Black Bin (Trash)
All trash must fit inside the container with the lid closed. Avoid placing heavy construction materials or dirt in the bin to prevent equipment damage. Place at the curb the night before or by 6:00 a.m. on service day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Non-recyclable garbage
- ✓Diapers and pet waste
- ✓Chip bags and candy wrappers
- ✓Foam to-go containers
- ✓Bathroom waste
- ✓Ceramics and porcelain
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Keep recyclables loose, clean, and dry. Never bag your recyclables, and ensure all containers are completely empty of food and liquids before placing them in the blue barrel.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean and dry paper and cardboard
- ✓Plastic containers (#1 through #7)
- ✓Glass jars and bottles (no lids)
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Telephone directories and junk mail
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and shrink wrap
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Electronic waste
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Tanglers (wires, hoses)
Yard Waste Bin
Do not use plastic bags (even those labeled 'compostable') for your food waste. All items must go directly into the green bin to be transported to the American Organics facility.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings, leaves, and weeds
- ✓Tree branches, flowers, and hedge trimmings
- ✓Food scraps (meat, bones, dairy, bread, fruits, soft seafood shells)
- ✓100% plant-fiber based food-soiled paper (pizza boxes, paper napkins)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
2 free items per week (Bulky) / 2 free items per year (E-Waste)
Placement
You must contact Athens Services in advance to schedule the pickup. Once confirmed, place the items on the curb the night before your scheduled collection day.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture and couches
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Refrigerators and large appliances
- ✓ Computers, printers, and TVs (E-Waste allowance)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous materials and chemicals
- ✕ Automotive fluids and oils
- ✕ Vehicle tires and parts
- ✕ Wet paint
If you exceed your allowance of two bulky items per week or two e-waste items per year, you will be charged a fee for the additional items.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a designated holiday falls on a weekday (Monday through Friday), all collection services for the remainder of that week will be delayed by one day.
Yard Waste Exception
Organics and recycling services follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as standard trash collection.
If an observed holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there is no delay in service and your normal weekday pickup remains on schedule.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Verify Your Food-Soiled Paper
Before throwing a to-go container in the green organics bin, ensure it doesn't have a shiny, wax, or bio-plastic lining. Only 100% raw, plant-fiber paper can be composted. If in doubt, throw it in the black trash bin.
No Plastic Bags in the Blue Bin
Never put your recyclables in plastic garbage bags. The film plastic wraps around the sorting gears at the Athens Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) and can shut down the entire recycling operation.
Keep E-Waste Out of the Trash
Computers, TVs, and microwaves contain toxic heavy metals and are illegal to throw in your black trash bin. Instead, utilize your allowance of two free curbside e-waste pickups per year by calling Athens Services.
Seasonal Information
Winter (Post-Holiday)
December - JanuaryAthens Services will collect unflocked, untreated Christmas trees at the curb and deliver them to their Victorville compost facility. Trees with artificial flocking or fire retardants cannot be composted and must be cut up for the trash.
Year-Round
BiannualKeep an eye on your Athens billing statements or emails for announcements regarding the two free e-waste collection events hosted in San Gabriel each year.
About San Gabriel Waste Management
Exceptionally Generous Bulky Item Program
San Gabriel residents benefit from one of the most generous large item disposal programs in the region. Through the city's franchise agreement with Athens Services, both single-family homeowners and multi-family apartment or condo tenants are entitled to two free bulky item pickups every single week. This proactive service makes it simple to discard old mattresses, couches, or refrigerators without letting clutter build up on your property.
Aggressive Stance on Illegal Dumping
The City of San Gabriel actively combats illegal dumping to maintain neighborhood aesthetics. If a bulky item is illegally dumped on your property, you may receive a red tag; however, property owners can simply call Athens Services to use their free bulky pickup allowance to have it removed. For active dumping in progress, residents are encouraged to directly call the San Gabriel Police Department's non-emergency line.
SB 1383 Organics and Compostable Paper
To meet California’s SB 1383 mandates, San Gabriel requires all food scraps to be placed in the green yard waste bin. An important nuance in San Gabriel’s program is the inclusion of food-soiled paper. Athens Services strictly requires that any food-soiled paper added to the green bin be 100% plant-fiber based. Materials with any petroleum-based plastic, bio-plastic coating, or wax liners will contaminate the compost and must be placed in the black trash bin instead.
Dedicated E-Waste and HHW Resources
While standard household hazardous waste (HHW) like paints and motor oil are never allowed in curbside bins, San Gabriel provides convenient alternatives. Residents receive two free electronic waste collections per year directly from their curb via Athens Services. Additionally, the city partners with Los Angeles County to host two specialized e-waste collection events annually exclusively for San Gabriel residents.
Drop-off Facilities
Athens Services Irwindale Office Center
4777 Irwindale Ave, Irwindale, CA 91706
Materials Accepted
S.A.F.E. Collection Center (Los Angeles)
2649 E. Washington Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90021
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get rid of an old mattress or couch in San Gabriel?
San Gabriel residents get a very generous allowance of two free bulky item pickups per week through Athens Services. This applies to both single-family homes and apartment tenants. Call (888) 336-6100 to schedule your free pickup.
What should I do if someone illegally dumps furniture on my property?
If an item is dumped on your property, you are responsible for it and may receive a red tag from Code Enforcement. However, you can simply call Athens Services and use your free weekly bulky pickup allowance to have it removed at no cost.
Can I put meat and bones in my green yard waste bin?
Yes. To comply with state law (SB 1383), all food scraps, including meat, bones, dairy, bread, and produce, must be placed directly into your green organics bin alongside your yard trimmings.
Are pizza boxes recyclable or compostable in San Gabriel?
Clean, unsoiled parts of a pizza box can go in the blue recycling bin. The grease-soiled portions should be placed in the green organics bin, provided the box is 100% plant-fiber based with no plastic or wax lining.