Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Palmdale
Trash Day
Varies by neighborhood zone
Recycling
Same day as trash collection (weekly)
Yard Waste
Same day as trash collection (weekly organics cart)
Set Out Time
6:00 AM
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential solid waste services are provided and billed directly by Waste Management (WM) on a quarterly basis. Free walk-out assistance is available for eligible disabled residents.
Billing Cycle
Quarterly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Mail, Phone, Drop Box
Pro Tip / Discount
A 20% Low-Income Senior Discount is available for residents age 62 and older, a 20% Super Saver rate for downsizing to a 32-gallon trash cart, and a 5% discount for paying service annually.
Dark Gray with Black Lid (or legacy Blue cart) Bin (Trash)
All landfill garbage must be securely bagged to prevent windblown litter. The lid must close entirely. Palm fronds must go here, as their fibrous nature damages composting equipment.
Accepted Items
- ✓Palm fronds and cactus trimmings
- ✓Polystyrene foam (Styrofoam) cups and packaging
- ✓Candy wrappers, chip bags, and snack film
- ✓Bagged pet waste and cat litter
- ✓Diapers and feminine hygiene products
- ✓Broken ceramics, dishes, and pots
- ✓Clothing and textiles
Dark Gray with Blue Lid Bin (Recycling)
Keep all recyclable items empty, clean, dry, and loose in the cart. Do not bag recyclables in plastic grocery or garbage bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean, dry paper, magazines, and mail
- ✓Flattened cardboard and paperboard
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs
- ✓Glass bottles and jars of any color
- ✓Aluminum and tin/steel food and beverage cans
- ✓Food and beverage cartons (Tetra Paks)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags, shrink wrap, and plastic film
- ✕Food waste and liquids
- ✕Styrofoam packing peanuts or blocks
- ✕Batteries, electronics, and cords
- ✕Garden hoses and tanglers
Yard Waste Bin
To reduce odors, you may place food scraps inside a standard brown paper bag before putting them in the organics cart. No plastic bags, including 'compostable' plastics, are allowed.
Accepted Items
- ✓Food scraps (meat, bones, dairy, bread, fruits, vegetables)
- ✓Food-soiled paper (coffee grounds, tea bags, greasy paper)
- ✓Grass clippings, leaves, and weeds
- ✓Floral and yard waste
- ✓Small branches and tree trimmings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
4 free curbside pick-ups per year for residential customers.
Placement
Place your scheduled bulky items at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your designated service day. Mattresses and box springs must be completely wrapped in plastic.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, dressers, chairs)
- ✓ Wrapped mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Large appliances (refrigerators, washers, dryers)
- ✓ Electronic waste (televisions, computers)
- ✓ Bundled tree branches and scrap wood
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household hazardous waste (paint, motor oil, batteries)
- ✕ Spas and camper shells
- ✕ Pianos or items requiring more than two people to lift
- ✕ Construction materials (dirt, concrete, rocks)
- ✕ Machinery and industrial discards
If you exceed your allowance of four items per pickup, or if you request more than four total pickups in a year, you will be charged an additional per-item fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on a weekday, collection will be delayed by one day for the remainder of the week (e.g., Thursday service moves to Friday). If the holiday falls on a weekend, there is no delay.
Yard Waste Exception
Organics and recycling carts are collected on the exact same holiday delay schedule as the regular trash carts.
Only the six major holidays listed above cause a delay in Palmdale. Other holidays, such as Martin Luther King Jr. Day or Veterans Day, do not affect the Waste Management schedule.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Winter Holidays
Late December to JanuaryWaste Management collects unflocked Christmas trees for recycling on your regular service day during the first two weeks in January at no extra cost. Also, enjoy up to three weeks of free trash bag overage collection following December 26th.
Spring
AprilDuring Palmdale's annual Environmental Pride Week, residential customers can place extra bags of refuse at the curb for collection at no additional charge. Check the city calendar for the exact dates each year.
High Winds
Year-RoundThe Antelope Valley is notorious for high winds. Always ensure your trash is bagged within the black-lidded cart and that all cart lids are completely closed to prevent litter from blowing into the desert environment.
