Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Santa Monica
Collections in California municipal routes run weekly (Mon-Fri). Your specific collection day is determined by your local neighborhood route.
State Mandate
Follow SB 1383 guidelines for food waste.
Black Bin (Trash)
Place carts in the alley or at the curb no earlier than 4:00 p.m. the day before collection and no later than 7:00 a.m. on the service day. Lids must face the street with handles pointing toward your home.
Accepted Items
- ✓Household landfill waste
- ✓Diapers and pet waste
- ✓Styrofoam and packing peanuts
- ✓Multi-layer juice and milk cartons
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Treated wood
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag your recyclables. All items must be placed loosely inside the blue cart. Ensure materials are reasonably clean and dry to prevent contamination.
Accepted Items
- ✓Aluminum cans and foil
- ✓Clean plastic containers (#1, #2, and #5 only)
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Flattened cardboard
- ✓Mixed office paper and newspaper
Do NOT Include
- ✕Multi-layer juice or milk cartons
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Food waste and liquids
- ✕Landscape clippings
- ✕Styrofoam
Yard Waste Bin
Do not use standard plastic bags in the green cart. Materials collected here are turned into compost, so absolutely no glass, plastic, or synthetic materials are allowed.
Accepted Items
- ✓Food scraps and spoiled food
- ✓Uncoated food-soiled paper
- ✓Yard trimmings and grass
- ✓Shredded paper
- ✓Wood or bamboo utensils
- ✓Coffee grounds
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Three (3) free collections per calendar year
Placement
Move items to the front curb or alley and attach a sign reading 'For City Pick-up' before calling 311 to schedule. Carts must not be blocked by the bulky items.
Accepted
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Couches and sofas
- ✓ Chairs and tables
- ✓ Large household furniture
- ✓ Large items that do not fit in the black cart
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste and wet paint
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Industrial or commercial waste
- ✕ Items collected from inside the house (crews will not enter private property)
If you exceed your three free pickups or place more than 5 items at once, the city will charge a premium bulky item collection fee (currently $253.37 per hour, with a one-hour minimum).
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Trash pickup does not occur on designated holidays. If the holiday falls on a weekday, service for the remainder of the week is typically delayed by one day.
Yard Waste Exception
Organics and recycling are delayed exactly the same as the regular black landfill trash cart.
If a designated holiday falls on a Saturday, it is observed on the preceding Friday. If it falls on a Sunday, it is observed on the following Monday.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Milk and Juice Cartons Belong in the Trash
In many cities, aseptic multi-layer cartons (like almond milk or broth boxes) are recyclable, but Santa Monica specifically excludes them from the blue bin. The mixed paper, plastic, and aluminum layers cannot be processed locally, so put them in the black landfill cart.
Shredded Paper Goes Green
While intact sheets of office paper belong in the blue recycling cart, shredded paper should be placed in the green organics cart. The tiny paper shreds degrade the quality of plastic and glass recycling bales but break down perfectly in compost.
Unbag Your Recyclables
Never put your recyclables in plastic garbage bags. The sorting facility machinery cannot open the bags and the plastic film gets tangled in the sorting gears, which poses a severe hazard to workers and slows down the entire recycling process.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuaryThe City provides free curbside holiday tree recycling. Residents do not need to call 311 to schedule this. Simply remove all ornaments, tinsel, and stands, and place the un-flocked tree in the alley or at the curb on your normal collection day.
Year-Round
January - DecemberSanta Monica regularly hosts community compost giveaway events, paper shredding days, and electronic waste collection drives. Check the city's 'Zero Waste Events' calendar for upcoming dates.
About Santa Monica Waste Management
Municipal Collection with Orange Overflow Bags
The City of Santa Monica handles residential waste directly through its Resource Recovery and Recycling Division, operating seven days a week. Recognizing that some weeks generate more refuse than others, the city offers a unique overflow solution for landfill waste. If your black 95-gallon cart is completely full, residents can purchase a five-pack of specialized 40-gallon orange plastic bags directly from the city. Once filled and securely fastened, these orange bags can be left next to your regular cart and will be collected on your scheduled pickup day without incurring a full extra-cart fee.
Door-to-Door Household Hazardous Waste Collection
Disposing of harsh cleaning products, wet paint, and electronics can be a hassle, but Santa Monica simplifies this through a partnership with CleanEarth. Instead of forcing residents to transport dangerous materials to regional drop-off centers, the city provides a free, door-to-door residential collection program. By calling CleanEarth or submitting an online request, a specialized team will come directly to your home to safely package and remove unwanted household chemicals, keeping them out of local landfills and oceans.
Robust Community Battery Recycling Network
Battery fires pose a severe risk to municipal collection trucks. To ensure universal access to safe disposal, Santa Monica has established an extensive community drop-off network specifically for household batteries. Residents can drop off old AA, AAA, C, D, and 9-volt batteries at highly convenient public locations, including all Santa Monica city libraries, public schools, the Santa Monica Swim Center, and the public counter at City Hall East.
Organics Collection with a Focus on Zero Waste
Compliant with California's SB 1383, Santa Monica requires all households to utilize their green organics cart for food scraps, uncoated food-soiled paper, and yard trimmings. What sets Santa Monica apart is its acceptance of shredded paper and bamboo/wooden utensils directly in the green cart. The city aggressively processes these materials into high-quality compost, directly supporting local 'Zero Waste' initiatives and community compost giveaway events throughout the year.
Drop-off Facilities
Santa Monica City Hall East Public Counter
1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Materials Accepted
Sherwin Williams (Pico Blvd)
816 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I request a bulky item pickup in Santa Monica?
First, move your items (up to 5 max) to the front curb or alley and label them 'For City Pick-up'. Then, call the 311 customer service line at (866) 311-7266 or email [email protected]. Please note that collection usually takes 7 to 10 days from the time you make the request.
What if I have more bulky items than the limit allows?
Residents receive three free pickups per year, limited to 5 items per pickup. If you have exhausted your free pickups or have more than 5 items at once, the city will still collect them but will bill you at the current hourly rate of $253.37 (one-hour minimum).
How do I get rid of extra trash that won't fit in my black cart?
You can purchase a five-pack of 40-gallon orange plastic bags from the Resource Recovery and Recycling Division. Place your excess trash in these bags, securely fasten them, and place them next to your black cart on your regular collection day. City crews will identify the official orange bags and collect them.
How can I dispose of hazardous chemicals and electronics?
Do not place hazardous waste in your curbside bins. Instead, Santa Monica partners with CleanEarth to offer a free residential door-to-door collection program. You can call them at (877) 443-2371 or visit their website to schedule a home pickup for paint, electronics, cleaning products, and more.