Residential Waste Collection
WELCOME TO
Santa Paula
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.
View Santa Paula's
COLLECTION DAY MAP
COLLECTION TIME
To ensure your trash is collected, please make sure your barrels are outĀ the night before trash day or by 7:00 a.m. the day of service.Ā
HOURS OF OPERATION
For all service requests and inquiries, call Athens Customer Care Center (805) 933-0100
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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
Santa Paula
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.
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.
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:Ā (clean, dry, and no metal or lamination), magazines, mail, office paper, newspaper, paper bags, & telephone books
Cardboard:Ā broken down cardboard, corrugated fiberboard, & clean pizza boxes
Glass:Ā bottles & jars only (remove lids)
Metals:Ā 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*: 100% fiber-based, compostable to-go containers & serving ware, egg cartons (paper), paper napkins & kitchen towels, plates, packaging, and 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.
Glass:Ā ceramic, porcelain, & non-food related glass
Food Containers:Ā chip bags, compostable āplant-based plastic,ā juice pouches, paper coffee cups, snack bar wrappers, tea bags, & tea wrappers
Paper:Ā bathroom & facial tissues, envelopes (padded and Tyvek), laminated or plastic coated paper, napkins, photographs, & receipts
Plastic:Ā 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.:Ā 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,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
E-waste, hazardous waste, and u-waste is NOT accepted in any Athens container and must be disposed of through alternative collection methods, as described here. It is illegal to dispose of these items into a waste container, down the drain, or by abandonment.Ā
Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) is any product labeled toxic, poisonous, corrosive, flammable, combustible, or irritant. Examples include, but are not limited to, antifreeze, automotive fluids, cleaning products, compressed gas cylinders (full or empty), fertilizers, herbicides, paint, pesticides, pool chemicals, solvents, and more.
DISPOSAL OPTIONS
The County of Ventura holds monthly events for the collection of hazardous waste on an appointment basis at the Pollution Prevention Center. Most jurisdictions offer monthly HHW collection events by appointment and some have an online appointment system for added convenience. These collection events are free for residents. For a list of City and County hazardous waste collection events, accepted waste types, and additional information, visit VCPublicWorks.org/WSD/IWMD/HazardousWaste.
BULKY ITEMS
Residents are provided up to two (2) FREE bulky item collections per calendar year. Extra collections within a year are subject to additional charges. Each bulky item pick includes up to three (3) large items. Request a bulky item pickup online or by calling Athens Customer Care Center at (805) 933-0100.
Acceptable bulky items include, but are not limited to, dryers, furniture, mattresses, refrigerators, rugs, tree trunks, washing machines, and water heaters.
Automobile parts, construction debris, hazardous waste, and heavy items (such as pool tables and pianos) are NOT allowed as part of a bulky item pickup nor in any Athens container.
HOLIDAY TREE RECYCLING
Athens Services collects and composts real holiday trees and foliage into nutrient-rich soil amendment that can be used in agriculture, public parks, and landscaping.
Disposal Instructions (Real Trees)
- Remove all stands, lights, ornaments, tree skirts, and tinsel
- If your tree is more than six feet in length, please cut it in half
- Place your tree curbside for collection – trees are collected during the three-week period beginning December 26th on regular collection days
- If a resident misses the designated collection period, they can request a bulky item collection or cut up the treeĀ
Artificial trees, flocked trees, and trees coated with fire retardant are NOT recyclable or compostable; they will be treated as trash. If the artificial tree is still usable, please consider donating it. Broken or no longer usable artificial trees should be disposed of as part of a bulky item collection.
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

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.

3 Steps to Use Your Kitchen Pail and Keep It Odor Free
Putting food scraps in your kitchen pail is one of the easiest ways to reduce food waste. In just a few simple steps, you can help be part of the solution in diverting organics materials from the landfill. It is as easy as 1-2-3.

How to Recycle Batteries in Four Easy Steps
Ever wonder what to do with your old batteries? You are not alone. According to Call2Recyle, nearly 3 out of 10 Americans are not sure how to dispose of their

Army Veteran Teaches the Value of Working Together
Veterans Day is a special time to honor the noble and courageous men and women who have served our country. At Athens, we are honored to work alongside some of those individuals.

From Auto Repair Hobbyist to Heavy Equipment Mechanic
Zack Maldivia has turned his passion for auto mechanics from a hobby to a career. At age 20, he services and repairs heavy construction equipment at landfills and transfer stations in San Bernardino County.

Spooktober Checklist Just in Time for Halloween
Halloween is right around the corner and for many of us, the next few days are all about putting the finishing touches on our decorations and costumes. Whether you will be out trick-or-treating with friends and family or carving jack-oā-lanterns at home, here are tips to help make your Spooktober plans fun, safe, and zero waste.
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