Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Rowland Heights
Trash Day
Monday through Friday, depending on your neighborhood route.
Recycling
Collected weekly on the same day as trash in your blue recycling cart.
Yard Waste
Collected weekly on the same day as trash in your green organics cart.
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Rowland Heights is an unincorporated community in LA County serviced by Athens Services; residents are billed directly by Athens and receive up to four free bulky item collections per year.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail, In-Person
Pro Tip / Discount
Senior discounts are available for qualifying low-income senior residents through Los Angeles County and Athens Services.
Black Bin (Trash)
Place bins curbside by 6:00 A.M. on service day. Do not include e-waste, construction debris, auto parts, or bulky items.
Accepted Items
- ✓General household garbage
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Bagged pet waste
Blue Bin (Recycling)
All containers must be empty of liquids and food. Cardboard must be broken down and placed loosely in the cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean and dry paper
- ✓Broken down cardboard
- ✓Clean pizza boxes
- ✓Beverage and detergent jugs
- ✓Soda, juice, and water bottles
Do NOT Include
- ✕Frozen food boxes
- ✕Soup, milk, and juice cartons
- ✕E-waste
- ✕Bulky items
- ✕Food waste
Yard Waste Bin
Required by State Senate Bill 1383. No petroleum-based plastics, wax, or bio-plastic coated materials.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves and branches
- ✓Food scraps
- ✓100% plant-fiber based food-soiled paper
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
On-demand, requires advanced scheduling
Placement
Place items at the curb only after confirming a scheduled pickup date to avoid illegal dumping fines in unincorporated LA County.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Appliances
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ E-waste (computers, TVs)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Hazardous materials
- ✕ Dirt
- ✕ Concrete
Basic franchise service typically includes a set number of bulky item collections; verify your specific property's annual limits when calling Athens Services.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a recognized holiday falls on a weekday, trash collection will be delayed by one day for the remainder of the week. If it falls on a weekend, there is no delay.
Yard Waste Exception
No exceptions. Green organics are collected on the same delayed schedule as regular trash and recycling.
Holidays create a cascading one-day delay. Place your bins curbside the night before or by 6:00 A.M. on the adjusted service day.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuaryFrom late December through mid-January, Athens Services collects bare holiday trees curbside on your normal service day. Trees taller than six feet must be cut in half, and flocked trees are strictly prohibited.
Fall/Winter
September - FebruaryDuring Southern California's notorious Santa Ana wind events, make sure your cart lids are completely closed and securely placed at the curb so debris doesn't blow across the San Gabriel Valley.
Spring
March - MayKeep an eye out for LA County and Athens Services' free mulch and compost giveaway events typically held in the spring. It is a great way to reap the rewards of the organic waste you've been recycling all year.
Local Tips & Community Info
Residential Waste Collection in Rowland Heights
In the unincorporated community of Rowland Heights, household waste management is exclusively provided by Athens Services. Residents are required to roll their designated trash, recycling, and organics receptacles to the curb no later than 6:00 a.m. on their scheduled collection morning. Alternatively, you can place them out the night before. To ensure the automated trucks can securely lift the containers, keep them spaced a few feet apart and clear of parked cars, fire hydrants, and mailboxes. Lids must be securely closed, and overflowing garbage may not be serviced. If you are unsure of your specific neighborhood's route day, Athens provides an interactive collection map on their local website.
Proper Sorting: Recyclables and Organics
Achieving a zero-waste future relies heavily on correct sorting at home. Your blue recycling barrel is designated for clean, dry paper products, broken-down cardboard boxes, glass jars, aluminum cans, and empty plastic containers. Never bag your recyclables; keep them loose. Meanwhile, the green organics cart is strictly for yard trimmings like leaves, branches, and grass, as well as all household food scraps. Keeping food waste out of the landfill is a California state requirement. Items like heavily soiled paper, plastic wrappers, and general non-recyclable refuse should always go directly into your standard black trash bin.
Requesting Bulky Item and Large Appliance Removal
Upgrading your living room furniture or replacing a faulty washing machine? Rowland Heights residents benefit from complimentary bulky waste pickups through Athens Services. Instead of illegally dumping items or overstuffing your curbside carts, you can schedule a special removal for mattresses, couches, and major appliances. You must arrange this service ahead of time by calling Athens customer support or filling out their online bulky item request form. Drivers need advance notice to ensure they bring the appropriate truck to handle oversized loads safely.
Holiday Schedule Delays and Interruptions
Throughout the calendar year, your regular pickup day may shift due to recognized holidays. Athens Services observes major holidays including New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. When one of these holidays lands on a weekday, all subsequent collections for that week are delayed by one single day. For instance, if Independence Day is on a Wednesday, Wednesday customers will be serviced on Thursday, and Friday customers on Saturday. If the holiday falls on a weekend, your curbside schedule remains completely unchanged.
Safe Disposal of Hazardous and Electronic Waste
Certain materials pose severe environmental hazards and must never be tossed into any of your standard residential barrels. Electronic waste (e-waste) such as old computers, televisions, and tablets contain toxic heavy metals. Similarly, household hazardous waste like motor oil, wet paint, pesticides, and lithium-ion batteries can cause fires in collection trucks. Residents of Rowland Heights are encouraged to utilize Los Angeles County's free household hazardous waste collection events to dispose of these dangerous substances responsibly.
Drop-off Facilities
Irwindale Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) - Athens Services
2200 Arrow Highway, Irwindale, CA 91706
Materials Accepted
Grand Central Recycling & Transfer Station
999 S Hatcher Ave, City of Industry, CA 91748
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Rowland Heights have its own municipal trash service?
No. Because Rowland Heights is an unincorporated community in Los Angeles County, its residential waste services are franchised by LA County Public Works and are currently contracted exclusively to Athens Services.
Can I put milk cartons and cereal boxes in my blue recycling bin?
According to Athens Services' current processing guidelines, while these are technically acceptable paper products, items like cereal boxes, frozen food boxes, and soup/milk cartons may not currently be recycled locally. It is recommended to minimize wish-cycling these coated items.
How do I get rid of an old TV or computer in Rowland Heights?
You cannot put electronic waste in your regular curbside carts. Instead, you can schedule a bulky item pickup with Athens Services or take advantage of the twice-a-year LA County e-waste collection events held specifically for local residents.
What should I do with my holiday tree?
Athens Services collects holiday trees curbside typically between December 26 and mid-January. Simply remove all ornaments, lights, stands, and tinsel. If the tree is over six feet tall, it must be cut in half. Flocked or fire-retardant trees are treated as trash and will not be recycled.