Los Angeles Trash Pickup Schedule, Recycling & Bulk 2026
Find your LASAN collection day, recycling week, and bulk pickup rules for Los Angeles, CA.
City of Los Angeles · LA Sanitation & Environment (LASAN) · Updated March 2026
Find Your Los Angeles Collection Day
Select your trash pickup day to instantly see your full weekly schedule — garbage, recycling week, organics, and bulky item rules.
👈 Select your day above to see your complete Los Angeles collection schedule.
⚠ Don’t know your day yet? Call 1-800-773-2489 (24/7) or dial 3-1-1. Come back once you know it. Can’t find your day? See all contact options ↓
Los Angeles Waste Collection — Quick Facts
LA Sanitation & Environment (LASAN) serves over 750,000 households across the City of Los Angeles with three-cart, address-based collection. All three carts are collected on the same weekday. Recycling is biweekly; trash and organics are weekly.
Los Angeles’ Three Carts — What Goes Where
Every LASAN-served home receives three color-coded carts, all collected on the same weekday. Recycling comes on alternating weeks only. Organics sorting is mandatory under California SB 1383 and City Ordinance 187711.
Blue Cart — Recycling
Clean paper, cardboard, cans, glass, rigid plastic. Loose, never bagged. Every other week (A/B).
Biweekly • FreeGreen Cart — Organics
All food scraps, food-soiled paper, yard trimmings. No plastic bags. Required by SB 1383.
Weekly • MandatoryBlack Cart — Garbage
Non-recyclable, non-organic waste: plastic bags, foam, diapers, pet waste, “compostable” plastics.
Weekly • Rate-based⏰ Set-Out Rules
- All carts out by 7:00 a.m. on collection day (set out the evening before to be safe).
- Cart lid must be fully closed. Lid opening must face toward the street.
- At least 3 feet from vehicles, mailboxes, fire hydrants, and all obstacles.
- Bring carts back the same day after collection.
- Overfilled carts (lid open) may not be collected or may result in an extra capacity charge.
Los Angeles Holiday Trash Collection Schedule 2026
LASAN observes four holidays with a one-day delay in 2026. Independence Day falls on a Saturday in 2026 so there is no weekday impact. LASAN’s Customer Care at 1-800-773-2489 is open 24 hours, every holiday.
| Holiday | 2026 Date | Impact | What Happens |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Thu, Jan 1 | 1-Day Delay | Thu → Fri | Fri → Sat | Mon–Wed: normal |
| MLK Day | Mon, Jan 19 | Normal | LASAN works. All carts collected as usual. |
| Presidents’ Day | Mon, Feb 16 | Normal | LASAN works. No delay. |
| Memorial Day | Mon, May 25 | Normal | LASAN works. No delay. |
| Independence Day | Sat, Jul 4 | Normal | Falls on Saturday — no weekday impact. |
| Labor Day | Mon, Sep 7 | 1-Day Delay | Mon → Tue. All routes that week shift one day later. |
| Veterans’ Day | Wed, Nov 11 | Normal | LASAN works. No delay. |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thu, Nov 26 | 1-Day Delay | Thu → Fri | Fri → Sat | Mon–Wed: normal |
| Christmas Day | Fri, Dec 25 | 1-Day Delay | Fri → Sat | Mon–Thu: normal that week |
Los Angeles Recycling — What Goes in the Blue Cart
LA uses single-stream recycling in the blue cart, collected every other week on the same day as your trash. Your address is on either Week A or Week B. All items must be clean, empty, and placed loose. Never put recyclables in plastic bags.
✅ Accepted in the Blue Cart
- Paper: newspapers, magazines, catalogs, junk mail, envelopes, paper bags, paperback books
- Cardboard — flattened; extra pieces tied beside cart
- Aluminum and steel cans, empty aerosol cans
- Glass bottles and jars — all colors, rinsed
- Rigid plastic bottles, jugs, tubs — rinsed
- Cartons: milk, juice, soup, broth
- Empty paint cans (lids off, completely dry)
🚫 Never in the Blue Cart
- Plastic bags or film → grocery store drop-off
- Styrofoam / polystyrene
- Food or food-soiled items → green organics cart
- Electronics or batteries → S.A.F.E. Centers
- Tanglers: hoses, cords, wire hangers
- Ceramics, mirrors, or window glass
- “Compostable” plastics → black trash cart
Los Angeles Organics Collection — Required by California Law
California SB 1383 and City Ordinance 187711 require all City of Los Angeles residents to separate organic materials from trash. This is mandatory — it applies to renters and homeowners alike. Collected organics are composted and returned as soil amendments.
