Black Bin (Trash)
Place all non-recyclable and non-compostable items in the black container. Bins must be set out the night before or by 6:00 a.m. on your collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics #3 and #6 (hard and foam)
- ✓All black plastics and plastic film/bags
- ✓Palm fronds, yucca leaves, cacti, and succulents
- ✓Diapers and pet waste
- ✓Hard shells (clams, oysters)
- ✓Empty motor oil containers and garden hoses
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Containers must be clean and dry. Remove all lids from glass bottles and jars before placing them loosely in the blue cart. Do not bag recyclables.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean and dry paper (no lamination)
- ✓Flattened cardboard
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Aluminum cans and foil
- ✓Steel and tin cans
- ✓Beverage and detergent jugs
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Food waste and liquids
- ✕Food-soiled paper
- ✕Black plastics
- ✕Clothing and fabric
Yard Waste Bin
Organic waste only. Absolutely no palm fronds, cacti, succulents, or treated wood. Do not use plastic bags to hold your food scraps.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and leaves
- ✓Food scraps (meat, dairy, vegetables)
- ✓100% fiber-based compostable to-go containers
- ✓Paper egg cartons and napkins
- ✓Food-soiled pizza boxes
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
On-call bulky item collections (contact for limits)
Placement
Once scheduled, place your approved bulky items at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your designated collection day, keeping them clear of your automated carts.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (couches, desks, chairs)
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Major household appliances
- ✓ Large, non-hazardous household objects
Not Accepted
- ✕ Electronic waste (TVs, computers)
- ✕ Hazardous waste (paint, chemicals)
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Automotive parts
Basic LA County franchise service includes free annual bulky item pickups; however, exceeding your allotted pickups or requesting items that require special handling may incur an additional fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on a weekday, residential trash collection will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week (e.g., Thursday pickups happen on Friday).
Yard Waste Exception
Your blue recycling cart and green organics cart will follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as your black trash cart.
If a major holiday falls on a weekend, your weekday collection schedule will generally remain unchanged.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Palm Fronds Out of the Green Cart
Fibrous plants like palm fronds and yucca leaves, as well as prickly cacti and succulents, get tangled in composting equipment. Athens Services requires these specific plants to go into your black trash cart.
Remove Lids from Glass Jars
Before you toss glass bottles or jars into the blue recycling bin, make sure you empty the contents, give them a quick rinse, and completely remove the metal or plastic lids.
Black Plastics Belong in the Trash
Optical sorting machines at recycling facilities cannot recognize black plastic items (like black takeout containers). These must always be thrown in the black trash cart, regardless of their recycling symbol.
Seasonal Information
Winter/Post-Holiday
December to JanuaryAthens Services provides curbside holiday tree collection. Trees are repurposed as mulch or sent to the American Organics facility. Trees with flocking (fake snow) or fire retardants cannot be composted and will be collected as trash.
Spring
March to MayKeep an eye out for LA County and Athens Services' annual community clean-up and compost giveaway events, which are typically held locally (e.g., the Whittier Public Parking Lot) to help residents prep their spring gardens.
Summer
June to AugustDuring hot summer months, food waste in the green cart can generate strong odors. Freeze your kitchen scraps in a reusable container during the week and only empty them into the green cart on the morning of collection.
About West Whittier-Los Nietos Waste Management
Transition to the Athens Services Franchise
In late 2025, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors transitioned the exclusive residential waste collection franchise for West Whittier-Los Nietos and surrounding unincorporated communities to Athens Services. This comprehensive system provides standardized weekly collection of three 96-gallon carts for landfill, recycling, and organics, alongside special perks like annual curbside clean-up and mulch giveaway events.
SB 1383 and the American Organics Facility
To combat climate change and adhere to California's SB 1383 mandates, all residents must place food waste, food-soiled paper, and yard trimmings into their green cart. Athens Services transports this organic material to their state-of-the-art American Organics compost facility in Victorville, where it is transformed into nutrient-rich soil blends for local agriculture.
Specialized Discount Programs
Qualifying households in West Whittier-Los Nietos can take advantage of solid waste collection discounts. Senior citizens aged 62 or older who are the head of the household and receive supplemental Social Security benefits are eligible for a 10% rate reduction. Additionally, low-income residents who qualify for the Utility Users' Tax Exemption (UUT) may also receive discounted collection fees.
Tricky Desert Plants Go in the Trash
Unlike standard grass clippings and leaves, certain tough, fibrous plants are not compatible with the commercial composting process. Athens Services explicitly requires that residents place all palm fronds, yucca leaves, cacti, and succulents strictly into the black landfill cart rather than the green organics bin.
Drop-off Facilities
Puente Hills Materials Recovery Facility (PHMRF)
13130 Crossroads Pkwy S, City of Industry, CA 91746
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the trash hauler for West Whittier-Los Nietos?
Because West Whittier-Los Nietos is an unincorporated area of Los Angeles County, it operates under an exclusive county franchise system. As of late 2025, Athens Services is the designated hauler for all residential waste collection.
Can I throw palm fronds in my green yard waste bin?
No. Athens Services strictly prohibits palm fronds, yucca leaves, cacti, and succulents in the green organics cart. These fibrous and prickly plants cannot be processed at the composting facility and must go into your black trash cart.
How do I dispose of a mattress or old furniture?
Residents are provided with on-call bulky item collections through the LA County franchise. You must call Athens Services at (888) 336-6100 at least 24 hours before your regular pickup day to schedule the removal. Never leave bulky items on the curb without an appointment.
Does Athens Services pick up trash on July 4th or Thanksgiving?
Athens Services observes six major holidays, including Independence Day and Thanksgiving. If your normal collection day falls on or after an observed holiday during the week, your trash, recycling, and organics pickup will be delayed by one day.