Gray Bin (Trash)
Place all non-hazardous, non-recyclable waste in the gray cart. Bags should be securely tied, and the lid must close completely.
Accepted Items
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Food wrappers and chip bags
- ✓Styrofoam (polystyrene)
- ✓Pet waste and diapers
- ✓Broken glass, dishes, and mirrors
- ✓Garden hoses
- ✓Palm fronds, bamboo, and ivy
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Items must be empty, clean, and dry. Do not bag recyclables; place them loosely in the blue cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean paper and flattened cardboard
- ✓Plastics #1, #2, and #5
- ✓Metal cans (aluminum and tin)
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Milk and juice cartons
Do NOT Include
- ✕Toys
- ✕Plastic grocery bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Food and yard waste
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, wires)
- ✕Hazardous waste
- ✕Clothing and carpets
Yard Waste Bin
Do not use regular plastic bags. Compostable plastic bags or brown paper bags can be used as a liner. Excludes fibrous plants like bamboo, ivy, and palm fronds.
Accepted Items
- ✓Food waste (rice, fruits, veggies, cheese, fish)
- ✓Meat and chicken bones
- ✓Eggshells and coffee grounds
- ✓Food-contaminated paper (pizza boxes, napkins)
- ✓Grass clippings, leaves, and weeds
- ✓Tree limbs (under 4 inches in diameter and 4 feet in length)
- ✓Wood chips and dead plants
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Four times per calendar year
Placement
Call UWS at 562-287-7888 at least 24 hours before your regular Wednesday or Thursday trash day to schedule. Place items at the curb by 6:00 AM.
Accepted
- ✓ Household appliances (refrigerators, washers, water heaters)
- ✓ Furniture (chairs, sofas, mattresses)
- ✓ Rugs
- ✓ Bundled wood (no longer than 4 feet)
- ✓ E-waste
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)
- ✕ Paint and chemicals
- ✕ Batteries
- ✕ Construction demolition debris exceeding limits
- ✕ Tires
The first four pickups (up to six items each) are completely free. Any additional collections beyond the four annual pickups will incur a fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on a weekday, collections for the remainder of the week will be delayed by one day.
Yard Waste Exception
Organics and yard waste collections observe the exact same one-day holiday delay as regular trash and recycling.
If the holiday falls on a weekend, or if it is a non-observed holiday like Presidents' Day, the regular schedule remains unaffected.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Beware of Fibrous Plants
Unlike typical yard clippings, palm fronds, bamboo, and ivy are fibrous and can damage commercial composting equipment. Place these specific plant types in the gray trash bin instead of the green organics cart.
No Plastic Bags in Organics
Regular plastic bags are prohibited in the green organics cart. If you need a liner for your indoor food scraps, strictly use a brown paper bag or a BPI-certified compostable plastic bag.
Don't Bag Recyclables
Keep your paper, plastics, and glass loose in the blue recycling bin. Putting recyclables inside plastic grocery bags ruins the sorting process at the UWS facility.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuaryFollowing the winter holidays, take advantage of the bulky item pickup program to dispose of large cardboard boxes and old electronics (e-waste). Just remember to schedule the pickup 24 hours in advance.
Summer
June - SeptemberTo prevent odors and pests in the summer heat, try freezing your meat and dairy scraps in a compostable bag until your collection morning before tossing them into the green cart.
About Maywood Waste Management
Automated Waste Collection with Universal Waste Systems
The City of Maywood has contracted Universal Waste Systems (UWS) to manage residential trash, recycling, and organics services. In this compact, densely populated 1.18-square-mile community, collection routes are efficiently divided into Wednesday and Thursday schedules. Residents are required to wheel their designated carts to the curb by 6:00 AM on their pickup day to ensure service by UWS's low-emission automated trucks.
Maximizing Your Bulky Item Benefits
Moving large furniture or disposing of old appliances is made easier through Maywood's bulky waste program. Every residential and multi-family household is entitled to four free bulky item collections each calendar year. Residents can set out up to six large items per scheduled pickup—including mattresses, refrigerators, and bundled wood under four feet in length. Advance scheduling by phone is required at least 24 hours prior to your regular collection day.
Navigating California's SB 1383 Organics Mandate
To combat climate change in accordance with state law, Maywood has fully integrated food scrap recycling into its weekly green cart service. Residents must divert organic materials such as meat bones, eggshells, coffee grounds, and food-soiled pizza boxes from the landfill by placing them alongside yard trimmings. While traditional plastic bags are strictly prohibited, residents can line their indoor kitchen pails with paper bags or BPI-certified compostable liners before tossing the contents into the green cart.
Keeping the Recycling Stream Contaminant-Free
Contamination remains a significant hurdle in municipal recycling. UWS mandates that Maywood residents keep hazardous tanglers—such as garden hoses, electrical cords, and clothing—completely out of the blue recycling bins, as these materials cause severe jams at the sorting facility. Furthermore, items like Styrofoam, broken mirrors, and pet waste belong exclusively in the gray trash barrel, ensuring the recyclable commodities remain clean and processable.
Drop-off Facilities
Los Angeles County HHW Collection Events
Various rotating pop-up locations across LA County (Check CleanLA.lacounty.gov)
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What time should I put my trash bins out in Maywood?
Bins must be placed at the curb by 6:00 AM on your scheduled service day (either Wednesday or Thursday). UWS collections take place between 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM.
How many free bulky item pickups do Maywood residents get?
Residential and multi-family households receive four free bulky item pickups per year. You can include up to six eligible items per pickup. Call UWS at 562-287-7888 at least 24 hours before your normal trash day to schedule.
Can I put palm fronds or bamboo in my green organics cart?
No. Although they are plants, palm fronds, bamboo, and ivy are extremely fibrous and wrap around the commercial composting machinery. They must be disposed of in your gray trash cart.
How do holiday schedules work for trash collection?
UWS observes New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. If one of these holidays falls on a weekday, collections for the rest of the week are pushed back by one day.