Waste Management Services in Los Angeles, CA
Find trusted dumpster rental, junk removal, septic pumping, and specialty services in Los Angeles. Compare verified providers and get free quotes.
Waste Management Services in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation (LASAN) provides waste collection for 3.9 million residents through a hybrid model of city crews and franchised haulers. LA generates approximately 10 million tons of MSW annually with aggressive zero waste and organic waste diversion mandates under SB 1383.
Residential Service
LA Sanitation flat rate for weekly trash, recycling, and green waste. Includes 3 carts (black, blue, green). Additional services extra.
Dumpster Rental
20-yard, 7-day rental
Providers
Licensed haulers serving Los Angeles
Waste Haulers Serving Los Angeles
Compare licensed waste management providers offering residential, commercial, and specialty services in Los Angeles:
LA Sanitation & Environment (LASAN)
municipal- Residential collection
- Recycling
- Organics
- Bulky item pickup
Waste Management
national- Commercial service
- Roll-off containers
- Recycling
- Construction debris
Universal Waste Systems
regional- Commercial collection
- Dumpster rental
- Residential (some zones)
Los Angeles Waste Management Costs
Understand typical pricing for waste services in Los Angeles. Costs vary by provider, service level, and property type.
Residential Services
LA Sanitation flat rate for weekly trash, recycling, and green waste. Includes 3 carts (black, blue, green). Additional services extra.
Commercial Services
Franchised zones. Regulated rates by service level. Mandatory organics separation under SB 1383. Varies by bin size and frequency.
Dumpster Rental
7-day rental. LA premium due to traffic, permits, disposal costs. Weight limits strictly enforced. Competitive market with many providers.
Junk Removal
Quarter truck load ~$180-$300, half truck $300-$450, full truck $500-$750. Same-day often available. Traffic impacts scheduling.
Los Angeles Waste Regulations & Requirements
Dumpster Permits
Right-of-way permits required from LA Dept of Public Works for dumpsters on streets. Fees vary by location and duration ($100-$200 typical). Private property placement no permit but must comply with setback and safety requirements. HOAs may have additional rules.
Recycling Requirements
MANDATORY recycling for all properties per LA Municipal Code. Blue cart for recyclables collected weekly. Contamination monitored - educational notices for violations. SB 1383 requires organics recycling statewide starting 2022.
Special Regulations
- SB 1383 mandatory organics collection - all residents and businesses must separate food scraps and yard waste
- Three-cart system required: black (trash), blue (recycling), green (organics)
- RecycLA commercial franchise zones - businesses must use designated hauler for their zone
- Bulky item pickup: 4 free appointments per year, items set curbside on scheduled day
- E-waste banned from trash - separate collection required
- Set-out after 6pm evening before collection, remove bins by 9pm collection day
Recycling in Los Angeles
LA has mandatory three-cart recycling system. Blue cart for recyclables (single-stream), green cart for organics (food scraps, yard waste), black cart for trash. Weekly collection for all streams. SB 1383 compliance required - organics diversion mandatory.
Accepted Materials
- Recycling (Blue Cart): Paper, cardboard, newspaper, magazines, junk mail, cartons
- Recycling (Blue Cart): Plastic bottles & containers, glass bottles & jars, metal cans
- Organics (Green Cart): Food scraps, food-soiled paper, yard trimmings, leaves, branches
- Organics (Green Cart): All fruit & vegetable scraps, meat, bones, dairy, bread, grains
Not Accepted
- Plastic bags (return to grocery stores)
- Styrofoam
- Electronics (separate e-waste collection)
- Hazardous materials (HHW events)
- Textiles (donation or textile recycling)
- Construction debris (requires dumpster/contractor)
- Items contaminated with motor oil or chemicals
Special Waste Programs in Los Angeles
Take advantage of these specialized collection and disposal programs available to Los Angeles residents:
SAFE Centers (Household Hazardous Waste)
Year-round permanent facilities accepting paint, chemicals, batteries, e-waste, motor oil, antifreeze. Free for LA residents. Multiple locations across city.
Locations: Westside, Valley, Harbor | Open Fri-Sun | (800) 988-6942
Bulky Item Collection
Free curbside pickup of large items (furniture, appliances, mattresses). Four free appointments per year. Schedule online or by phone. Items set out evening before pickup.
Schedule at mylasan.lacity.org or call (800) 773-2489
E-Waste Collection
Free curbside e-waste pickup by appointment. Also accepted at SAFE Centers. Covers TVs, computers, printers, electronics. Banned from trash.
Call (800) 773-2489 or schedule online
RecycLA Commercial Program
Exclusive commercial franchise zones. Businesses use designated hauler for their zone. Standardized service, competitive rates, mandatory organics and recycling separation.
Find your zone at lacitysan.org/recycLA
What Makes Los Angeles Waste Management Unique
- Second largest city waste system in U.S. - 3.9 million residents
- RecycLA commercial franchise system standardizing commercial collection across 11 zones
- SB 1383 mandatory organics collection drives food scrap composting infrastructure expansion
- MyLASan app for collection schedules, missed pickup reports, service requests
- Zero Waste LA goals: 90% diversion by 2025, 100% by 2035
- Heavy traffic impacts collection routes and dumpster delivery timing
- Earthquake preparedness: LASAN critical for debris removal after seismic events
- Diverse neighborhoods create varied waste streams - residential, commercial, industrial mix
Contact Los Angeles Waste Services
Get help with waste collection, recycling questions, or service requests:
LA Sanitation & Environment (LASAN)
Bureau of Sanitation Customer Care
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