Black or Dark Gray Bin (Trash)
All regular garbage should be bagged before being placed in the trash cart. Do not pack dirt, rocks, or hot ashes, and ensure the lid can close flat.
Accepted Items
- ✓Pet waste and cat litter
- ✓Diapers
- ✓Chip bags and candy wrappers
- ✓Styrofoam
- ✓Broken ceramics and glass
- ✓Treated wood
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Place all recyclables loosely in the blue cart without bagging them. Empty and lightly rinse food containers to prevent pest issues.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean cardboard and paper
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Rigid plastic containers and bottles
Do NOT Include
- ✕Food-soiled materials
- ✕Tanglers (cords, wires, hoses)
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Plastic utensils and single-use plates
- ✕Clothing and textiles
Yard Waste Bin
Do not use plastic bags of any kind. Materials must be placed directly into the green cart. BPI-certified compostable bags are typically permitted for containing food waste.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and leaves
- ✓Weeds and small branches
- ✓Food scraps (meat, bones, dairy, produce)
- ✓Food-soiled paper (napkins, coffee filters)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Two courtesy bulky pickups (one item each) per calendar year
Placement
Place your scheduled bulky item at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your regular collection day. Ensure the item does not obstruct the sidewalk, bike lanes, or street sweeping vehicles.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, dressers, chairs)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Major appliances (washers, refrigerators)
- ✓ Electronic waste (TVs, monitors)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste and chemicals
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Dirt, concrete, or asphalt
- ✕ Vehicle parts and tires
Single-family residents exceeding the two free items will be charged for additional pickups. Condominium and apartment tenants utilizing communal dumpsters generally must pay a fee for bulky item collection.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a recognized holiday falls on a weekday (Monday through Friday), all collection services for the remainder of that week will be delayed by one day. If the holiday falls on a weekend, there is no change to the schedule.
Yard Waste Exception
Green waste, food scraps, and recycling collection follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as regular garbage.
Leisure World residents utilizing Athens Services should consult their specific property management calendar, as their holiday rules and bulky pickup terms differ from the rest of the city.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
No Palm Fronds or Succulents
Unlike standard yard trimmings, palm fronds, cacti, and succulents are strictly prohibited in the green organics cart in Seal Beach. These highly fibrous and hardy plants do not break down in municipal composting facilities and must be placed in the black trash cart.
Proper Charcoal Ash Disposal
During summer grilling season, hot charcoal and ashes cause severe fire risks in collection trucks. Allow coals to cool for at least 48 hours, then wrap them securely in aluminum foil or a small metal container before throwing them in your outdoor trash bin.
Keep Propane Tanks Out
Never place propane tanks—even empty ones—into your trash or recycling containers. They are explosive hazards under pressure. Take propane tanks up to five gallons to the Orange County HHW Collection Center in Huntington Beach.
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuaryRepublic Services provides free curbside holiday tree collection for roughly two weeks post-Christmas. Trees must be unflocked, undecorated, and cut in half if taller than 6 feet. Alternatively, trees can be dropped off at the public works yard during designated dates.
Rainy Season
November - MarchIf heavy and sustained rainfall occurs, the city will cancel daily street sweeping operations. However, residential trash collection continues rain or shine, so keep your carts out by 7:00 a.m. but ensure lids are closed to keep water weight out.
About Seal Beach Waste Management
Navigating Seal Beach's Municipal Waste Services
Trash, recycling, and organic waste collection in Seal Beach is predominantly managed by Republic Services through a franchise agreement with the city. However, a major exception exists for residents living in the large 55-and-over community of Leisure World, which is serviced independently by Athens Services. Standard residential homes outside of Leisure World utilize a three-cart system and are provided with options for 35-, 64-, or 96-gallon refuse and recycling containers based on household needs.
SB 1383 Organics Recycling Expansion
To comply with California's SB 1383 mandates, Seal Beach has expanded its green waste program to accept far more than just grass clippings. The organics container is now designed to accept food waste, including leftover cooked meat, bones, fish, dairy, fruits, and grains. Furthermore, food-soiled paper products like greasy pizza boxes, paper napkins, wet paper towels, and coffee filters must also go into the green cart. Diverting these items from the landfill is a crucial step in reducing the state's methane emissions.
Ocean Conservation and Cart Etiquette
Because Seal Beach is a coastal city heavily impacted by ocean pollution via the San Gabriel River, proper waste container management is vital. Residents are urged to ensure their cart lids are completely closed to prevent sea breezes from blowing plastics and paper out of the bins and into local waterways. 'Wish-cycling'—the act of tossing single-use plastics into the blue bin in hopes they are recyclable—is highly discouraged, as it contaminates viable recycling loads and increases processing fees.
Household Hazardous Waste and E-Waste
Republic Services does not accept household hazardous waste (HHW) or e-waste in standard curbside carts. However, Seal Beach residents have convenient access to free drop-off locations. The Orange County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center in neighboring Huntington Beach accepts everything from leftover paint and pesticides to lithium-ion batteries and small propane tanks. The city also occasionally hosts local e-waste collection events to keep old electronics out of the Orange County landfill system.
Drop-off Facilities
Huntington Beach Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center
17121 Nichols Lane, Gate 6, Huntington Beach, CA 92647
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the trash collector for Seal Beach?
The City of Seal Beach contracts with Republic Services to provide residential and commercial trash, recycling, and green waste collection. However, the private Leisure World community is serviced separately by Athens Services.
Can I throw palm fronds into the green yard waste bin?
No. Palm fronds, as well as cacti, succulents, rocks, and soil, are not accepted in the organics cart in Seal Beach. They cannot be processed effectively at local composting facilities and must be placed in the black trash cart.
How do I get rid of an old refrigerator or mattress in Seal Beach?
Single-family homes with regular cart service are entitled to two free bulky item pickups (one item per pickup) each year. You must call Republic Services at (800) 299-4898 at least 24 hours before your collection day to schedule it. Apartment or condo renters with dumpsters will have to pay a fee.
Does my trash pickup day change on Thanksgiving?
Yes. Thanksgiving is an observed holiday for Republic Services. Since it falls on a Thursday, Thursday customers will have their waste collected on Friday, and Friday customers will have theirs collected on Saturday.