Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Santa Paula
Trash Day
Varies by neighborhood zone
Recycling
Same day as trash collection (weekly)
Yard Waste
Same day as trash collection (weekly)
Set Out Time
By 7:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Trash and recycling services are contracted through Athens Services, and billing can be managed directly or enrolled in automatic withdrawals via the City of Santa Paula.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Mail, Drop Box, In Person, Phone
Black Bin (Trash)
Lids must be completely closed to prevent litter scattering and access by pests. Ensure all household trash is bagged before placement.
Accepted Items
- ✓Soiled plastic wrap and grocery bags
- ✓Polystyrene and Styrofoam blocks, cups, or food trays
- ✓Worn-out textiles, shoes, and clothing
- ✓Bagged pet waste and kitty litter
- ✓Disposable plastic gloves, wipes, and diapers
- ✓Mylar snack wrappers, chip bags, and juice pouches
Blue Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be empty, rinsed, and dry. Place items loosely inside the blue cart—do not bundle or bag them.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard boxes and clean paperboard packaging (must be flattened)
- ✓Clean, dry paper, junk mail, newspapers, and telephone books
- ✓Empty aluminum cans, clean foil, and baking trays
- ✓Steel, tin, and bi-metal food cans
- ✓Glass bottles and food jars (rinsed, lids removed)
- ✓Rigid plastic bottles, jugs, tubs, and food jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic shopping bags or trash liners
- ✕Styrofoam packaging
- ✕Garden hoses, wires, or rope
- ✕Heavily soiled cardboard or greasy pizza boxes
- ✕Needles, medical waste, or electronic devices
Yard Waste Bin
Place organic materials loosely inside the green cart. No plastic bags, rocks, soil, pet feces, concrete, or palm fronds are allowed.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings, weeds, leaves, and flowers
- ✓Hedge trimmings, yard prunings, and small branches
- ✓All food leftovers (cooked/raw meat, fish, poultry, bones, dairy)
- ✓Fruit and vegetable scraps, eggshells, coffee grounds, and filters
- ✓100% fiber-based food-soiled paper towels, paper plates, and napkins
- ✓Greasy cardboard pizza boxes and unpainted clean wood scraps
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
2 free bulky collections per calendar year
Placement
Call the Customer Care Center at (805) 933-0100 to schedule your collection. Do not place bulky items on the street until you receive a confirmation call from Athens Services.
Accepted
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Couches, tables, chairs, and household furniture
- ✓ Large household appliances (refrigerators, washers, dryers)
- ✓ Water heaters and stoves
- ✓ Rugs and carpet rolls
- ✓ Tree trunks and large limbs
Not Accepted
- ✕ Automobile parts and engine components
- ✕ Construction and home demolition debris
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
- ✕ Extremely heavy items (such as pool tables or pianos)
The first two pickup requests are free. Any additional bulky collection requests within the same year will be processed for an added service fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on a weekday (Monday through Saturday), collection services for the remaining days of that holiday week will be delayed by exactly one day.
Yard Waste Exception
Organics and recycling collections follow the same holiday delay timeline as standard garbage pickup.
If an observed holiday lands on a Sunday, there will be no delay in regular weekday collection service.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Post-Holiday Tree Recycling
December - JanuaryReal, undecorated Christmas trees are collected on your regular pickup day from December 26th through the third Saturday in January. Remove all stands, lights, tinsel, and decorations. Trees over 6 feet long must be cut in half and placed adjacent to your regular carts.
High Wind and Foothill Autumn Leaf Fall
October - DecemberSanta Paula experiences strong seasonal winds and heavy autumn leaf drop. To prevent street gutter blockages and stormwater runoff issues, sweep all leaves and garden clippings directly into your green organics cart. Never blow or pile leaves in the street.
Local Tips & Community Info
Athens Services: Your Partner in Curbside Waste Collection
Residents of Santa Paula depend on Athens Services to manage their weekly household refuse and recycling needs. To ensure uninterrupted collection, it is advised to roll your designated barrels to the curb either the night before your scheduled day or no later than 7:00 a.m. on the morning of pickup. Proper placement is essential; make sure to maintain ample space around the carts so the mechanical lift arms can access them without damaging nearby vehicles, fences, or property. If you have any specific service inquiries or need an extra pickup, the Athens Customer Care Center is readily available at (805) 933-0100.
Adhering to the Green Organics Mandate
With the implementation of California's SB 1383, Santa Paula requires all households to actively participate in organic waste separation. The green cart serves as the receptacle for all yard debris alongside everyday kitchen food scraps. This means items such as fruit rinds, vegetable clippings, eggshells, coffee grounds, and soiled cardboard boxes must be diverted from the local landfill to prevent greenhouse gas emissions. It is imperative that plastic bags—even those marketed as biodegradable—are kept entirely out of this container, as they disrupt the commercial composting process.
Proper Sorting for the Blue Recycling Cart
A successful local recycling program relies heavily on clean, uncontaminated materials. In Santa Paula, your blue recycling barrel is meant for rigid plastics, beverage jugs, flattened cardboard, glass bottles, and metal cans. All items should be placed loosely inside the bin. Flexible plastics, such as grocery bags or shrink wrap, are strictly prohibited because they tend to tangle in the sorting facility's machinery. When in doubt about a specific item, residents can refer to the interactive “What Goes Where Guide” provided by Athens to make informed disposal decisions.
Scheduling Your Free Bulky Item Removal
Do you need to get rid of an old couch, a broken refrigerator, or a bulky mattress? Single-family residences in Santa Paula are granted a highly beneficial perk: up to two complimentary bulky item collections every single calendar year. Each scheduled pickup allows you to place up to three large items at the curb. To utilize this service, you must arrange an appointment in advance by contacting the Athens Customer Care Center or submitting a request online. Extra cleanups beyond the two free instances will incur an additional out-of-pocket fee.
Drop-off Facilities
Santa Clara River Valley HHW Collection Facility (SCRV)
950 West Linden Drive, East of Fillmore, CA
Materials Accepted
Del Norte Regional Recycling and Transfer Station
111 South Del Norte Boulevard, Oxnard, CA 93030
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Athens Services delay trash pickup for holidays?
Yes, if a major recognized holiday like Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, or Christmas falls on a weekday, all curbside collection will be pushed back by one day for the remainder of that week.
How do I dispose of old batteries or motor oil?
Hazardous household wastes, including automotive fluids, batteries, and fertilizers, cannot go into regular carts. You must store them safely and take them to a designated Ventura County hazardous waste roundup event.
How do multifamily property residents schedule bulky item pickups?
Unlike single-family homes, residents of multifamily complexes must coordinate their bulky waste removals through their property manager, as these specific property pickups are organized on designated dates.