Long Beach Service Basics – Collection Days, Bins, and Food Waste
Your pickup day depends on your address. Use the collection day lookup tool at longbeach.gov/pw to find your schedule and confirm set-out times, which are typically required by 6:00 a.m. on your collection day.
Which Bin Gets What
Black carts are for non-recyclable household trash. Blue carts take paper, cardboard, glass bottles, metal cans, and plastics labeled #1 and #2. No plastic bags, greasy pizza boxes, or loose liquids – those contaminate the whole load.
Organics and Food Scraps
Green carts accept yard trimmings and food scraps where organics service is active at your address. Bag food scraps in certified compostable bags before placing them in the green cart. Residents in multifamily buildings should check with their property manager, since shared cart setups vary by building.
Signal Hill Service Basics – Pickup Schedule, Sorting Rules, and Organics
A small city surrounded by Long Beach, Signal Hill runs its waste collection through Athens Services, not the same provider Long Beach residents use. Don't assume the rules carry over.
Finding Your Pickup Day
Athens Services manages the Signal Hill schedule directly. Check your collection day at athensservices.com or call the Signal Hill Public Works Department at (562) 989-7330. The city also posts its service calendar online at cityofsignalhill.org.
What Goes in Each Bin
Blue bin accepts bottles, cans, cardboard, and paper. Green bin takes yard trimmings and food scraps. Black bin is for general trashl Hill participates in California's mandatory organics recycling program, so food waste goes in the green bin, not the black one. Contaminating your green bin with plastic bags or non-organics can result in a missed pickup.
Bulky Pickup, Hazardous Waste, and Holiday Changes
Getting rid of a sofa or old appliances takes more than rolling out your cart.
Long Beach
Schedule bulky item pickup through MyLB or by calling Public Works. Up to five items per appointment are accepted – furniture, mattresses, and large appliances qualify. Place items at the curb on your scheduled collection day, not before. Paint, motor oil, batteries, and household chemicals never go in carts. Drop these at the EDCO Household Hazardous Waste facility on Willow Street.
Signal Hill
Athens Services handles bulky pickup for Signal Hill residents. Call Athens directly to book. Accepted items include furniture and white goods. Set items out only after confirmation. Hazardous materials go to LA County's SAFE Centers – not your bin.
Holiday Schedule Shifts
Both cities delay collection around major holidays. Check your provider's official calendar before setting anything out.
A Few Quick Checks Keep Pickup Easy
Before assuming any rule applies to you, confirm whether your address falls under Long Beach or Signal Hill – the providers differ, and so do the details. From there, the basics stay consistent: look up your collection day, sort waste into the correct bin, follow food-scrap and organics requirements, and schedule bulky item pickup before you drag anything to the curb. Hazardous materials need an approved drop-off site, not your regular bin. Holiday delays can shift your pickup by a full day, sometimes more. Whenever a rule seems unclear – which bin, which week, which site – go directly to your city's official website or hauler portal rather than guessing.