Black or Grey Bin (Trash)
To ensure your trash is collected, please make sure your barrels are out the night before trash day or by 6:00 A.M. the day of service. All refuse must be placed inside the container with the lids closed.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics #3 and #6 (hard and foam)
- ✓Bubble wrap, film wrap, and plastic bags
- ✓Diapers and pet waste
- ✓Cacti, succulents, palm fronds, and yucca leaves
- ✓Hard shells (clams, oysters) and cigarette butts
Blue Bin (Recycling)
All items must be empty of liquid and food before being placed in the blue recycling container. Do not bag your recyclables.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean, dry paper, mail, and magazines
- ✓Broken down cardboard and clean pizza boxes
- ✓Plastic #1, #2, and #5 bottles and jugs
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (lids removed)
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans, foil, and scrap metal
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags, cellophane, and film
- ✕Food-soiled paper with plastic or wax coatings
- ✕Bubble wrap and styrofoam
- ✕Small plastics (utensils, straws)
Yard Waste Bin
All food-soiled paper must be 100% plant-fiber based with no petroleum-based plastic, wax, or bio-plastic coating. Do not use plastic bags to hold food waste.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings, leaves, and weeds
- ✓Food scraps (fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy)
- ✓100% plant-fiber based food-soiled paper
- ✓Paper egg cartons and paper napkins
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Available upon request.
Placement
Place your items out on the curb no earlier than the day before your regular trash pickup day.
Accepted
- ✓ Major appliances (washers, dryers, refrigerators)
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, recliners, tables)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Electronic waste (TVs, computers)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Lumber and construction debris
- ✕ Concrete and auto parts
- ✕ Toxins such as paint and used motor oil
- ✕ Hazardous waste
The service is free for single-family residences and multi-family properties utilizing standard trash barrels. Commercial properties or those with bins incur a separate charge.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If the holiday falls on a weekday, trash collection will be delayed by one day for the remainder of the week.
Yard Waste Exception
The one-day delay applies to all residential carts, including trash, recycling, and organics.
If the holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there are no service interruptions and the normal schedule remains in effect.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Palm Fronds and Cacti in the Trash
While they are plants, palm fronds, yucca leaves, cacti, and succulents do not break down correctly in the composting process [1.1.1]. Athens Services requires these items to go strictly into the black trash cart.
Say No to Plastic Bags in the Blue Cart
Plastic bags, cellophane, and film wrap wrap around the sorting gears at the recycling facility. Never bag your recyclables, and throw all soft plastics into the black bin.
Remove Lids from Glass Jars
When recycling glass bottles and jars in your blue cart, ensure they are completely empty of food and liquid, and remember to remove and discard their lids before tossing them in.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuaryAthens Services collects holiday trees for recycling following Christmas. Trees must be completely stripped of lights, ornaments, stands, and tinsel. Trees treated with flocking or fire retardants cannot be composted and must be disposed of as trash.
Spring
March - MayWith the arrival of spring cleaning, remember that Paramount offers free bulky item and E-Waste pickups for single-family residences. Schedule a collection for old furniture or appliances by calling Athens at least 24 hours before your normal service day.
Summer
June - AugustHot summer temperatures can cause odors in your green organics cart. To mitigate pests, store your food scraps in the freezer or refrigerator during the week and only transfer them to the green bin the night before your scheduled pickup.
About Paramount Waste Management
Partnering with Athens Services for a Zero Waste Future
In Paramount, residential solid waste and recycling are expertly managed by Athens Services [1.1.1]. With a local footprint in the Los Angeles community for over 60 years, Athens handles standard trash, commingled recycling, and the state-mandated SB 1383 organics program. By providing specialized blue, green, and black automated carts, Athens is working closely with the City of Paramount to divert valuable resources away from landfills and toward a more sustainable, zero-waste future.
Stringent Organics and Food-Soiled Paper Rules
Paramount's organic waste recycling program is incredibly thorough. Residents are required to place all food scraps, yard clippings, and food-soiled paper into their green organics cart. However, Athens Services strictly mandates that any food-soiled paper—such as pizza boxes, napkins, and egg cartons—must be 100% plant-fiber based. Items containing any trace of petroleum-based plastics, wax coatings, or bio-plastic laminates will contaminate the load and must be placed in the regular trash.
Flexible Bulky Item and E-Waste Collection
Unlike many cities that severely limit the number of large item pickups per year, Paramount offers single-family residences (and multi-family properties utilizing barrels) incredibly flexible bulky item and electronic waste collection. Residents can simply contact Athens Services at least 24 hours prior to their regular trash day to schedule the free removal of couches, mattresses, and major appliances. Additionally, Paramount households can schedule complimentary curbside E-Waste pickups for items like old televisions and computers, ensuring toxic heavy metals stay out of the environment.
Specialized Disposal for Cacti and Succulents
While it might seem counterintuitive, not all yard waste belongs in the green organics bin. In Paramount, residents are instructed by Athens Services to place cacti, succulents, palm fronds, and yucca leaves directly into the black trash container. These specific plants are either too fibrous or retain too much moisture to be processed effectively at Athens' American Organics compost facility in Victorville, making proper sorting essential for the city's green waste efforts.
Drop-off Facilities
Athens Services Paramount Drop-Off
7202 East Petterson Lane, Paramount, CA 90723
Materials Accepted
AutoZone Auto Parts (Certified Collection Center)
16249 Paramount Blvd, Paramount, CA 90723
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the trash hauler for Paramount, California?
Athens Services is the exclusive waste collection and recycling company for the City of Paramount, handling all residential and commercial solid waste services.
Can I throw food-soiled paper in the green bin in Paramount?
Yes, but with a strict caveat. You can recycle pizza boxes, paper napkins, and egg cartons in the green organics cart only if they are 100% plant-fiber based. Any paper with wax, bio-plastic coatings, or plastic liners must go in the regular trash.
How do I get rid of an old refrigerator or couch in Paramount?
Paramount residents living in single-family homes or utilizing barrel service can schedule a free bulky item pickup. Just call Athens Services at (888) 336-6100 at least 24 hours before your regular trash day, and place the items at the curb no earlier than the night before.
Where should I dispose of used motor oil in Paramount?
Used motor oil and hazardous toxins cannot be picked up through the bulky item program. You can safely dispose of used motor oil and filters for free at local certified collection centers, such as the AutoZone located at 16249 Paramount Blvd.