Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for West Whittier-Los Nietos
Trash Day
Collection runs Monday through Friday depending on your neighborhood zone. Residents can look up their exact service day via the Athens Services Unincorporated Whittier collection map.
Recycling
Collected weekly on the same day as trash pickup.
Yard Waste
Collected weekly on the same day as trash pickup.
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
West Whittier-Los Nietos is an unincorporated community in Los Angeles County, where residential waste services are provided under a County franchise contract with Athens Services.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail
Pro Tip / Discount
Senior citizen rate discounts are available for qualifying low-income residents aged 62 or older who are the head of household.
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
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.
Local Tips & Community Info
Waste Management in West Whittier-Los Nietos
As an unincorporated community within Los Angeles County, West Whittier-Los Nietos relies on a franchise hauler system managed by County Public Works. Republic Services typically handles the refuse and recycling needs for our neighborhoods. Residential collection occurs once a week. To ensure smooth operations and clean streets, residents are charged a standard quarterly fee that covers three dedicated carts, green waste processing, and essential street sweeping coordination.
Proper Cart Placement and Timing
For the automated trucks to safely lift your receptacles, proper spacing is strictly enforced on collection day. Roll your carts out no later than 6:00 a.m. on your designated service morning. Keep a minimum clearance of two feet between each container and ensure they are clear of parked vehicles, low-hanging branches, or utility poles. To avoid fines and keep our streetscapes looking tidy, local ordinances require all carts to be removed from the public right-of-way by 8:00 p.m. on the evening of your pickup.
Navigating the Three-Bin Sorting Rules
California’s SB 1383 organics recycling mandate is fully active in this area. The green cart is designated for all organic matter, meaning yard clippings and kitchen food scraps belong together. The blue cart is for unsoiled cardboard, glass jars, aluminum cans, and rigid plastics. The black or grey bin is your final destination for landfill-bound trash, such as styrofoam, treated wood, and pet waste. Contaminated bins may result in a non-collection tag and a subsequent fee for special sorting.
Scheduling a Bulky Waste Pickup
Got a broken refrigerator or an old mattress taking up space in the garage? You do not need to rent a truck to dispose of it. Residential accounts in the West Whittier-Los Nietos area are entitled to multiple free bulky item collections annually. You must call your franchise hauler at least 48 hours in advance to get on the official route sheet. Hazardous materials, like motor oil and wet paint, are not accepted during these pickups and must be taken to a designated Los Angeles County S.A.F.E. Collection Center.
Holiday Schedule Shifts
Our sanitation crews take six major holidays off each year: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. When one of these dates lands on a weekday, all subsequent collections that week are pushed forward by exactly 24 hours. For example, if a holiday falls on a Monday, Monday routes are serviced on Tuesday, and Friday routes will be completed on Saturday.
Drop-off Facilities
Puente Hills Materials Recovery Facility (PHMRF)
13130 Crossroads Pkwy S, City of Industry, CA 91746
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fee for an extra trash bin?
Additional landfill or recycling carts generally incur a nominal monthly rental fee, which is added to your quarterly billing statement. Contact your designated hauler directly for current rate adjustments.
How do I dispose of old batteries and electronics?
E-waste and household batteries cannot go in your standard carts. You must schedule a special e-waste pickup or drop them off at a Los Angeles County household hazardous waste round-up event.
Why was my recycling bin left unemptied?
The most common reason for a missed pickup is contamination, such as plastic grocery bags or food waste found in the blue cart. The driver will usually leave a notice explaining the specific violation.