Black Bin (Trash)
All household landfill trash must be securely bagged before placing it in the black cart. Container lids must close completely to prevent local wind-blown litter and deter pests.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged pet waste and kitty litter
- ✓Polystyrene and Styrofoam packaging
- ✓Disposable baby diapers and sanitary wipes
- ✓Mylar snack wrappers and chip bags
- ✓Single-use plastic bags and wraps
- ✓Broken ceramics and drinking glasses
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag recyclables; place all accepted items completely loose, empty, rinsed, and dry inside the blue container.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard and clean paperboard boxes
- ✓Clean dry paper, catalogs, and junk mail
- ✓Glass bottles and food jars
- ✓Aluminum and tin food or beverage cans
- ✓Rigid plastics marked with recycling symbols #1 through #7
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags, bubble wrap, or film wrap
- ✕Styrofoam blocks or food packaging
- ✕Garden hoses, extension cords, or wire hangers
- ✕Heavily soiled cardboard or greasy pizza boxes
- ✕Alkaline or rechargeable batteries
Yard Waste Bin
Place organic materials loosely inside the green cart, or inside a brown paper bag. Do not use plastic bags of any kind, and keep rocks, soil, concrete, and pet waste out of this cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Kitchen food scraps (raw/cooked meat, bones, dairy, fruits, vegetables)
- ✓Food-soiled paper napkins, towels, and paper plates
- ✓Grass clippings, tree leaves, weeds, and garden flowers
- ✓Prunings and tree branches under 4 inches in diameter
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
6 free curbside pickups per calendar year
Placement
Schedule your pickup by contacting Republic Services at 1-800-299-4898. Place bulky items curbside by 6:00 AM on your scheduled pickup day, clear of parked cars and low-hanging branches.
Accepted
- ✓ Sofas, chairs, tables, and wood furniture
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Major home appliances (refrigerators, washers, dryers)
- ✓ Electronic waste (televisions, computer monitors, computers, printers)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household hazardous waste (paint, chemical solvents, auto fluids)
- ✕ Automotive parts, engines, and tires
- ✕ Construction and home demolition debris (concrete, drywall)
- ✕ Liquid waste or commercial refuse
The six annual curbside collections are free. Additional bulky collections can be scheduled with Republic Services for an additional service fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Republic Services observes six major holidays annually. If an observed holiday falls on a weekday, curbside collection service will be delayed by exactly one day for the remainder of that holiday week.
Yard Waste Exception
Organic waste, recycling, and standard trash collection schedules are shifted uniformly during holiday weeks.
If an observed holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, collections proceed exactly as scheduled on normal weekdays with zero delay.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Loose Recyclables Only in the Blue Cart
Do not bag your recyclables before placing them in the blue container. Plastic shopping bags get caught in the mechanical rollers at processing centers, posing severe safety hazards to workers and halting processing lines.
Keep Pet Waste in the Black Cart
While pet waste is accepted in the black trash cart, it is strictly prohibited from the green organics cart. Animal feces contain bacteria that contaminate municipal compost, making it unsafe for local agricultural reuse.
Pizza Boxes Go Green, Not Blue
Cardboard pizza boxes that are stained with grease and food oil cannot be processed as clean paper. Always place food-soiled pizza boxes and napkins into your green organics cart instead.
Seasonal Information
Autumn Leaf Management
October - DecemberHeavy late-autumn leaf falls must go directly inside your green organics cart. Residents are strictly prohibited from sweeping or blowing leaves into street gutters, as loose foliage blocks storm sewer drains and municipal street sweepers, leading to street flooding.
Post-Holiday Christmas Tree Recycling
December - JanuaryNatural, undecorated Christmas trees can be recycled curbside during the first few weeks of January. Strip all ornaments, lights, stands, and tinsel. Place the tree next to your green organics bin. Trees over 6 feet tall must be cut in half.
About Lawndale Waste Management
Republic Services Partnership in Lawndale
Residential solid waste, recycling, and organic programs in the City of Lawndale are managed under an exclusive franchise agreement with Republic Services. Designed alongside the Lawndale Public Works Department, this coordinated service focuses on meeting strict California diversion guidelines while keeping local neighborhoods clean.
Meeting State Organic Recycling Mandates (SB 1383)
To comply with California Senate Bill 1383, Lawndale residents must actively separate organic waste from standard landfill trash. The green organics container is designed for food scraps, including meats, dairy, bones, and produce, as well as food-soiled paper products and yard trimmings. Properly sorting these items diverts them from regional landfills to composting facilities where they are converted into clean compost.
Structured Bulk Junk Retrieval Services
To prevent illegal dumping on city streets, single-family residential accounts in Lawndale can schedule up to six free curbside bulky item pickups per calendar year, with a limit of six items per pickup. This service accommodates oversized household items such as mattresses, furniture, and electronic waste.
Important Curbside Cart Placement Rules
To ensure reliable weekly service and prevent missed collections, Lawndale residents must roll out all carts to the curb no later than 6:00 AM on their scheduled collection day. Keep containers spaced at least three feet apart and away from parked vehicles or low-hanging branches to allow automated truck arms to lift them safely.
Drop-off Facilities
Hyperion S.A.F.E. Center
7660 West Imperial Highway, Gate B, Playa Del Rey, CA 90293
Materials Accepted
EDCO Recycling & Transfer Center
2755 California Ave, Signal Hill, CA 90755
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do single-family homes schedule a free bulky item pickup in Lawndale?
Lawndale residents can schedule up to six free bulky item collections per year, with up to six items per pickup. Call Republic Services at 1-800-299-4898 to request your pickup.
Where can Lawndale residents safely drop off household chemicals and paint?
Lawndale residents have access to free drop-off disposal at permanent Los Angeles County and City S.A.F.E. Collection Centers. The closest permanent facility is the Hyperion S.A.F.E. Center located at 7660 West Imperial Highway in Playa Del Rey. Additionally, the county hosts periodic mobile hazardous waste roundups, including events in Lawndale.
Can I recycle greasy pizza boxes in the blue cart?
No. Pizza boxes stained with food grease and oils cannot be recycled as clean cardboard. To comply with SB 1383 organics rules, place food-soiled pizza boxes, paper towels, and kitchen scraps directly into your green organics cart instead.
Who do I contact to establish or make changes to my waste services in Lawndale?
To set up a new residential utility account, report missed collections, or request replacement carts, contact Republic Services Customer Service at 1-800-299-4898.