Black Bin (Trash)
All non-recyclable and non-organic household waste must be placed securely in the black cart. The lid must close completely to deter pests and prevent windblown litter.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Plastic bags and film
- ✓Cacti, succulents, and yucca
- ✓Palm fronds
- ✓Compostable plastics and bioplastics
- ✓Diapers and pet waste
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Keep all recyclables loose, clean, and dry. Do not bundle your recyclables inside plastic garbage bags, as the film jams the sorting screens at the material recovery facility.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean paper, mail, and magazines
- ✓Flattened cardboard and clean pizza boxes
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum cans and foil
- ✓Rigid plastic food and beverage containers
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags
- ✕Food waste or liquids
- ✕Electronic waste
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses, wires)
- ✕Hazardous materials
Yard Waste Bin
Place organics directly into the green cart. Absolutely no petroleum-based plastics or compostable bioplastics are allowed. Exclude palm fronds and cacti.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and weeds
- ✓Leaves and small branches
- ✓Food scraps (meat, bones, dairy, produce)
- ✓Food-soiled paper (100% fiber-based)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Unlimited weekly requests (Up to 5 items per request)
Placement
Do not place items on the curb before scheduling. Once confirmed, set your bulky items at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your collection day, ensuring they do not block sidewalks or traffic.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, chairs, mattresses, rugs)
- ✓ Appliances (refrigerators, washers, water heaters)
- ✓ Bundled tree branches (under 4 feet long and 35 lbs)
- ✓ Small household appliances
Not Accepted
- ✕ Automobile parts and tires
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris (concrete, dirt, drywall)
- ✕ Household hazardous waste (paint, oil, pool chemicals)
- ✕ Electronic waste (without prior arrangement)
This service is entirely free for residents. Athens Services recommends limiting each weekly request to no more than five (5) large items to ensure efficient routing.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on a weekday, trash and recycling services for that day and the rest of the week will be delayed by one day.
Yard Waste Exception
Organics collection follows the exact same one-day holiday delay schedule as the trash and recycling bins.
If a designated holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there are no disruptions, and curbside collection occurs on your normal scheduled day.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Ban the Bioplastics
Even if your disposable forks or trash bags say '100% compostable,' Athens Services cannot process them in the green bin. Throw all bioplastics into your black trash cart.
Keep the Blue Cart Loose
Never bag your clean recyclables in plastic grocery bags. The bags tangle the automated sorting equipment at the recycling center, causing major system shutdowns.
Divert Desert Plants to the Trash
Tough, fibrous plants like palm fronds, yucca, cacti, and succulents cannot break down properly in commercial composting. Always place these trimmings into your black trash cart.
Seasonal Information
Fall/Spring
Variable (e.g., November, April)Athens Services periodically partners with the City of West Covina to host Free Compost Giveaway Events at the City Yard. Residents can bring their own shovels and sturdy containers to collect high-quality compost generated from the city's green waste program.
Winter (Post-Holiday)
Late December to mid-JanuaryAthens provides curbside Christmas tree recycling. Remove all ornaments, tinsel, stands, and flocking, and place the bare tree next to your green cart on your regular collection day. Trees over six feet tall must be cut in half.
About West Covina Waste Management
Navigating West Covina's Three-Cart System
Residential solid waste collection in West Covina is managed under an exclusive franchise agreement with Athens Services. Each single-family home is equipped with a black cart for standard household trash, a blue cart for recyclables, and a green cart for organics. To guarantee uninterrupted automated service, residents must place their bins at the curb either the night before or by 6:00 a.m. on their designated collection day. Be sure to position the carts side-by-side with a few feet of clearance from parked vehicles, mailboxes, and low-hanging tree branches.
Mastering the Green Organics Cart
In compliance with California’s SB 1383 organic waste mandates, West Covina residents must divert all food scraps and yard debris into their green organics container. Athens Services utilizes this material to produce nutrient-rich compost. Acceptable items include meat, bones, dairy, spoiled produce, and 100% fiber-based food-soiled paper like greasy pizza boxes. However, Athens enforces a strict ban on compostable bioplastics—even if a cup or bag claims to be '100% compostable,' it must go into the black trash cart.
Handling Desert Landscaping and Tough Fibers
While Southern California's climate is perfect for drought-tolerant plants, these types of vegetation pose a challenge for commercial composting facilities. Athens Services specifically prohibits cacti, succulents, yucca, and palm fronds from being placed in the green yard waste bin. Their dense, fibrous textures wrap around grinding equipment and halt operations. Residents must dispose of these particular plant trimmings directly into the black trash cart to prevent load contamination.
Senior Citizen Waste Collection Discount
The City of West Covina and Athens Services uniquely offer a 25% reduction in waste collection fees for eligible older adults. This discount is available to low-income seniors aged 62 or older who reside in single-family homes. Approval is based on household size and maximum allowable gross income. Residents interested in applying for this cost-saving program can contact the Cortez Park Community and Senior Center for application assistance.
Convenient E-Waste and HHW Disposal
Household hazardous waste (HHW) such as motor oil, paint, pool chemicals, and lithium-ion batteries are strictly banned from all curbside bins due to severe fire risks. To help residents dispose of these items responsibly, West Covina frequently hosts bimonthly electronic waste recycling events at the City Maintenance Yard on South Sunset Avenue. For chemicals and paints, residents are encouraged to utilize Los Angeles County’s free permanent S.A.F.E. Centers located throughout the region.
Drop-off Facilities
West Covina City Maintenance Yard (Bimonthly E-Waste Events)
825 S Sunset Ave, West Covina, CA 91790
Materials Accepted
Los Angeles County S.A.F.E. Collection Centers
Multiple regional locations (e.g., Gaffey Street, Washington Blvd)
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I schedule a bulky item pickup in West Covina?
West Covina residents can request the free curbside pickup of up to five bulky items per week. You must schedule this in advance by calling Athens Services at (888) 336-6100 or filling out their online request form at least 24 hours before your normal trash day.
Can I put palm fronds or cacti in my green organics cart?
No. Due to their tough, fibrous nature, palm fronds, yucca, succulents, and cacti cannot be processed by the local composting facilities. You must toss these specific desert plants into your black trash cart.
What is the rule for bioplastics and compostable cups?
Athens Services strictly bans all bioplastics and compostable plastics from the green organics cart. Even if a utensil or bag is marketed as '100% compostable,' it will contaminate the load and must be placed in the black trash cart.
Does West Covina offer a discount for senior citizens?
Yes! The City of West Covina and Athens Services offer a 25% discount on waste collection fees for eligible low-income seniors aged 62 or older living in single-family homes. You can contact the Cortez Park Community and Senior Center at (626) 331-5366 for assistance.