Thousand Oaks Transition Progress Report

Dear Thousand Oaks residents,

It has been a privilege for Athens Services to start providing waste and recycling collection services, along with street sweeping, to the city of Thousand Oaks! Thank you for your patience and understanding as we transition in to the community.

We have made good progress serving the 38,000 homes and 1,200 commercial customers in Thousand Oaks. We have dedicated over 100 of the best and most experienced Athens team members and nearly 50 of the most environmentally friendly vehicles to service the city.

The first few days are the hardest part of any transition, especially when launching new programs, such as the new organics collection and changing service days. While the changes may seem like a disruption, the long-term benefits will greatly help our community and environmental goals. We remain focused on being flexible to meet the needs of our customers and committed to ensuring all trash is picked up.

We have provided additional collection vehicles and team members to prepare for the transition. We are responding immediately to address any issues that arise and are confident these issues are being resolved.

Looking ahead, over the next few weeks, Athens Services will continue delivering new residential containers and coordinate the removal of old containers. To learn when your containers will be delivered, please visit www.AthensThousandOaks.com and click on the residential service verification link.

For more than 60 years, Athens Services has built our reputation on a commitment to customer service, people, and the environment. This is the Athens Way. We are honored to be serving the City of Thousand Oaks and look forward to being a reliable and generous partner to this wonderful community for years to come.

If you have questions, we encourage you to visit our dedicated Thousand Oaks website at www.athensthousandoaks.com, or you can call our local phone number at (805) 852-5264. Thank you again for your trust in Athens Services. And the next time you see a driver in one of our gray and red trucks, don’t be surprised to get a wave hello!

Sincerely,

Rondi Guthrie

Vice President of Government Affairs

Athens Services

Residential Waste Collection

WELCOME TO
Athens Services

Your Partner to Achieving a Zero Waste Future

Athens was founded on the simple principle of providing exceptional service by hiring and developing great people, while fostering a safe, healthy, and sustainable environment. This is the Athens Way! Athens is thrilled to welcome Thousand Oaks into the Athens family. Together, we can establish the best environmental programs today and for future generations.

Please place your containers at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your collection day. Athens will service containers in single-family residential neighborhoods one-time (1) per week between 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., Monday – Friday. 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

For all service requests and inquiries, call Athens Customer Care Center (833) 791-2377

Monday – Friday8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Saturday8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
SundayClosed

RESOURCES FOR
THOUSAND OAKS RESIDENTS

Residential Welcome Packet
What Goes Where Guide

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 the holiday falls on Monday through Friday, collection services for the remainder of the week will be delayed by one day. If the holiday falls on Friday, service will be delayed until Saturday. If the holiday falls on Saturday or Sunday, there will be no delay in service.

What Goes In My Container?

RECYCLING

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

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

LANDFILL

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:

Can include those devices that utilize electrical wiring, plug into an electric outlet, or require a battery or light bulb. Examples include, but are not limited to, computers and accessories, circuit boards, extension cords, flash lights, microwaves, phones, stereos, televisions, and more.

Construction and Demolition:

Waste material generated during the construction, renovation, or demolition of a location cannot be placed in regular carts. 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.

To order temporary service, visit the City’s website.

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. 

Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) 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, paint, pesticides, pool chemicals, solvents, and more.

The City of Thousand Oaks operates a permanent Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Facility for residents of Thousand Oaks & unincorporated Ventura County. Appointments are required for HHW drop-offs and can be scheduled online at TOaks.org/HHW. Hours of operation are Fridays & Saturdays, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (except most major holiday weekends). The facility is located at 2010 Conejo Center Drive, Newbury Park, CA 91320.

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. 

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. Contact the Athens Customer Care Center at (833) 791-2377 to request a bulky item pickup.

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 over a three (3) week period on regular collection days from December 26th through January 16th
  • If a resident misses the designated collection period, they can request a bulky item collection or cut up the tree 

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.

Additional Resources

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.

Learn more about the City of Thousand Oaks Trash & Recycling Program. 

Billing Questions Bulky Pickup Report a Missed Pickup Pay Your Bill Rent A Container Christmas Tree Schedule

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