Local Tips & Community Info
Standard Residential Cart Services and Color Changes
The City of Palmdale has partnered with Waste Management (WM) to handle weekly residential waste collection. Currently, the state of California is transitioning to a uniform bin color system under SB 1383. While your old carts may have been blue for trash and green for recycling, the new carts rolling out are dark gray. These updated bins feature specific lid colors to help you sort correctly: a black lid for standard trash, a blue lid for recycling, and a green lid for organic waste. Residents are provided one 96-gallon cart for each stream, but you can always request a smaller 32-gallon Super Saver garbage cart if you generate less waste, which qualifies you for a 20 percent monthly discount.
Navigating Organics and SB 1383 Guidelines
Sorting your food scraps and yard debris is mandatory in Palmdale to comply with state environmental laws. Your organics cart, which features the green lid, is designated for all yard trimmings, leaves, meat, dairy, coffee grounds, and food-soiled paper products. To prevent unpleasant odors, especially during the hot desert summers, it is highly recommended to place your food waste in a brown paper bag before tossing it in the organics bin. Never use plastic bags, even those marketed as compostable, as they will contaminate the entire load and could result in collection delays.
Curb Placement and Street Sweeping Etiquette
A smooth pickup day requires proper cart placement. Waste Management asks that all bins be wheeled out to the street by 6:00 a.m. on your designated service day. Place the carts directly against the curb with the handles facing toward your house. Because the collection trucks use automated mechanical arms, you must leave a minimum clearance of three feet between each container and any nearby obstacles like mailboxes or parked cars. Once your bins have been emptied, municipal regulations require that they be removed from the curb and stored out of sight by 6:00 p.m. that same evening.
Bulky Item Pickups and Landfill Vouchers
Getting rid of old furniture, mattresses, or broken appliances is convenient and free for Palmdale households. Residential WM customers are entitled to four complimentary bulky item collections every calendar year, with a limit of four large items per scheduled date. To arrange this service, you must contact customer service at 661-947-7197 or log into the My WM app at least 48 hours before your regular trash day. In addition to curbside pickups, residents automatically receive electronic vouchers on their account every July, granting two free disposal visits to the Antelope Valley Recycling and Disposal Facility on W. City Ranch Road.
Extra Bag Allowances and Environmental Pride Week
Sometimes your standard carts just aren't enough, particularly after a big party or a deep spring cleaning. Palmdale residents are allowed to place up to three extra trash bags at the curb for free, up to two times a year, by calling ahead to schedule. Furthermore, every April during Environmental Pride Week, the city permits households to leave up to ten 30-gallon bags of refuse at the curb completely free of charge. This annual event is a great opportunity to clear out household clutter without incurring overage fees or taking a trip to the local dump.
Drop-off Facilities
Antelope Valley Recycling and Disposal Facility (Palmdale Landfill)
1200 W City Ranch Rd, Palmdale, CA 93551
Materials Accepted
Antelope Valley Environmental Collection Center (AVECC)
1200 W City Ranch Rd, Palmdale, CA 93551
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do the Landfill E-Vouchers work for Palmdale residents?
Every July 1st, residential accounts in good standing automatically receive three E-Vouchers. Two vouchers allow you to dump up to one ton of general trash or green waste for free, and one is designated for up to two tons of clean soil. Just bring an ID matching your Waste Management account to the Palmdale Landfill scale house.
Can I put palm fronds in my green organic waste cart?
No. Palm fronds, yucca, and cactus trimmings are highly fibrous and can damage the commercial composting equipment. In Palmdale, you must put palm fronds directly into your black-lidded trash cart.
What is the Super Saver Program for Palmdale trash collection?
The Super Saver Program financially rewards residents who produce very little garbage. By calling Waste Management and requesting to downsize your standard 96-gallon trash cart to a 32-gallon cart, you will receive a 20% discount on your regular residential trash rate.
How many free bulky item pickups do I get in Palmdale?
Palmdale residents are entitled to four (4) free curbside bulky item pick-ups per calendar year, with a limit of four (4) items per pickup. You must call WM at (661) 947-7197 at least 48 hours in advance to schedule the collection.