✅ Accepted in the Green Cart
- All food scraps: fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, bones, shellfish
- Dairy, eggs, and eggshells
- Coffee grounds and paper filters
- Tea bags (paper only)
- Food-soiled paper: napkins, towels, pizza boxes, paper plates, paper bags
- Yard trimmings: grass, leaves, branches (max 4 ft long, 6 in diameter)
- Houseplants, cut flowers, hair, nail clippings
🚫 Not in the Green Cart
- Plastic bags — even “compostable” or “biodegradable” ones
- “Compostable” plastics → black trash cart
- Pet waste or cat litter → black trash cart
- Diapers → black trash cart
- Soil, rocks, or dirt
- Fats, oils, and grease (seal in container, then trash)
- Treated or painted wood
🎄 Christmas Tree Collection
LASAN collects Christmas trees curbside starting with the first collection day after December 25 through the end of the second full week of January. Place the tree next to the green cart. Completely strip all decorations, lights, tinsel, stands, and plastic bags. Cut trees over 6 feet in half. Flocked trees go in the black trash cart.
🌿 Free Mulch & Compost for LA Residents
LASAN processes collected green waste into mulch and compost offered free to residents at events throughout the year. Check lacitysan.org for current free mulch giveaway dates and locations near you.
Los Angeles Free Bulky Item Pickup — 10 Times Per Year
LASAN offers free curbside bulky item pickup for all LASAN-served properties — up to 10 scheduled collections per year, with up to 10 items per collection. Items are collected on your regular trash collection day, at least one business day after your request.
📅 How to Schedule Free Bulky Pickup
- Call 1-800-773-2489 (24/7) or submit through the MyLA311 app or myla311.lacity.org. Have an itemized list ready.
- Place items curbside by 7:00 a.m. on your trash collection day following the request. Do not place items out more than one day before.
- Keep bulky items separate from all three regular carts.
- For large electronics (TVs, monitors, large printers): call 311 for a separate free curbside e-waste pickup — this does not count against your 10 annual appointments.
✅ Accepted Bulky Items
- Furniture: sofas, chairs, tables, dressers, bed frames
- Mattresses and box springs
- Large appliances (fridge, washer, dryer, AC)
- Carpeting and rugs (rolled)
- Toilets, sinks, bathroom fixtures
- Doors, shelving, and clean wood
- Scrap metal, large volume yard trimmings
🚫 Not Accepted in Bulky Service
- Car parts, tires, or engines
- Construction or demolition debris
- Commercial or business waste
- Cardboard boxes → flatten into blue recycling cart
- Hazardous materials → S.A.F.E. Centers
- More than 10 items per collection
LA S.A.F.E. Centers — Hazardous Waste & Electronics Drop-Off
LASAN operates four permanent S.A.F.E. Centers open every Saturday and Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. — free for all City of LA residents. No appointment needed. Bring proof of LA City residency.
🚩 Northridge (Balboa)
10241 N. Balboa Blvd, Northridge, CA 91325
Sat & Sun • 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
🚩 Gaffey Street (San Pedro)
1400 N. Gaffey St, San Pedro, CA 90731
Sat & Sun • 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
🚩 Washington Boulevard
2649 E. Washington Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90021
Sat & Sun • 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
🚩 Sun Valley (Pendleton St)
11000 N. Pendleton St, Sun Valley, CA 91352
Sat & Sun • 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
✅ Accepted at S.A.F.E. Centers
- Electronics: TVs, computers, phones, tablets, printers
- Batteries: all types including lithium and rechargeable
- Household chemicals, pool chemicals, solvents
- Paint: latex and oil-based
- Motor oil, antifreeze, automotive fluids
- Fluorescent and CFL bulbs
- Aerosol cans (partially used), propane tanks
- Sharps (in puncture-proof labeled container)
- Medications (prescription and OTC)
🚫 Not Accepted at S.A.F.E. Centers
- Commercial or business waste
- Explosives or ammunition
- Radioactive materials
- Tires
- Regular household trash or large appliances
Multi-Family Buildings & recycLA — Is Your Building Served by LASAN?
If you live in an apartment, condo, or multi-family building, your trash and recycling is likely not collected by LASAN. The City of LA operates the recycLA program for multi-family and commercial properties using private franchise haulers (Athens Services, EDCO, Republic Services, and others).
🚚 How to Find Your recycLA Hauler
- Check whether your property uses LASAN or recycLA at the official lookup below or by calling 1-800-773-2489.
