Gray Bin (Trash)
The 95-gallon gray cart is strictly for non-recyclable refuse and items that don't belong in the organics bin. One gray cart holds roughly the equivalent of three standard trash cans. Extra carts can be rented for $3.50 a month.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastic grocery and trash bags
- ✓Diapers
- ✓Pet waste
- ✓Cooled ashes (wetted in a bag)
- ✓Food wrappers
- ✓Non-recyclable household waste
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Lakewood's blue cart uniquely accepts clean Styrofoam mixed with standard recyclables. Leave items loose—never bag your recyclables, as the plastic bags tangle the sorting equipment.
Accepted Items
- ✓Glass jars and bottles
- ✓Corrugated cardboard and mixed paper
- ✓Aluminum and steel cans
- ✓Plastic containers
- ✓Styrofoam (clean)
- ✓Newspapers and magazines
Yard Waste Bin
Do not contaminate the 95-gallon green cart with plastic bags or non-biodegradable materials. The lid must remain closed.
Accepted Items
- ✓Food waste and organics
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves and weeds
- ✓Small branches and prunings
- ✓Food-soiled paper products
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Six (6) free pickups per year for single-family residences.
Placement
Items must be set out by 6:00 a.m. on your regular trash day. You must call EDCO at 562-531-3054 by 3:30 p.m. the day prior to schedule.
Accepted
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Water heaters
- ✓ Sofas and chairs
- ✓ Large awkward household items
- ✓ Major household appliances
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste and chemicals
- ✕ Old auto parts and tires
- ✕ Building materials (bricks, lumber, roofing)
- ✕ Dirt and broken concrete
- ✕ Excessively large tree trunks
Free for single-family homes. Apartments and condos are not eligible for this city program and must negotiate pickups via property management or haul items to the transfer station for a fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If one of the observed holidays falls on a weekday, waste removal services will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Organics and recycling follow the same one-day delay as gray cart trash.
Holidays falling on a weekend (Saturday or Sunday) do NOT cause any delays. Minor holidays like Martin Luther King Jr. Day or Presidents' Day also operate on a normal schedule.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep plastic bags in the gray cart
Unlike some cities, Lakewood does not want plastic grocery bags, shrink wrap, or PVC piping in the blue recycling cart. Always toss plastic film and grocery bags into the gray trash cart.
Cool hot ashes completely
Hot ashes and coals from fireplaces or grills cause dangerous truck fires. Never put them directly into any cart. Store them in a metal bucket outside, wet them down, and let them cool for days before bagging them for the gray cart.
Do not stuff or overload carts
Contents must be loose enough to fall out freely when lifted by the automated mechanical arm. If you cram cardboard or yard waste in too tightly, the bin may remain partially full after collection.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuaryEDCO collects discarded Christmas trees on regular trash days for one week following Christmas. Flocked trees are accepted in the regular trash but must be cut to fit. Bare trees can go on the parkway or in the green waste cart. Trees over 6 feet tall must be sliced in half. Bulky item service is suspended during this week.
Year-Round
January - DecemberLakewood enforces strict street sweeping parking laws. However, on your designated street sweeping day, you are uniquely permitted to park vehicles in your front yard, side yard, or on your driveway apron to avoid tickets, as long as sidewalks are not blocked.
About Lakewood Waste Management
Navigating Lakewood's Three-Cart EDCO System
The City of Lakewood partners with EDCO Waste and Recycling Services through an exclusive franchise agreement. Single-family homes use an automated three-cart system: a 95-gallon gray cart for standard trash, a 65-gallon blue cart for comingled recyclables, and a 95-gallon green cart for organics. To ensure your bins are serviced, they must be set out at the curb before 6:00 a.m. on your assigned pickup day. Face the cart arrows toward the street with wheels against the curb, and leave a minimum of two feet between each cart.
Maximizing Your Free Bulky Item Pickups
Lakewood offers one of the most generous bulky waste programs in Southern California. Single-family residents can request up to six free bulky item pickups every year, setting out up to six large items per scheduled collection (amounting to 36 free items annually). This includes old mattresses, water heaters, and sofas. You must call EDCO by 3:30 p.m. the day before your regular trash collection to secure a spot. Note that apartment and condo residents do not qualify for this free service.
A Unique Perk: Post-Christmas Free Extra Trash
The holidays often generate an overflow of packaging and waste. In Lakewood, residents are treated to a special holiday perk: for the week immediately following Christmas Day, EDCO will automatically pick up extra holiday trash for free without needing an advanced call. If your gray cart is full, you can simply leave up to 10 standard-size trash bags alongside your bins, as well as flattened appliance boxes.
EDCO Signal Hill Transfer Station for DIY Dumping
If you have excess waste that exceeds curbside limits—like heavy bricks, used lumber, dirt, or massive amounts of green waste—you can utilize the EDCO Transfer Station located just a few miles away in Signal Hill. This state-of-the-art facility is also the go-to drop-off point for household hazardous waste (HHW), electronic waste, and medical sharps. HHW drop-offs are uniquely scheduled for the second and fourth Saturdays of every month from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Drop-off Facilities
EDCO Transfer Station and Recycling Facility
2755 California Avenue, Signal Hill, CA 90755
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get an extra gray trash cart in Lakewood?
Yes. If the standard 95-gallon gray cart isn't enough, residents can contact EDCO to request an additional trash cart for a fee of $3.50 per month. You must keep the extra cart for a minimum of three months.
Does Styrofoam go in the trash or recycling bin?
In Lakewood, clean Styrofoam is uniquely accepted in the blue recycling cart, along with glass, cardboard, aluminum cans, and mixed paper. However, plastic film and grocery bags must still go into the gray trash cart.
How many bulky item pickups am I allowed?
Single-family homes in Lakewood are permitted up to six free bulky item collections per calendar year, and you can dispose of up to six items during each scheduled pickup. Keep in mind this free service does not apply to apartments and condos.
What should I do with extra trash after Christmas?
You do not need to call ahead. For the one week immediately following Christmas Day, EDCO provides free extra holiday trash collection. You can place up to 10 standard-size trash bags and flattened appliance boxes about two feet away from your bins on your regular pickup day.