Commercial Waste Collection
WELCOME TO
Torrance
Your Partner to Achieving a Zero Waste Future
Athens Services 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
Torrance
RESOURCES
Information, standards, and special instructions!
HOLIDAY SCHEDULE
Holidays create a one-day delay in collection service. Athens Services observes the following holidays:
- New Year’s 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 Athens’ interactive “What Goes Where Guide.’’
Visit Athens’ Outreach Materials & Resources page for downloadable signage, Recycling Cheat Sheet, and additional resources.
If empty of liquid and food, the following is acceptable in your blue recycling container.
Plastic:
- Plastic #1 beverage bottles/ jugs (with cap) & to-go clamshells
- Plastic #2 & #5 detergent jugs & food containers
Paper: (clean, dry, and no metal or lamination), magazines, mail, office paper, newspaper, paper bags, & telephone books
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
Acceptable, but may not be recycled currently:
- Plastics numbers 4 & 7
- Cereal boxes (remove bag), egg cartons, frozen food boxes, & soup/milk/juice cartons
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:
*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.
– 100% fiber based, compostable to-go containers & servingware, egg cartons (paper), paper napkins & kitchen towels, plates, packaging, and pizza boxes
Glass: ceramic, porcelain, & non-food related glass
Food Containers: chip bags, compostable “plant-based plastic,” juice pouches, paper coffee cups, snack bar wrappers, tea bags, & tea wrappers
Paper: bathroom & facial tissues, envelopes (padded and Tyvek), laminated or plastic coated paper, napkins, photographs, & receipts
Plastic: plastics #3 & #6 (hard & foam); all black plastics; bubble wrap; disposable gloves; 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
- DO NOT PLACE IN CONTAINERS:
State law prohibits the disposal of hazardous material into your containers. For proper disposal options, click here. We also ask that you do not place bulky items, construction debris, electronic waste, or automotive parts in your containers. For bulky items disposal options, click here.
The following is a list of items you should not 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/Over–the-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 an electric outlet, or take a battery or light bulb. Examples include (but are not limited to): 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, please click here 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, 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) 557-1007 or complete a Request Services form and select “Bulky Item Pick-Up”.
AB 341 - RECYCLING DIVERSION
If you are an Athens Services customer, then YES – 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 our 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 our AB 1826 page.
EVENTS/NEWS
Athens Services’ Customer Service Team Goes Above and Beyond
At Athens Services, we know that outstanding customer service is the foundation of…
Celebrating the Successes of the Inaugural Emerging Leaders Mentorship Program
The Training and Development Department is thrilled to celebrate…
Never Slowing Down: Darlene Celebrates 40-Years of Dedication
Billing Compliance Specialist Darlene Nino reached her 40-year anniversary with…
Lead Mechanic Continues His Family Footprint at Athens Services
David Dominguez Jr. is proud to be a part of an organization that not only shares his family values, but has helped him excel in his career…
Celebrating National Waste and Recycling Workers Week by Showcasing Four Talented Waste Workers
Athens Services proudly recognizes Angel Ramos, Adrian Diaz, Angela Morris, and Manuel Gamero
Athens Services Partners with Harbor Area YWCA to Tackle Food Insecurity
Athens Services is proud to sponsor YWCA Harbor’s Healthy Futures Food Distribution…
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 – 12:00 PM NOON SATURDAY