Pickup Rules & Schedules: Altadena vs Carson
How do pickup rules & schedules rules compare between Altadena, CA and Carson, CA?
Altadena and Carson have similar restriction levels.
Altadena, CA
Los Angeles County
Trash collection in unincorporated LA County is organized through Garbage Disposal Districts (GDDs). Property owners in GDDs are assessed a fee on their property tax bill. Residents outside GDDs are in Open Market Areas and must contract their own service. Multiple haulers serve different districts.
View full Altadena rules →Carson, CA
Los Angeles County
Carson awards an exclusive solid-waste / residential-recycling franchise under Carson Municipal Code Article 5, Chapter 2 (Collection of Solid Waste and Recyclable Materials). Waste Resources is the current franchised hauler for all residential, multi-family and commercial accounts in the city; using any other paid hauler is a code violation. Standard 1-4 unit service includes a 96-gallon black-lid trash cart, 96-gallon blue-lid recycling cart, and 96-gallon green-lid organics cart, with weekly curbside collection on an assigned day.
View full Carson rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Altadena | Carson |
|---|---|---|
| System | Garbage Disposal Districts | - |
| Fee | Assessed on property tax bill | - |
| Open Market | Contract own service | - |
| SB 1383 | Organic waste collection required | - |
| Franchise hauler | - | Waste Resources — exclusive city franchise (CMC Art. 5 Ch. 2) |
| Customer service | - | (310) 366-7600 |
| Standard carts | - | 96-gal BLACK trash, 96-gal BLUE recycling, 96-gal GREEN organics |
| Frequency | - | Weekly curbside, assigned day |
| Holiday rule | - | Weekday holiday → service slides one day later for the rest of the week |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Altadena FAQ
When is trash collected in unincorporated LA County?
Collection days vary by location and hauler. Check your waste hauler's website or call LA County Public Works at (626) 458-5100 to identify your Garbage Disposal District and hauler.
What goes in the green/organics bin?
Under SB 1383, food scraps, yard waste, food-soiled paper, and compostable materials go in the green bin. This is mandatory statewide as of 2022.
Can I get a larger or extra trash bin?
Yes. Contact your waste hauler to rent an additional cart. Monthly fees vary by hauler and bin size. You can also reduce waste to fit your current bin by maximizing recycling and composting.
Carson FAQ
Can I hire a different trash hauler in Carson?
No. Carson Municipal Code Article 5 Chapter 2 grants Waste Resources an exclusive residential and commercial solid-waste / recycling franchise. Using a non-franchised paid hauler is a code violation.
What if a holiday falls on my pickup day?
If a holiday lands on a weekday, your pickup and every remaining pickup that week slides one day later. A Thursday holiday means Thursday routes run Friday and Friday routes run Saturday.
Do I have to take all three carts?
Yes for single-family service — SB 1383 requires organics collection statewide, and Carson's standard service bundles trash + recycling + organics. Additional blue or green carts are free on request.
Compare other topics
See how Altadena and Carson compare on other ordinance categories.
Want to add a third city?
Use our full comparison tool to compare up to three cities.
Open Comparison Tool