Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for West Covina
Trash Day
Collection runs Monday through Friday, depending on your neighborhood zone.
Recycling
Weekly on your scheduled trash collection day.
Yard Waste
Weekly on your scheduled trash collection day (green organics cart).
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Trash and recycling services are provided by Athens Services and billed directly to residents. Applications for the low-income senior discount can be processed through West Covina Environmental Services.
Billing Cycle
Quarterly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail, In-Person
Pro Tip / Discount
A 25% discount is available for qualifying low-income senior residents aged 62 and older living in single-family homes. Free roll-out collection assistance is also available for qualifying elderly and disabled residents.
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
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.
Local Tips & Community Info
Athens Services: Your West Covina Waste Partner
In the City of West Covina, residential sanitation is exclusively handled by Athens Services. This comprehensive partnership provides single-family properties with a streamlined three-cart system to seamlessly separate organics, recyclables, and standard refuse. Maintaining a tidy neighborhood requires everyone to participate in the scheduled weekly pickups. By familiarizing yourself with your specific route day, you actively contribute to the city's overall cleanliness and environmental sustainability goals.
Morning Deadlines and Cart Clearances
To guarantee a flawless collection experience, all designated carts must be wheeled to the curb no later than 6:00 a.m. on the day of service. Because Athens Services employs automated lifting trucks, spacing is absolutely critical. Place your bins at least three feet apart from one another and keep them entirely clear of mailboxes, fire hydrants, and parked vehicles. The lid must be completely closed, with the wheels resting against the curb. Once emptied, municipal codes stipulate that all containers be removed from the street view within 24 hours.
Mastering the Three-Cart Sorting System
West Covina is fully aligned with California's SB 1383 organic waste diversion mandates. Residents must deposit all food scraps—including dairy, bones, and leftover produce—directly into the green organics bin alongside yard trimmings. The blue cart is strictly for unbagged, clean recyclables like flattened cardboard, glass bottles, and aluminum cans. Any non-hazardous, non-recyclable materials, such as styrofoam or snack wrappers, belong in the black trash receptacle. Cross-contamination can lead to rejected pickups, so mindful sorting is highly encouraged.
Requesting Bulky Item Pickups
Before you haul an old sofa to a landfill, take advantage of the local bulky item collection program. West Covina residents are granted complimentary large-item pickups through Athens Services. This includes heavy furniture, large appliances, and bundled branches that exceed normal cart limits. Simply contact the Athens customer care team at least one business day before your standard collection day to get on the schedule. Hazardous waste like wet paint and motor oil is strictly excluded from this curbside convenience.
Holiday Disruptions
The normal collection cadence shifts during six major holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. If a recognized holiday falls on a weekday, all subsequent collections for the remainder of that week are pushed back by one day. For instance, a Tuesday pickup will move to Wednesday. Normal scheduling automatically resumes the following Monday.
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.