Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Santa Monica
Trash Day
Collection runs Monday through Friday, depending on your neighborhood route.
Recycling
Collected once weekly on the same designated pickup day as trash.
Yard Waste
Organics and yard waste (green cart) are collected once weekly on your regular collection day.
Set Out Time
By 7:00 AM on collection day (no earlier than 4:00 PM the evening before)
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Trash, recycling, water, and sewer services are billed together on a single bi-monthly statement issued by the City of Santa Monica.
Billing Cycle
Bi-Monthly (Every 2 Months)
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail, In-Person, Drop Box
Pro Tip / Discount
Low-income customers enrolled in CARE programs with other utilities may qualify for rate assistance, and seniors may qualify for utility tax exemptions.
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
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.
Local Tips & Community Info
Navigating Santa Monica's Zero Waste Initiative
The City of Santa Monica is deeply committed to environmental sustainability, aiming to reduce landfill disposal to just 1.1 pounds per person per day by 2030. Through the Resource Recovery and Recycling (RRR) Division, the city provides comprehensive waste management services to all neighborhoods. Whether you reside in Ocean Park, Sunset Park, or closer to the downtown promenade, utilizing the city's three-container system properly is essential. It not only keeps our coastal community pristine but also ensures strict compliance with California's environmental mandates.
Mastering the Three-Container System
Every household is equipped with black, blue, and green carts to separate waste effectively at the source. The black container is exclusively for landfill-bound trash, such as pet waste, diapers, styrofoam, and soft plastics like chip wrappers. The blue recycling bin is designated for clean and dry items, including flattened cardboard, mixed paper, glass bottles, metal cans, and rigid plastics marked with numbers 1, 2, or 5. Remember that no food residue, liquids, or thin film plastics should ever be thrown into the blue cart, as these materials can severely damage the recycling facility's sorting machinery.
Organics Recycling and SB 1383 Compliance
Following the implementation of state law SB 1383, Santa Monica requires all residents to separate their organic waste from regular trash. Your green container is designed for yard trimmings as well as all food scraps, including meat, dairy, bones, and food-soiled paper products. You can collect kitchen scraps in a small countertop pail or a paper bag. To minimize odors and pests, consider keeping food waste in the freezer until your scheduled pickup day. Pet waste and non-compostable bioplastics are strictly prohibited in the organics bin.
Curbside Placement Guidelines and Timings
To ensure a successful and swift collection, carts must be brought out to the curb or alleyway between 4:00 PM the day before your pickup and 7:00 AM on your scheduled service day. Position the containers so that the lids face the street and the handles point toward your property. Allow at least two feet of clearance between each bin and nearby obstacles like parked cars, street signs, walls, or trees. Once the trucks have emptied the bins, all carts must be pulled back onto your private property by 8:00 PM on the day of collection.
Disposing of Oversized and Bulky Items
Residents should never leave old furniture or broken appliances abandoned in the alleyway. Santa Monica provides each household with three complimentary bulky item pickups every calendar year, allowing up to five items per collection. To request this convenient service, place your labeled items at the curb or alley and immediately email [email protected] or call (866) 311-7266. City crews typically arrive within 7 to 10 days to safely remove the materials. Please note that construction debris and hazardous waste are not accepted through this residential program.
Handling Excess Trash and Holiday Schedules
If you occasionally generate more garbage than your standard 95-gallon black bin can hold, the city sells specialized 40-gallon orange plastic bags. By placing excess waste in these prepaid bags next to your cart, collection crews will haul it away without any hassle. Additionally, it is important to be mindful of the holiday calendar. When a major recognized holiday falls on a weekday, trash, recycling, and organics pickups are pushed back by one full day for the remainder of that week, with regular schedules resuming the following Monday.
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.