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
!Contamination Tips
Unbag Your Recyclables
Never bag your recyclables in standard plastic trash bags, and do not put loose plastic grocery bags in the blue cart. Plastic film easily wraps around the mechanical gears at the sorting facility, causing major equipment failures.
No Plastics in the Green Cart
Keep all plastics out of the green organics bin. Even plastic bags marketed as 'compostable' or 'biodegradable' are often rejected by commercial composting facilities because they do not break down properly. Stick to paper bags or newspaper for food scraps.
Batteries Cause Truck Fires
Never toss batteries (especially lithium-ion) into your curbside carts. They are highly combustible when crushed inside a garbage truck. Utilize LA County's free HHW drop-off events to safely dispose of them.
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.
About Pico Rivera Waste Management
Comprehensive Waste Solutions with NASA Services
The City of Pico Rivera contracts exclusively with NASA Services to provide residential garbage, recycling, and green waste collection. Operating with a commitment to sustainable waste management and top-tier customer service, NASA Services equips each household with a standardized automated three-cart system. To ensure seamless and timely service, residents must place their bins at the curb no later than 6:00 a.m. on their designated collection day.
Maximizing the Generous Bulky Item Program
Pico Rivera offers one of the most generous bulky item pickup programs in Los Angeles County. Single-family residents are entitled to 10 free on-call bulky item collections per calendar year (measured from July 1 to June 30), with a limit of four items per scheduled pickup. In addition to these on-call appointments, NASA Services hosts an Annual Bulky Item Collection Week every spring, allowing households to place an unlimited number of acceptable large items curbside at no extra cost.
Mandatory Organics Recycling for a Greener Future
In strict compliance with California’s Senate Bill 1383 (SB 1383), Pico Rivera has integrated food waste into its residential green waste collection. Residents are required to co-mingle kitchen food scraps—including meat, dairy, bones, and food-soiled paper—with standard yard trimmings directly in their green organics cart. Diverting these organic materials away from landfills significantly reduces regional methane emissions and creates nutrient-rich compost.
Proper Disposal of Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)
Toxic items such as paint, solvents, pool chemicals, and used motor oil are strictly prohibited from all curbside carts. Improper disposal is illegal and poses severe fire and health risks to sanitation workers. Pico Rivera residents are encouraged to use local Certified Collection Centers, such as the Auto Zone locations on Whittier Boulevard and Slauson Boulevard, for used motor oil recycling, and to contact LA County’s 888-CLEAN-LA hotline for safe drop-off options for other hazardous materials.
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.