Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for South Whittier
Trash Day
Collection runs Monday through Friday, depending on your neighborhood zone.
Recycling
Collected weekly on the same day as trash in your blue recycling cart.
Yard Waste
Collected weekly on the same day as trash in your green organic waste cart.
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
South Whittier is an unincorporated Los Angeles County community; waste collection is provided under County franchise by Athens Services and billed directly on a quarterly basis.
Billing Cycle
Quarterly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail
Pro Tip / Discount
A 10% discount is available for qualifying senior citizens (age 62+ receiving SSI) and active-duty military service members.
Black Bin (Trash)
All non-hazardous, non-recyclable solid waste goes in the black cart. Carts must be placed at the curb with wheels against the curb, spaced one foot apart, by 7:00 a.m. on your collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Diapers and bathroom waste
- ✓Palm fronds and yucca leaves
- ✓Cactus and succulents
- ✓Pet waste and kitty litter
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics and styrofoam
Blue Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be empty, clean, and dry. Do not place items inside plastic bags; toss them loosely into the blue cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics #1, #2, and #5 (bottles, jugs, clean tubs)
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Clean cardboard and mixed paper
- ✓Junk mail and newspaper
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags or film
- ✕Food-soiled paper (pizza boxes)
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Electronics and batteries
Yard Waste Bin
No plastic bags, bioplastics, or 'compostable' plastic utensils. Food scraps and yard trimmings must be placed directly into the green cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and leaves
- ✓Tree branches (under 6 inches in diameter)
- ✓Food scraps (meat, bones, dairy, bread, veggies)
- ✓100% plant-fiber food-soiled paper
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Available upon request (part of the exclusive franchise enhanced services).
Placement
Place bulky items curbside next to your carts by 7:00 a.m. on your designated collection day. Do not block the sidewalk or street access.
Accepted
- ✓ Sofas, chairs, and furniture
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Refrigerators, washers, and water heaters
- ✓ Electronic waste (TVs, monitors, microwaves)
- ✓ Bundled tree branches (max 4 feet long)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Household hazardous waste (paint, motor oil, cleaners)
- ✕ Construction debris (concrete, dirt, asphalt)
- ✕ Car batteries and pool chemicals
- ✕ Tires
Bulky item pickups are free for South Whittier residential customers, provided they are scheduled at least 24 hours in advance by calling Athens Services.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on a weekday, collection services will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Organics and recycling follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as standard trash.
If the holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there is no delay in your normal collection schedule.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuaryAthens Services offers free curbside holiday tree recycling starting the day after Christmas. Remove all stands, ornaments, and tinsel. Flocked trees are accepted. Simply place the tree next to your bins on your regular pickup day.
Spring
March - MaySpring is prime time for yard work. If your 96-gallon green cart overflows with seasonal trimmings, South Whittier residents can utilize their new contract perks to request an excess green waste pickup with 24 hours' notice.
Summer
June - AugustTo prevent your organics cart from attracting pests during the hot Southern California summers, layer your food scraps between dry yard waste like leaves or grass clippings, and keep the cart stored in a shaded area.
Local Tips & Community Info
Waste Management Transitions in South Whittier
Residents in the unincorporated community of South Whittier operate under the Los Angeles County solid waste system, which frequently updates its franchised haulers to improve community sanitation. A major transition is scheduled to bring Athens Services in as the primary waste hauler for the region by late 2025, modernizing local collection by swapping older bins for standardized, state-compliant carts. Homeowners generally pay for solid waste collection through their property tax bills or direct quarterly billing, depending on their dwelling type. Regardless of which specific truck is currently rolling down your street, all single-family homes are required to participate in the standardized three-cart sorting system to comply with California environmental mandates.
Morning Placement and Curbside Clearance
To guarantee your refuse is picked up without issue, you must roll your bins out to the gutter by 6:00 a.m. on your designated service morning, though placing them out the night before is highly recommended. Because the haulers use automated hydraulic arms, spacing is incredibly important. Ensure the wheels are touching the curb and the handles are pointing toward your house. You must leave a minimum gap of two feet between each container. Additionally, maintain a five-foot clearance from parked vehicles, trees, mailboxes, and fire hydrants so the truck's mechanical arm can grab the bins safely without causing property damage.
Sorting Your Refuse: The Three-Cart System
The local program strictly enforces a color-coded waste separation policy to keep recyclables clean. Your black container is meant solely for non-recyclable household trash, such as wrappers, styrofoam, and sanitary products. The blue container is exclusively for unsoiled recyclables, including flattened cardboard boxes, glass jars, aluminum cans, and rigid plastics. Your green cart handles organic materials, meaning yard trimmings like leaves and branches, as well as bagged food scraps. Never put plastic grocery bags in the blue or green carts, and ensure all lids can close completely to prevent local wildlife from creating a mess in the neighborhood.
Requesting Large Item Pickups
Discarding broken furniture, outdated appliances, or old mattresses does not require a trip to the local dump or hiring an expensive private junk removal service. South Whittier households are eligible for a limited number of free on-call bulky waste pickups every calendar year. The current county guidelines typically allow for up to four free collections annually, with a strict limit of three large items per request. To utilize this benefit, you must contact your contracted hauler directly at least 48 hours before your regular trash day to get on the route sheet. Do not drag massive items to the sidewalk without an appointment, as the regular route drivers cannot load them into standard automated trucks.
Holiday Interruptions to Your Routine
Your weekly pickup routine will shift slightly during major national holidays. The sanitation schedule halts entirely for New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Whenever one of these major events falls on a standard weekday, all subsequent collections for that week are pushed back by exactly 24 hours. For instance, a Thursday Thanksgiving means Thursday's route is serviced on Friday, and Friday's route is pushed to Saturday. Service resets to its normal Monday-through-Friday rhythm the following week, so always double-check the calendar during festive seasons.
Reporting Service Issues and Damaged Carts
In the event a driver misses your fully compliant, correctly placed cart, it is very easy to resolve the issue. Simply reach out to the customer care center by phone or through the official hauler's web portal to log a missed collection. A dispatch team will usually send a smaller truck to retrieve the waste the next business day. Furthermore, if your cart suffers a cracked body, broken wheels, or a missing lid due to standard wear and tear, the hauling company will repair or replace it at no out-of-pocket cost, ensuring your waste remains securely contained and neighborhood streets look neat.
Drop-off Facilities
Puente Hills Materials Recovery Facility (PHMRF)
13130 Crossroads Pkwy S, City of Industry, CA 91746
Materials Accepted
EDCO Environmental Collection Center (HHW Drop-off)
2755 California Ave, Signal Hill, CA 90755
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who provides trash service for South Whittier?
As of September 1, 2025, Athens Services is the exclusive residential waste hauler for the unincorporated community of South Whittier, operating under a contract negotiated by Los Angeles County Public Works.
How do I schedule a bulky item pickup in South Whittier?
Residential customers can schedule a free bulky item pickup for items like mattresses, couches, or large appliances by calling Athens Services at (800) 336-6100. You must call at least 24 hours before your normal collection day to secure a spot.
Where should I throw away palm fronds and cactus clippings?
Palm fronds, yucca leaves, cacti, and other succulents must be placed in your black landfill cart. They are too fibrous or retain too much water to be processed properly in the green organics cart.
Does my collection day change on holidays?
Yes, but only for six major holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. If the holiday falls on a weekday, service is pushed back by one day for the rest of the week.