Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Pico Rivera
Trash Day
Monday through Friday, depending on your 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 in Pico Rivera is serviced by NASA Services under contract with the city.
Billing Cycle
Quarterly
Accepted Methods
Online, Phone, Mail, Auto-Pay
Pro Tip / Discount
Senior or low-income rate discounts may be available; contact customer service for eligibility requirements.
Black Bin (Trash)
Place your cart at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on collection day. Ensure the lid is completely closed to prevent litter and deter pests.
Accepted Items
- ✓Mixed household garbage
- ✓Diapers and sanitary products
- ✓Pet waste and kitty litter
- ✓Styrofoam (expanded polystyrene)
- ✓Treated or painted wood
- ✓Broken ceramics and glassware
- ✓Snack wrappers and plastic film
Blue Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be placed loosely in the blue cart. Do not bag your recyclables. Containers should be empty and lightly rinsed to remove heavy residue.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics #1 through #7 (bottles, jugs, and tubs)
- ✓Clean paper, newspaper, and junk mail
- ✓Flattened cardboard and clean dry boxes
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (all colors)
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags
- ✕Food waste and liquids
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Electronic waste
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, wires, clothing)
Yard Waste Bin
Do not use standard plastic bags. All organic waste must go directly into the green cart. Wrap messy food scraps in newspaper or an uncoated paper bag to minimize odors.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings, leaves, and weeds
- ✓Small branches and prunings
- ✓Meat, fish, poultry, and bones
- ✓Fruits, vegetables, and dairy products
- ✓Coffee grounds and paper filters
- ✓100% fiber-based food-soiled paper (like pizza boxes)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
10 free on-call collections per year, plus one unlimited spring collection week
Placement
You must call NASA Services at 888-888-0388 at least 24 hours prior to your regular collection day. Items must be placed at the curb no later than 6:00 a.m. on collection day.
Accepted
- ✓ Refrigerators, washers, and dryers
- ✓ Couches, chairs, and mattresses
- ✓ Electronic waste (TVs, computers, stereos)
- ✓ Yard waste bundles (up to 4 feet long)
- ✓ Clothing and non-hazardous junk
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste, paint, or solvents
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris (concrete, asphalt, drywall, lumber)
- ✕ Equipment, vehicles, or auto parts
- ✕ Pick-up truck or automobile tires
The first 10 collections (up to 4 items each) per cycle are free. Additional pickups requested beyond this limit will incur a fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
During the week of an observed holiday, collection services will be postponed by one day for the holiday and through the rest of the week (e.g., Thursday service moves to Friday).
Yard Waste Exception
This one-day delay applies to all residential carts, including trash, recycling, and organics.
If the observed holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, your regular weekday collection schedule will not be interrupted.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Spring
March to MayTake advantage of NASA Services' Annual Bulky Item Collection Week held each spring. During this specific week, Pico Rivera residents can place an unlimited amount of acceptable bulky items at the curb on their regular service day.
Winter
Late December to JanuaryFollowing the holidays, holiday tree recycling is available. Ensure your tree is completely free of ornaments, lights, stands, tinsel, and flocking before placing it curbside next to your green cart.
Local Tips & Community Info
NASA Services Solid Waste Partnership
For residential properties in Pico Rivera, municipal solid waste management is executed through a specialized franchise agreement with NASA Services. This local hauler supplies single-family households with three separate color-coded barrels to manage daily household refuse efficiently. The black container is designated for general landfill trash, the blue is for clean recyclables, and the green is restricted to organic matter. If you are a new homeowner needing to order your initial bin set or if you require a repair for a cracked lid, all equipment requests should be directed straight to the NASA Services customer support center rather than city offices.
Curbside Placement and Street Sweeping Rules
A smooth neighborhood pickup route depends on residents setting out their barrels correctly. NASA Services requires all containers to be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your specific neighborhood collection day. It is critical to leave a three-foot gap between each barrel so the collection vehicle's lifting mechanism can operate without knocking them over. Furthermore, Pico Rivera enforces strict street sweeping schedules. You must ensure your carts are not obstructing the street sweeper's path, and once the sanitation trucks have emptied your bins, city municipal codes mandate that they be pulled out of public view by 8:00 p.m. that evening.
Mandatory Organics Recycling (SB 1383)
To comply with California's aggressive climate legislation, Pico Rivera actively enforces the diversion of organic waste from local landfills. Your green barrel is the only acceptable place for yard clippings, weeds, leaves, and all kitchen food scraps. Residents should scrape their leftover meals, fruit peels, and even meat bones directly into this organics cart. Please be aware that standard plastic garbage bags are entirely banned from the green cart because they contaminate the commercial composting machinery. If you wish to bag your food waste, you must use 100% compostable paper bags or BPI-certified liners.
Maximizing Your Blue Bin's Potential
Proper sorting of your recyclables helps keep processing costs down and protects the environment. The blue barrel is reserved for loose, dry, and clean materials. This includes flattened corrugated cardboard, aluminum beverage cans, glass jars, and rigid plastic bottles. A major issue for local sorting facilities is the introduction of 'film plastics.' Items such as grocery sacks, bubble wrap, and plastic mailing envelopes wrap around sorting screens and cause severe mechanical jams. Always leave your recyclables loose inside the cart, and throw flimsy plastics into your black landfill bin instead.
Scheduling Free Bulky Item Removals
Pico Rivera homeowners enjoy a very generous bulky item pickup program to help dispose of massive household objects. Instead of hauling old mattresses, broken washing machines, or dilapidated couches to the dump, residents can contact NASA Services to schedule a free curbside pickup. You are required to call their dispatch office at least 24 hours prior to your normal collection day to secure a spot on the route. Dumping large furniture in local alleys or leaving it on the sidewalk unannounced is a violation of local ordinances and will invite code enforcement fines.
Holiday Delays and Tree Disposal
Major national holidays can occasionally shift your standard garbage routine. NASA Services observes New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day. If any of these holidays falls on a weekday, all collections scheduled for that day and the remainder of the week will be pushed back by exactly one day, finishing up with a Saturday route. In addition, the city coordinates a post-holiday tree recycling program where residents can place stripped, un-flocked Christmas trees curbside for complimentary mulching during the first two weeks of January.
Drop-off Facilities
Auto Zone (Used Motor Oil Certified Collection Center)
9350 Whittier Boulevard, Pico Rivera, CA 90660
Materials Accepted
Los Angeles County S.A.F.E. Collection Centers
Various regional locations (e.g., Washington Blvd S.A.F.E. Center in LA)
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I schedule a bulky item pickup in Pico Rivera?
Pico Rivera residents receive 10 free bulky item collections per year (up to 4 items each). You can schedule a pickup by calling NASA Services at 888-888-0388 at least 24 hours before your regular trash day.
Can I put food waste in my green cart?
Yes. To comply with California's SB 1383 mandate, all Pico Rivera residents must separate food scraps—including meat, dairy, and bones—and place them directly into the green organics cart along with yard waste.
Is there a limit to how many bulky items I can put out during the Spring Collection Week?
No. During NASA Services' Annual Bulky Item Collection Week held each spring, residents are allowed to place an unlimited amount of acceptable bulky items at the curb on their regular service day.
Where can I dispose of used motor oil?
Used motor oil is hazardous and cannot go in your curbside bins. You can recycle it for free at local Certified Collection Centers, including the Auto Zone locations at 9350 Whittier Blvd and 9234 Slauson Blvd in Pico Rivera.