Listen up, fam! Moving to the City of Angels is major, but before you can start living your best life and hitting up those beaches, you gotta handle one super-important, totally un-glamorous task: getting your trash picked up. Seriously, no one wants a mountain of moving boxes chilling on their curb forever.
For most folks in the actual City of Los Angeles (the area served by the Bureau of Sanitation, AKA LASAN), it’s actually kind of a breeze because the service is tied to your property and often just starts with your water/electric bill from LADWP. But, like, don’t just assume it’s magic. We’re gonna walk through this step-by-step so your garbage game is strong and you avoid looking like a newbie. Let’s get this bread (and then compost the crusts, obviously).
Step 1: Figure Out Who Your Trash Guru Is
This is the absolute first move. LA is huge, and not everyone gets the same public service. You might be in the City of LA, or you might be in an unincorporated part of LA County, or another nearby city like Santa Monica or Burbank. They all have different rules and different companies.
1.1 The Big City Crew (LASAN)
If you live in a single-family home or a small apartment building (like 4 units or less) in the actual City of Los Angeles, your service provider is most likely the city itself: Los Angeles Sanitation and Environment (LASAN).
Pro Tip: The charge for this service is usually bundled right into your Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) bill. So, if you just set up your water and power with LADWP, you might already be golden! Go check that bill, you savage.
1.2 The Private Party (recycLA)
If you live in a larger apartment building or condo complex (5+ units), or if you own a business, your service falls under the recycLA program. This means you have a private hauler (like Athens Services or Republic Services) assigned to your area.
Action Item: If you're renting, your landlord or property manager handles this. If you're the building owner, you need to contact a service provider in your franchise zone. Get on it!
1.3 The County or Other City Vibe
QuickTip: Scan quickly, then go deeper where needed.
If you're outside the City of LA—maybe in Torrance, or an unincorporated area like East LA—you have to check your specific city or County Public Works website. Do a quick Google search for your city name + "residential trash service." This guide focuses on the most common situation, LASAN.
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| How To Set Up Trash Service Los Angeles |
Step 2: Lock Down Your Service (If You Need To)
If you confirmed you are a LASAN residential customer (single-family home, 4 units or less), let’s make sure that trash flow is on.
2.1 Call the Vibe Check Line
The easiest way to confirm everything is set up and find out your collection day is to call LASAN’s main line. Don’t be shy!
Dial This: 1-800-773-2489 (They are open 24/7, which is low-key impressive for a trash service.)
What to Say: "Hey! I just moved to [Your Address] and need to confirm my residential trash service is active and find out my collection day, please."
What You Need: Your address, and maybe your LADWP account number if they ask for it.
2.2 Digital Detox
If you're anti-phone calls, you can use the City's online portal, MyLA311. This app/website is clutch for all city services, from reporting potholes to requesting a bulky item pick-up later.
The Mission: Use the portal to create an account and then search for a service request like "Containers" or "Service Not Complete" to verify your status. It’s a little extra, but sometimes you gotta be extra.
Step 3: Get Your Containers (The Holy Trinity of Bins)
QuickTip: Stop and think when you learn something new.
No service is complete without the proper equipment! You need your three signature LA bins: Black, Blue, and Green.
3.1 The Black Bin (The Trash Master)
This is for the stuff that can't be recycled or composted. Think pizza boxes soaked in grease, broken ceramics, or, like, your shattered dreams. Keep that lid closed, player!
3.2 The Blue Bin (The Recycling Hero)
This is for all your clean, dry recyclables. Paper, cardboard, plastic bottles (labeled #1, #2, and #5—look at the bottom!), and metal cans.
Key Rule: No plastic bags! Plastic bags jam up the machines. Keep your recyclables loose in the bin.
3.3 The Green Bin (The Compost Champ)
This is for organic waste—grass clippings, tree branches, leaves, AND food scraps. Yes, LA wants you to put your banana peels, chicken bones, and stale tortillas in the green bin now. It’s mandatory! Don’t let your green bin be weak.
3.4 Container Request
Note: Skipping ahead? Don’t miss the middle sections.
If your new place doesn't have the bins, or they are broken, just call that 1-800-773-2489 number or use MyLA311 to request replacements. It’s free for a new set, usually!
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Step 4: Master the Curbside Drop-Off (Flexing Your Trash Muscles)
You've got the bins, you've got the day. Now you need to be precise with your placement, or the truck's mechanical arm might just skip you, and that’s a major fail.
4.1 The Timing Tactic
Set-Out Time: No earlier than 4:00 p.m. the day before your collection.
Pick-Up Deadline: Make sure it’s out by 6:00 a.m. on collection day.
Remove Time: Bring those bins back by 8:00 p.m. on collection day. Don’t be that neighbor whose bins are chilling on the street all week. That’s just messy.
4.2 The Spacing Science
Place your bins on the curb or in the alley.
Give Space: Leave at least two feet of space between each bin and any other object (like a car, mailbox, or fire hydrant). The truck needs room to work its magic.
Lid Face-Off: The lids should face the street (or the alley), and the handles should point toward your house.
Lids Closed: The lids must be fully closed. If they're overflowing, you need to size up your service or schedule a bulky item pick-up. Don't be greedy.
Step 5: Bulky Item Flex (When You Have Major Junk)
Got an old sofa that looks like it belongs in a museum of bad furniture? Or a fridge from the Stone Age? LASAN offers free pick-up for large items!
Tip: Reread the opening if you feel lost.
The Rule: Residential customers in the City of LA get free bulky item collection.
The Process: You must schedule it first. You can’t just drop it on the curb and pray.
How to Schedule: Use the MyLA311 app or website, or call the 1-800-773-2489 hotline. Tell them what you have, and they’ll give you a date.
Big Note: They do not take construction debris or car parts. That stuff is a no-go.
FAQ: Getting Your Trash Game Right
How to find my trash collection day in Los Angeles?
Call LA Sanitation (LASAN) at 1-800-773-2489 or use the MyLA311 app/website to look up your service schedule by address.
How to request a new trash can in the City of LA?
Call LASAN at 1-800-773-2489 or submit a "Containers" request through the MyLA311 portal for a replacement or a different size.
How to get rid of an old couch or mattress in LA?
Schedule a free "Bulky Item" pick-up through the MyLA311 app or by calling LASAN at 1-800-773-2489. Do not put it out without scheduling.
How to dispose of food waste in Los Angeles?
Place all food scraps, including meat, bones, and dairy, into your green Organics bin for composting, as required by the city.
How to tell if I am a City of LA or LA County sanitation customer?
Check your utility bill. If your trash fee is on your LADWP (Department of Water and Power) bill, you are likely in the City of LA and serviced by LASAN.
How to recycle plastic bags in Los Angeles?
Do not put plastic bags in your blue recycling bin. Instead, take them to a designated drop-off bin at a local grocery store.
How to handle a holiday trash collection delay in LA?
LASAN observes a few major holidays (like Christmas and Thanksgiving). If your pick-up day falls on or after the holiday that week, your service will typically be delayed by one day.
How to dispose of paint or old batteries in LA?
These are Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) and cannot go in your bins. Look up a free LA S.A.F.E. Collection Center or a Mobile Collection Event for safe disposal.
How to report a missed trash collection in Los Angeles?
Call the LASAN customer service line at 1-800-773-2489 or submit a "Service Not Complete" request via MyLA311.
How to make sure my bins get picked up by the truck?
Ensure the bins are at the curb by 6 a.m., their lids are fully closed, and there is at least two feet of clear space around each one.
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