Commercial Waste Collection
WELCOME TO
Sierra Madre
Your Partner to Achieving a Zero Waste Future
Athens ServicesĀ is a local, family-owned waste collection and recycling company that has been a fixture in the greater Los Angeles community for the past 60 years. We provide innovative, consistent and quality environmental services to our more than 250,000 customers in the 50+ communities we serve. Through reuse, recycling and composting, Athens diverts valuable resources from landfills.
HOURS OF OPERATION
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Monday - Friday 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
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Saturday 7:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
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Sunday Closed
Sierra Madre
RESOURCES
Information, standards, and special instructions!
HOLIDAY SCHEDULE
Holidays create a one-day delay in collection service. Athens Services observes the following holidays:
- New Yearās Day
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Thanksgiving
- Christmas Day
If a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, waste collection services will not be delayed.
CONTAINER DIMENSIONS/GUIDELINES
Athens Services provides an array of different container types. Customized bin orders are also available.
Customers should adhere to the following container guidelines to ensure smooth, uninterrupted service:
- Please do not overload or overfill trash bins.
- Promote worker safety by not placing bulky or heavy material in or around the bin.
- Avoid health and safety code violations. Do not place the following in your bin: Hazardous Waste, E-Waste, or Medical Waste.
- All refuse must be placed inside the container with the lids closed. Any refuse that is placed alongside or above the sides of container will not be collected.
- Dirt, rock, concrete, and other construction debris are NOT allowed in trash bins.
WHAT GOES IN MY CONTAINER?
Correctly reduce, reuse, recycle, compost, or dispose of unwanted items; check out Athensā interactive āWhat Goes Where Guide.āā
Visit AthensāĀ Outreach Materials & ResourcesĀ page for downloadable signage, Recycling Cheat Sheet, and additional resources.
Athens collects recyclables and landfill bound items in the same container. We sort these materials at our Material Recovery Facility (MRF), where recyclables are recovered and diverted from the landfill. Place all recyclables loose (without a bag) in your mixed material container. Plastic bags can get tangled in the recycling facility sorting equipment, which can cause damage and reduce efficiency.
In order to be accepted for recycling all items must be emptied of food and/or liquid before placing in the mixed material container!
Recoverable Recyclables Include:
Plastic:
- Plastic #1 beverage bottles/jugs (with cap) & to-go clamshells
- Plastic #2 & #5 detergent jugs & food containers
- Some plastics are highly recyclable. Other plastic materials stand a lesser chance of being recycled due to limited market demand.
Paper:
- Clean, dry, & no metal or lamination
- Highly acceptable: magazines, mail, office paper, newspaper, paper bags, soup/milk/juice cartons, & telephone books
- May not be recycled: cereal boxes (remove bag), egg cartons, & frozen food boxes
Cardboard: broken down cardboard, corrugated fiberboard, & clean pizza boxes
Glass: bottles & jars only (remove lids)
Metals: aluminum cans, foil, & trays, scrap metal, steel cans & tin cans
Landfill Bound Items Include:
Glass: ceramic, porcelain, & non-food related glass
Food Containers: chip bags, compostable āplant-based plastic,ā juice pouches, paper coffee cups, snack bar wrappers, tea bags, & tea wrappers
Paper: bathroom & facial tissues, envelopes (padded & Tyvek), laminated or plastic coated paper, napkins, photographs, & receipts
Plastic: plastics #3, #4, #6, #7; all black plastics; bubble wrap; disposable gloves; foam; garden hoses; empty motor oil containers; plastic bags & film (e.g. dry cleaning bags & cellophane); plastic toys; tarps; & small plastics (e.g. utensils, straws, serving cups, etc.)
Misc.: unusable clothing & fabric; cacti & succulents; cigarette butts; diapers; hard shells (e.g. clams, mussels, & oysters); lint; palm fronds; pet waste; produce stickers; & yucca leaves
Green Waste: branches; flowers; grass clippings; hedge trimmings; leaves; weeds; & untreated/unpainted lumber, plywood, & scrap wood.
Food Scraps: fruits; vegetables; bread; rice; pasta; cheese; dairy; coffee grounds; coffee filters; meat; bones; poultry; seafood; soft shells (e.g. lobster, crab, & shrimp)
Food-Soiled Paper: 100% fiber-based compostable to-go containers & servingware, egg cartons (paper), paper napkins & kitchen towels, plates, packaging, & pizza boxes
All items must be 100% plant-fiber based with NO petroleum-based plastic, wax, or bio-plastic coating, liner, or laminate. Must be soiled ONLY with food or drink liquids.
- DO NOT PLACE IN CONTAINERS:
State law prohibits the disposal of hazardous material into your containers.Ā Ā For proper disposal options,Ā click here. We also ask that youĀ do not placeĀ bulky items, construction debris, electronic waste, or automotive parts in your containers.Ā For bulky items disposal options,Ā click here.
The following is a list of items you shouldĀ notĀ place in your container:
- Automotive Parts
- Batteries
- Cleaning Products
- Construction & Demolition Waste
- Fluorescent Light Bulbs or Tubes
- Electronic Waste
- LED Lights
- Medical Waste
- Paints, Solvents, and Thinners
- Pesticides or Herbicides
- Pharmaceuticals/Overāthe-Counter Medicines
- Pool Chemicals
- Radiological Waste
- Syringes or Sharps
- Thermometers
- Thermostats
- Used Motor Oil
- Electronic Waste Examples:
Electronics can include those devices that utilize electrical wiring, plug into Ā an electric outlet, or take a battery or light bulb.Ā Examples include (but are not limited to):Ā computers and accessories, circuit boards, extension cords, flashlights, microwaves, phones, stereos, and televisions.
- Construction and Demolition:
Waste material generated during the construction, renovation, or demolition of a location cannot be placed in a standard cart or bin. Examples of C&D materials include, but are not limited to, asphalt, bricks, carpet, concrete, dirt, doors, drywall, earth, glass, construction, and cabinet lumber, masonry materials, pallets, pipes, plastics, plumbing fixtures, rocks, salvaged building components, scrap metal, roof shingles, tile, and windows.
HAZARDOUS WASTE
It is illegal to dispose of hazardous materials into your containers, down the drain, or by abandonment.
Hazardous Waste is any product labeled toxic, poisonous, corrosive, flammable, combustible, or an irritant.
Examples include (but are not limited to): antifreeze; automotive fluids; cleaning products; compressed gas cylinders (full or empty); fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides; paint; pharmaceuticals; pool chemicals; sharps waste; solvents; and more.
County of Los Angeles, S.A.F.E. Collection Center takes small business quantities by appointment only by calling (213) 485-2260. For collection of larger quantities of hazardous waste, pleaseĀ click hereĀ to contact Athens Services for an estimate.
BULKY ITEMS
Athens Services encourages the reuse and donation of bulky items whenever possible.
If this is not an option, Athens will,Ā upon request only, remove bulky items, including major appliances and furniture. Please do not place bulky items or electronics in your trash containers. Doing so may cause an interruption in your service.
To schedule a pick-up, please call Athens Services at (855) 557-1007Ā or complete aĀ Request ServicesĀ form and select āBulky Item Pick-Upā.
AB 341 - RECYCLING DIVERSION
If you are an Athens Services customer, then YES ā you are compliant with AB 341! Athens Services is at the forefront of recycling, investing in the facilities and technology that improve our environment and prepare our communities for the future.
To learn more about this regulation and how it applies to your area, visit ourĀ AB 341 page.
AB 1826 - ORGANICS DIVERSION
In October 2014, California passed Assembly Bill 1826 requiring all businesses, including multi-family dwellings, to recycle their organics waste. To learn more about this regulation and how it applies to your business, visit ourĀ AB 1826 page.
STREET SWEEPING
Your city contracts with Athens Services for their street sweeping needs. Visit ourĀ Street SweepingĀ page to learn more and view a map with service days and areas.
EVENTS/NEWS

