Bell Gardens

Residential Waste Collection

WELCOME TO

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.

View Bell Gardens's

COLLECTION DAY MAP

COLLECTION TIME

Please place your containers at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your collection day. Set containers with wheels against the curb at least 1 foot from each other and any other obstruction. All trash must be inside of the containers and the lids closed.

HOURS OF OPERATION

Bell Gardens

RESOURCES

Information, standards, and special instructions!

HOLIDAY SCHEDULE

Holidays create a one-day delay in collection service. Athens Services observes the following holidays:

If a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, waste collection services will not be delayed.

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.

RECYCLING & LANDFILL

Athens Services separates recyclables from trash at the City of Industry Materials Recovery Facility (MRF). See how it’s done here.

ORGANICS

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.

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:

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.

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 pickup, please submit a Bulky Item Request.

We do not accept the following items:

Automobile parts
Construction and demolition debris including, but not limited to: dirt, concrete, tile, drywall and rock, etc. Click here to learn how to dispose.
Hazardous waste (including antifreeze; automotive fluids; cleaning products; compressed gas cylinders (full or empty); fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides; paint; pharmaceuticals; pool chemicals; solvents; and more.) Click here to learn how to dispose.
Loose or scattered building material and lumber

HOLIDAY TREE RECYCLING

Holiday trees are 100% recyclable! Athens Services collects holiday trees each year, from the day after Christmas through the second week of January, on your normal pickup day. Trees are delivered to various landfills to be used as mulch or cover material, or to Athens’ American Organics compost facility in Victorville.

Tips to ensure your tree is properly collected:

Remove stands, ornaments, lights and tinsel.
Place holiday trees next to your regular trash containers.
Trees over 6 feet in length must be cut in half.
Trees with flocking or fire retardants ARE NOT acceptable.
If you miss the date for recycling, please cut up your tree and place it in your yard waste container(s).

Please help keep our parks clean and safe during the holidays. If you see anyone illegally dumping holiday trees, please call your city’s Police Department.