Trash & Recycling

Solid Waste Collection and Recycling Contracts Effective September 1, 2017

At the January 18, 2017 council meeting, the Monterey Park City Council awarded an exclusive franchise contract for residential waste collection and recycling services to Athens Services and non-exclusive franchise contracts for commercial waste collection and recycling services to Ware Disposal and Athens Services. The new contracts went into effect September 1, 2017 until August 31, 2024.

Residential Solid Waste Collection and Recycling Rates

Please click here for residential rates with Athens Services effective September 1, 2017.

Commercial Solid Waste Collection and Recycling Rates

Current Maximum customer rates (PDF) that can be charged by Athens Services and Ware Disposal.

Holiday Schedule

Holidays create a one-day delay in collection service. Waste Collection Service will continue as usual and there will not be any delay if a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday. Athens Services and Ware Disposal observe the following holidays:

New Year’s Day - January 1
Memorial Day - Last Monday in May
Independence Day - July 4
Labor Day - First Monday in September
Thanksgiving - Fourth Thursday in November
Christmas Day - December 25

Visit Athens Services’ trash pick-up holiday schedule and Ware Disposal’s holiday schedule for more information. Please call Monterey Park Public Works Department at 626-307-1320 for further questions.

Residential Trash Program

Athens Services provides the City’s residential waste removal services. Residential customers include single-family homes and multi-family complexes. Before taking the city’s waste to a landfill for final disposal, the City requires Athens to process waste through a sorting center called a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) for the removal of recyclables. This program allows the City to meet the 50 percent landfill diversion mandate required by state law while providing the greatest convenience possible to residents.

In addition to the MRF program, the city has additional waste diversion and recycling programs ranging from backyard composting / smart gardening workshops to participation in the county wide Household Hazardous Waste collection events. View Monterey Park’s trash collection and recycling programs online.

On July 1, 2012, Assembly Bill 341 Mandatory Commercial Recycling law took effect. Commercial businesses and multi-family residence of five (5) units or more must implement a recycling program. Setting up service with the City’s waste-haulers, Athens Services or Ware Disposal, will ensure that your business or multi-family residence is in compliance. Call Athens Services at 888-336-6100 or Ware Disposal at 877-714-9273 to sign up for service.

Blue Barrel Recycling Containers

In the effort to increase the City's diversion rate and to comply with the state’s mandatory commercial recycling legislation - Mandatory Commercial Recycling (AB 341) and Mandatory Commercial Organics Recycling (AB 1826) - Athens Services has delivered blue 96-gallon barrel recycling containers free of charge to multi-family complexes with five or more units. As a friendly reminder, these containers are serviced on the curbside weekly on Thursdays. Please be reminded that property owners or tenants will need to bring the barrels out to the curb for service and return them to the enclosure after the barrels are emptied. Property owners may be cited by the City of Monterey Park personnel if barrels are not removed from the curbside after collection.

It should be noted that these blue barrels are for recyclables only, not trash. Any contamination will result in refusal of service if identified by Athens Services’ drivers in order to avoid a contaminated truck load. We appreciate your cooperation in being better recyclers and environmental stewards. If you wish to have additional containers, please contact Athens Services at 888-336-6100. Note that this program is only available for multi-family complexes with five or more units. For more information, contact the Department of Public Works at (626) 307-1320.

Bulky Item Pick-up

Did you know that residential customers are eligible for FREE bulky item pick-up? Please follow these steps in scheduling your bulky item pick-up:

1. Call Athens Services at 888-336-6100 during business hours at least 24-hours before your next collection day. Translation services are available. Or, click here and select “Bulky Item Pick-Up” to submit your request online.

2. Provide Athens Services with your address and cross street, pick-up day, and list of items for removal (Note: For numerous items Athens Services may require more than one pick-up day for removal. Athens may also provide you with additional instructions.)

3. Place bulky items out for pick-up by 6 a.m. on your collection day. Items must be stored out of public view prior to 24-hours before your collection day.

4. Following these guidelines will help keep our streets clean and safe!

Bulky waste includes large items that do not fit into barrels or bins such as water heaters, furnaces, bed springs, mattresses, dressers, couches, washers, dryers, stoves, tables, chairs, refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, and patio furniture. TO PROTECT CHILDREN, PLEASE REMOVE OR SECURE ALL APPLIANCE DOORS.

E-Waste Collection

E-waste such as a television, computer, or printer is NOT considered a bulky item. Athens Services accepts residential e-waste four (4) times a year at no charge. Call Athens Services at 888-336-6100 to schedule an e-waste pick-up. You can also call (800) 98-TOXIC for information on proper disposal.

LA County, in cooperation with several cities, hosts FREE Household Hazardous and E-Waste Collection Events every month at various locations in LA County. Event flyers can be picked up at Public Works Department counter at City Hall. (Flyers are not available while City Hall is closed to the public due to COVID-19).

Electronics can include those devices that utilize electrical wiring, plug into an electric outlet, or take a battery or light bulb. Examples include (but are not limited to): computers and accessories, circuit boards, extension cords, flash lights, microwaves, phones, stereos, and televisions.

Prohibited Items in Containers

State law prohibits the disposal of hazardous material into your containers. For proper disposal options, visit the Household Hazardous Waste webpage. We also ask that you do not place bulky items, construction debris, E-waste, or automotive parts in your containers.

Got Questions?

We love to hear from you if you have any questions or concerns about the City’s trash collection! Please call Monterey Park Public Works Department at 626-307-1320 if you experience any missed trash collections or if you have any complaints.

For general inquiries such as replacement of trash containers, dumpster and roll-off rentals, bulky item pick-up, trash pick-up schedules, and billing questions, please call Athens Services at 888-336-6100 or Ware Disposal at 877-714-9273.