Residential Collection Services
The Resource Recovery and Recycling Division provides refuse and recycling services to residential customers. Container sizes available for refuse collection to single family homes are 65 and 95 gallon containers. Containers for multi-family buildings range from 300-gallons to 2-yd, 3-yd, and 4-yd sizes. The fees vary according to the frequency of service, as well as the number and size of containers being serviced. The standard single-family residential service level for refuse is once weekly. To see the current collection rates, click here.
CURBSIDE COLLECTION INSTRUCTIONS
Containers (refuse, organic waste and recycling) should be placed on the street or in the alley on your scheduled collection day with the lid facing the street and handles pointing toward your home. Containers should be placed at least two feet from other collection containers and objects, such as vehicles, poles, walls, trees, street signs, and garage doors to ensure our drivers can safely collect them.
Recycling, organics, and trash containers and/or city-issued orange plastic bags for excess refuse must be placed at curbside or in the alley for collection no earlier than 4:00 p.m. on the day before your scheduled collection, and no later than 7:00 a.m. on the day of your collection. Containers must be removed from the street or alley by 8:00 p.m. on the day of collection.
OVERFLOW
If you have excess landfill trash (household waste that cannot be recycled or composted that exceeds your 95-gallon container), you may purchase a pack of five 40-gallon orange plastic bags from the Resource Recovery and Recycling Division. Place excess trash into the bag, securely fasten bag and place it next to your trash container. Collection employees will identify City bags and collect them on your regularly scheduled collection day. Current pricing for the period of July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025 is $76.95. We accept credit card or check. Please call (310) 458-2246 and select option 1 from 10:00am to 3:00pm Monday - Thursday or email zerowaste@santamonica.gov to purchase a set of orange bags that can be picked up at 2500 Michigan Ave, Building A, Santa Monica, CA 90404.
You may also request an additional pickup of your trash container for an added fee. Current pricing for July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025 is $94.90. Please contact 311 via phone at (866) 311-7266 or via email at 311@santamonica.gov to request an additional pickup.
RECYCLING QUESTIONS
Do you have a question regarding where to recycle some hard to recycle items? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions for some information or visit Earth911's Recycling Guidelines for various items.
Are you interested in attending one of Resource Recovery and Recycling's many annual events? Please click here for a full list of RRR's 2024 events.
Trash pickup does not occur on the days below. Please note: Whenever a designated holiday falls on a Saturday, it shall be celebrated on the immediately preceding Friday. Whenever a designated holiday falls on a Sunday, it shall be celebrated on the immediately following Monday.
- New Year's Day
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day (third Monday of January)
- Presidents’ Day (third Monday of February)
- Cesar Chavez Day (observed last Monday of March)
- Memorial Day (last Monday of May)
- Juneteenth
- Independence Day
- Labor Day (first Monday of September)
- Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday of November)
- The Friday immediately after Thanksgiving
- Christmas Eve
- Christmas
- New Year’s Eve
DAMAGED OR STOLEN CARTS?
If you need a replacement cart due to damage or theft you can request a replacement by contacting 311 via phone at (866) 311-7266 or via email at 311@santamonica.gov.