Athens Services Spotlights Three Trailblazing Women in Waste
Womenās History Month is a time to reflect on the impact and contributions that women have made in our society. Womenās History Month is a time to reflect on the impact and contributions that women have made in our society. While the waste industry has been traditionally viewed as a male-dominated space, women are making their mark and paving the way for others to follow.

How a Passion for the Environment Led to a Career with Athens Services
Evelyn Jauregui came to Athens Services in November 2021. Fresh out of college and with her heart set on a career in the environmental industry, she joined the Athens family as a Recycling Coordinator (RC).

Building a Family Legacy at Athens Services
On January 26, 2023, Carlos De Leon parked his Athens collection truck for the very last time. After 38 years of dedicated service, Carlos officially retired from his route in the City of West Covina.

Reducing Food Waste is Good for the Planet and Your Wallet
Letās face it, wasting food is badānot just for the environment, but also for our wallets. Here are some tips to help reduce wasted food at home.

The City of Pomona Awards Exclusive 10-Year Waste Contract to Athens Services
Athens Services has been awarded an exclusive 10-year franchise waste and recycling collection contract for the City of Pomona, California. With a 6-1 vote, City Council moved to award Athens the contract based on recommendations from city staff and R3 Consulting Group.

Driver Julio Salazar Reflects on 20 years with Athens Services
Julio Salazar has been part of the Athens family for nearly 20 years. He started his career as a Scout Driver in South Pasadena and has since worked his way up to a Roll-Off Driver servicing the City of Monterey Park.
REQUEST SERVICES
Please provide us with your inquiry or comments by using the simple email form below or call during our Hours of Service.
7:00 AM ā 12:00 PM NOON SATURDAY