Lakewood, CA Trash & Recycling: Pickup Rules & Schedules (2026)

Section 5332 spells out exactly how single-family and multi-family occupants must store refuse between pickups. General household refuse must go in the wheeled cart supplied by the City or its contractor, a hinged, insect-proof container made of recycled content material; no substitute container may be used, and once automated collection began, setting other containers next to a cart is expressly prohibited. The same rule applies to recycling carts: only the contractor-issued cart may hold recyclable materials, which are the items listed on the cart or later designated by the Director of Public Works.

Greenwaste is treated differently: it goes in a resident-supplied metal, heavy-duty plastic, or fiberboard container of 20 to 40 gallons and no more than 50 pounds, never in a cardboard box or plastic bag placed at the curb. 5 feet in diameter, and no heavier than 50 pounds. Occupants must keep the exterior of every cart, including the lid, free of accumulated grease or decomposing residue after each use. If a household generates more refuse or recyclables than its cart holds on more than an occasional basis, Section 5332 requires it to rent an additional standard wheeled cart from the hauler at the approved rate rather than overflow the existing one.