Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Monterey Park
Trash Day
Varies by neighborhood zone
Recycling
Same day as trash pickup (weekly)
Yard Waste
Same day as trash pickup (weekly)
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential trash, recycling, and organic waste collection is serviced by Ware Disposal and billed directly to customers on a bi-monthly basis rather than appearing on your municipal water utility bill.
Billing Cycle
Bi-Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Mail, In-Person, Phone
Pro Tip / Discount
The City offers a Lifeline Low-Income Discount Program for eligible households, and Ware Disposal provides free rollout assistance services for individuals with qualifying physical or medical conditions (DMV disabled placard required).
Black or Dark Grey Bin (Trash)
Place all non-recyclable, non-compostable household refuse in the standard trash cart. Ensure the lid closes completely to prevent street litter and deter pests.
Accepted Items
- ✓Styrofoam packing peanuts and blocks
- ✓Diapers and pet waste
- ✓K-cups and heavily coated coffee cups
- ✓Yucca, cacti, and succulent clippings
- ✓Treated or painted wood
- ✓Plastic bags, wrappers, and non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Tissues and wet wipes
Blue Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be completely empty, clean, and dry before disposal. Do not put your recyclables inside plastic garbage bags; they must remain loose in the blue cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Clean glass bottles and jars
- ✓Rigid plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs
- ✓Flattened cardboard boxes
- ✓Mixed paper, mail, and magazines
- ✓Clean, unsoiled parts of pizza boxes
Do NOT Include
- ✕Food waste or liquids
- ✕Plastic grocery bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Clothing and textiles
- ✕Diapers and bathroom waste
- ✕Electronic waste
Yard Waste Bin
Deposit organic material directly into the green cart. Do not use plastic bags, compostable plastics, or twist ties. Cactus plants, succulents, and palm fronds are strictly prohibited in the green bin.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings, weeds, and leaves
- ✓Untreated lumber, branches, and hedge trimmings
- ✓Fruits, vegetables, and dairy scraps
- ✓Meat, bones, poultry, and seafood
- ✓Coffee grounds and eggshells
- ✓100% fiber-based food-soiled paper
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Unlimited free collections for standard bulky items; 4 free collections annually for e-waste.
Placement
You must contact Ware Disposal at (626) 225-2400 to schedule your pickup. Do not place items at the curb until you have received confirmation from a customer service representative.
Accepted
- ✓ Sofas, recliners, and chairs
- ✓ Mattresses and rugs
- ✓ Refrigerators, stoves, and washers
- ✓ Desks and large furniture
- ✓ Bundles of cardboard
- ✓ Bundled palm fronds
Not Accepted
- ✕ Electronic waste (must be scheduled as a separate e-waste pickup)
- ✕ Household hazardous waste (paint, oil, chemicals)
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Explosives and ammunition
- ✕ Tires and car parts
Standard bulky item and e-waste pickups are completely free for eligible residents, provided they are scheduled correctly.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your scheduled collection day falls on or after an observed holiday during the workweek, your waste collection service will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
The one-day holiday delay applies equally to the green organics/yard waste cart and the blue recycling cart.
If a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there will be no delay in your weekday service. Continue to place your carts at the curb on your normal scheduled collection day.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Winter
Late December through JanuaryFollowing the Christmas holiday, Ware Disposal provides a free curbside holiday tree collection program. Trees must have all decorations, stands, and tinsel removed before being placed out on your normal scheduled collection day.
Year-Round
QuarterlyMonterey Park periodically hosts free quarterly community cleanup events for residents to drop off excess household clutter that might not fit in standard bins. Check the city website or Ware Disposal's community calendar for exact dates and drop-off locations.
Local Tips & Community Info
Athens Services Collection Partnership
Residential and commercial refuse operations in Monterey Park are exclusively managed by Athens Services. This comprehensive municipal contract equips every single-family home with a standard three-container system designed for automated collection. To streamline neighborhood pickup, residents utilize a black barrel for standard non-recyclable garbage, a blue barrel for clean recyclables, and a green barrel for all organic yard and food waste. Establishing new service or requesting a different cart size requires contacting Athens Services directly rather than visiting City Hall.
Container Placement and Street Sweeping Rules
Navigating collection day means paying close attention to the clock and your neighborhood's street sweeping schedule. All waste carts must be rolled out to the curb prior to 6:00 a.m. on your designated service day. It is vital to position the bins side-by-side, maintaining at least two feet of clearance between each container and nearby objects like fire hydrants or parked vehicles. Furthermore, Monterey Park code enforcement requires all empty bins to be removed from the public right-of-way by 8:00 p.m. to keep sidewalks clear and prevent street sweeping citations.
Complying with Organic Waste Standards
A major component of local sustainability involves adhering to California's strict SB 1383 organics recycling laws. Monterey Park residents must actively separate all kitchen scraps, including meat bones, dairy products, fruit peels, and coffee grounds, into the green organics container alongside standard yard trimmings. Keeping this material out of the black landfill bin drastically reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Athens Services requests that food scraps be wrapped in newspaper or placed in paper bags before going into the green cart to minimize pest issues.
Blue Bin Recycling Protocols
Your blue cart is specifically designated for recyclable household goods, including flattened cardboard boxes, aluminum cans, glass bottles, and rigid plastic containers. One of the most frequent mistakes made during disposal is tossing items in plastic grocery bags. Plastic film easily jams the gears at the sorting facility, so all recyclables must remain loose and unbagged. If a plastic container is heavily contaminated with food residue, it belongs in the trash, not the recycling bin.
Bulky Item and E-Waste Pickups
If you are upgrading furniture or cleaning out a cluttered garage, you can easily dispose of large objects without leaving city limits. Athens Services provides Monterey Park residents with convenient, free bulky item pickups throughout the year. Eligible items include discarded mattresses, broken washing machines, old sofas, and electronic waste like televisions and computer monitors. These special collections happen on your normal trash day, but you must call Athens at least 48 hours in advance to secure a spot on their route sheet.
Handling Holiday Schedule Shifts
The standard collection calendar shifts slightly during major national holidays, including Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Should your regular garbage day fall on or after one of these observed holidays during the week, your pickup will happen exactly one day later than usual. Service returns to its normal rhythm the following Monday. You can always download the annual holiday service calendar from the Athens Services website to stay informed.
Drop-off Facilities
Los Angeles County HHW Collection Events
Various locations across LA County (Visit CleanLA.com or call 888-CLEAN-LA)
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Did the trash collection company for Monterey Park change recently?
Yes, effective September 1, 2024, Ware Disposal took over the exclusive residential solid waste and recycling collection contract for Monterey Park, replacing the previous hauler, Athens Services.
How do I schedule a bulky item pickup in Monterey Park?
Monterey Park residents can schedule unlimited free bulky item collections by calling Ware Disposal at (626) 225-2400 or emailing [email protected]. Note that electronic waste (e-waste) pickups are handled separately and are limited to four free collections per year.
Where should I throw away leftover meat, bones, and dairy?
Under California's SB 1383 mandate, all food waste—including meat, bones, seafood, and dairy—must be disposed of in your green organics cart along with your regular yard trimmings and 100% fiber-based food-soiled paper.
Can I put cactus clippings or palm fronds in my green yard waste cart?
No. Cacti, succulents, yucca, and palm fronds are not accepted in the green organics cart. Cacti and succulents must be placed in your regular trash bin, while large bundles of palm fronds can be scheduled for a free bulky item pickup.