- Contact your building manager for your building’s specific collection days.
- Under SB 1383 and Ordinance 187711, all multi-family buildings must provide trash, recycling, and organics containers to residents.
What to Do If Your Trash Wasn’t Collected in Los Angeles
- Confirm your day and recycling week — use the Day Finder above or call 1-800-773-2489. Confirm your property is LASAN-served.
- Check for a holiday delay. New Year’s, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas cause 1-day delays. MLK Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, and Veterans’ Day are normal service days.
- Verify cart placement: out by 7:00 a.m., lid closed, opening facing the street, 3 feet from all obstacles.
- Check for a contamination tag. If prohibited items were in your cart, LASAN may have left a notice instead of collecting. Remove offending items for next week.
- Report the missed pickup through the MyLA311 app, at myla311.lacity.org, or by calling 1-800-773-2489 (24/7).
Los Angeles Trash & Recycling Tips Every Resident Should Know
🏠 New to Los Angeles or Just Moved In?
Use the Collection Day Finder at the top of this page or call 1-800-773-2489 to find your day, confirm LASAN vs. recycLA service, and get your recycling week (A or B). All three carts should already be at your address — if missing, call LASAN. S.A.F.E. Centers are open every weekend for HHW and electronics.
🔥 Wildfire Season & Santa Ana Winds
- During red flag conditions, keep cart lids secured. Open carts can ignite from blowing embers.
- After a wildfire, do not place ash or burned materials in regular carts — these require special handling.
- Monitor lacitysan.org and the MyLA311 app for service suspension announcements during emergencies.
🚫 5 Common Mistakes LA Residents Make
- Forgetting recycling is every other week — always verify your A/B week
- Putting cardboard in the bulky pile — flatten it into the blue recycling cart
- Using “compostable” plastic bags in the green cart — they go in the black cart
- Assuming the apartment building uses LASAN — most multi-family buildings use recycLA
- Not scheduling a separate e-waste pickup for large electronics — it’s free and doesn’t count against your 10 bulky appointments
Contact LASAN & LA Waste Services
| Contact | Details |
|---|---|
| LASAN Customer Care | 📞 1-800-773-2489 — 24 hours, 365 days a year — missed pickups, bulky scheduling, cart requests, all LASAN services |
| MyLA311 App & Web | myla311.lacity.org · Free iOS & Android app — schedule lookup, bulky requests, missed pickup reports, recycling week confirmation |
| 311 (City General) | Dial 3-1-1 or 213-473-3231 from outside LA — e-waste curbside pickup scheduling and all non-emergency city services |
| LASAN Website | lacitysan.org — service calendars, rates, green waste mulch events, program information |
| S.A.F.E. Centers | 4 locations • Every Sat & Sun 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. • lacitysan.org/safe |
| Bulky Item Drop-Off | Free for LA City residents • Call 1-800-773-2489 for current locations |
| recycLA (Multi-family) | recycla.com — contact your property manager for hauler details |
Frequently Asked Questions — Los Angeles Trash Pickup
Still Can’t Find Your Collection Day?
If the Collection Day Finder at the top of this page and all the information above haven’t resolved your question, use the official MyLA311 portal below. Enter your address to find your exact trash day, recycling week (A or B), organics day, service type (LASAN or recycLA), and your next bulky item window.
🔍 Official LASAN Lookup & Contact Options
All of the following are free, available 24/7, and will confirm your exact schedule and service type:
🔍 Open MyLA311 Portal 📞 Call 1-800-773-2489| MyLA311 Web & App | myla311.lacity.org — schedule lookup, bulky item requests, missed pickup reports, recycling week (A/B) confirmation. Free iOS & Android app available. |
| LASAN Customer Care | 1-800-773-2489 — available 24 hours, 365 days a year including every holiday. Missed pickups, bulky scheduling, cart requests, LASAN vs. recycLA confirmation. |
| Dial 311 | From any phone inside LA — or 213-473-3231 from outside the city. E-waste curbside pickup scheduling and all non-emergency city services. |
| LASAN Website | lacitysan.org — service calendars, current rates, free mulch events, holiday schedule confirmation. |
| recycLA (Apartments) | Most multi-family buildings use recycLA franchise haulers. Visit recycla.com or contact your building manager directly. |
You will leave this website when using any of the links above. LASAN’s MyLA311 portal is the most complete source for address-based schedule information.
Trash & Recycling Schedules for Other US Cities
Looking for waste collection information in another city? Here are cities we’ve already covered with full schedules, recycling rules, and bulk pickup guides: