cups
- ✕Loose shredded paper fragments
- ✕Electronics, extension cords, and household batteries
- ✕Greasy pizza boxes or organic waste remnants
Yard Waste Bin
Organic waste should be loaded loose inside the green cart. Do not bundle materials using wire or plastic ties, as these disrupt the municipal organic shredders.
Accepted Items
- ✓Lawn clippings, fresh thatch, and garden weeds
- ✓Dry autumn leaves, small twigs, and garden flowers
- ✓Tree limbs under 4 inches in diameter and less than 4 feet long
- ✓Household food scraps, fruit peelings, vegetable stems, and coffee grounds
- ✓Meat scraps, bones, dairy cast-offs, and bread crusts
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
3 times per calendar year (4 items per pickup)
Placement
Items must be placed neatly out at the front curbline only after receiving formal confirmation of your scheduled bulk pickup date. Items left out without an active appointment will be cited as illegal dumping.
Accepted
- ✓ Oversized household furniture (couches, tables, recliners)
- ✓ Major home appliances (washers, dryers, refrigerators)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Electronic waste items (monitors, computers, television sets)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household hazardous waste (paints, old solvents, vehicle fluids)
- ✕ Loose unbundled building debris or loose insulation panels
- ✕ Automotive tires, batteries, and engine components
- ✕ Any individual loose item that exceeds 150 pounds
Once a household depletes their three free annual slots, special additional pickups can be arranged directly through Valley Vista Services for an assessed per-item fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your scheduled residential collection day falls squarely on or directly after an observed holiday listed above, your curbside pickup will be delayed by exactly one day for the remainder of that week. Normal Friday adjustments will occur on Saturday.
Yard Waste Exception
Green organic waste collections mirror the identical holiday schedule delays as household refuse and blue bin recycling.
If one of these major calendar holidays falls natively on a Saturday or Sunday, the regular Monday through Friday neighborhood pickup routines remain completely unchanged.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Holiday Tree Collection
December to JanuaryValley Vista Services provides free residential curbside collection for live Christmas trees from December 26 through January 8 annually. Homeowners must strip away all tinsel, stands, lights, and non-organic ornaments. Large trees must be cut completely in half.
High-Volume Pruning Drop-Offs
October to NovemberDuring peak fall cleanup months, do not over-pack your green container. If yard waste exceeds cart capacity, homeowners can request up to four bagged green waste pickups per year (max 25 bundles/bags per call) via Valley Vista Services.
Summer Heat Odor Suppression
June to SeptemberHigh summer temperatures accelerate food decomposition inside green carts. To keep pests and fly larvae minimal, consider layering kitchen scraps underneath a protective blanket of dry lawn clippings or leaves.
Local Tips & Community Info
Valley Vista Services: La Puente's Dedicated Waste Hauler
Residential solid waste collection within the City of La Puente is exclusively managed by Valley Vista Services (VVS). Operating in the San Gabriel Valley since 1957, VVS provides standard single-family homes with comprehensive refuse, recycling, and organic waste solutions. To arrange a new subscription, request bin size adjustments, or report a missed curbside pickup, residents can contact the VVS customer support team directly at (800) 442-6454.
Making the Most of Your 70-Gallon Recycling Cart
Sustainability is a core focus in La Puente, which is why households are provided with a 70-gallon commingled recycling cart. This container is intended solely for uncontaminated paper, flattened cardboard boxes, glass bottles, and rigid plastics. All recyclables must be placed loosely inside the bin, never bundled inside plastic grocery bags. For residents looking to cash in on California Redemption Value (CRV) items, local processors like Main Street Fibers offer cash refunds for aluminum cans and glass containers.
Green Waste and Food Scrap Compliance
Following California's statewide environmental mandates, La Puente actively enforces the separation of organic materials from general landfill waste. The designated green cart is meant for all yard clippings, weed pullings, and tree branches. In addition to yard debris, all household food scraps, including vegetable peels, coffee grounds, and meat bones, must be disposed of in this organics container to aid in reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions.
Booking a Bulky Item Retrieval
Getting rid of old appliances, broken mattresses, or large furniture does not require a trip to the local dump. Valley Vista Services offers special bulky item pickups for La Puente residents. Because large items cannot simply be abandoned on the curb, you must call the VVS dispatch office ahead of time to schedule a specialized retrieval. They will confirm the pickup date and provide instructions on exactly where to place your oversized items for safe loading.
Special Rates for Seniors and Low-Income Residents
A unique benefit provided by Valley Vista Services for the La Puente community is the availability of utility discounts for qualifying households. The hauler offers distinct Senior Citizen Discount Forms and Low Income Discount Forms. Eligible individuals can apply directly through the VVS website or by calling the main office to receive a reduced monthly rate on their solid waste collection services.
Street Placement and Holiday Collection Shifts
To ensure that automated trash trucks can service your neighborhood safely, all carts must be placed at the street edge by 6:00 a.m. on your collection day. Ensure there is at least a two-foot gap between each container and keep them clear of parked vehicles. Furthermore, VVS observes major national holidays. If a holiday falls on a weekday, trash retrieval will be pushed back by one day for the remainder of that week, with normal operations resuming the following Monday.
Drop-off Facilities
Valley Vista Services Corporate Headquarters & Yard
17445 E Railroad St, City of Industry, CA 91748
Materials Accepted
Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts HHW Events
Varies (Rotates through regional sites like Pomona/Baldwin Park)
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I request a discount on my La Puente trash bill?
The City of La Puente offers two financial discount programs: the Senior Citizen Waste Disposal Discount and the Extremely Low-Income Waste Disposal Discount. Residents can download application forms from the official city website or contact La Puente City Hall at 626-855-1500 to confirm qualification criteria.
Can I throw away household batteries or fluorescent bulbs in my bins?
No, household batteries, lightbulbs, electronic waste, and liquid chemicals are classified as hazardous and are legally barred from all curbside automated carts. These items must be brought to an official Los Angeles County Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection mobile event.
How do I schedule a bulk item pickup with Valley Vista Services?
La Puente residents can submit an itemized bulk request online at ValleyVistaServices.com/Bulky-Item, email their detailed checklist to [email protected], or call customer service directly at 626-855-5500. Requests must be finalized at least 24 hours prior to your standard collection day.
What should I do with my medical sharps or hypodermic needles?
Sharps and medical lancets must never be mixed into standard trash or recycling streams due to safety risks for collection workers. La Puente residents can request free specialized sharps mail-back containers directly from the Valley Vista Services customer service department.