Lakewood, CA Trash & Recycling: Yard Waste Collection (2026)
Key Facts
- Container size
- 20-40 gallon container, under 50 pounds
- Bundle limit
- 4 feet long, 1.5 feet diameter, 50 pounds
- Set-out window
- No earlier than 4 p.m. day before pickup
- Cart pickup
- Removed within 12 hours after emptied
- Accumulation limit
- 7 days max before public nuisance (Sec. 5333)
- Enforcing department
- Public Works Director sets routes and hours
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor, up to 6 months jail (Sec. 1200)
Summary
Lakewood requires greenwaste to go in a resident-owned 20- to 40-gallon galvanized metal, heavy-duty plastic, or pressed-fiberboard container weighing no more than 50 pounds, per Municipal Code Section 5332. Cardboard boxes and plastic bags are banned as greenwaste containers. Branches and trimmings must be bundled to no more than 4 feet long, 1.5 feet in diameter, and 50 pounds, and set out no earlier than 4 p.m. the day before collection.
3. Greenwaste Collection. a. Residential greenwaste is to be placed in commercially-manufactured refuse containers made of galvanized metal, heavy-duty plastic, or pressed fiberboard, of at least 20 gallon capacity, but not to exceed 40 gallon capacity, not exceeding 50 lbs. in weight, to be provided by the resident. b. No cardboard box, paper or plastic bag, or other similarly fragile container, may be used as a container for greenwaste. Placing greenwaste in plastic bags or cardboard containers and placing them next to a cart is prohibited. c. Tree, bush, brush and plant trimmings, including branches and limbs, shall be cut and tied in neat, compact bundles, not to exceed 4 feet in length, 1½ feet in diameter and 50 pounds in gross weight.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4901715; v5 updated 2026-04-28; through 04-28-2026).
Full Breakdown
Section 5332(A)(3) of the Lakewood Municipal Code, added by Ordinance 2009-8, sets the container and bundling standards for residential greenwaste, separate from the household refuse and recycling carts covered by the same section. Only a commercially manufactured metal, heavy-duty plastic, or pressed-fiberboard container between 20 and 40 gallons and under 50 pounds qualifies; cardboard boxes, paper, or plastic bags cannot be substituted, and greenwaste left in an unapproved container next to the cart violates the placement rule. 5 feet in diameter, and no heavier than 50 pounds.
the day before the scheduled pickup and must be pulled back to a location not visible from the public right-of-way within 12 hours after they are emptied. 2 and can change them on notice to the public. A. County Sheriff response. W) as biodegradable plant material such as clippings, leaves, and prunings, but excludes tree stumps and limbs over 3 inches in diameter unless chipped; those larger pieces count as Bulky Waste and require the City's special cleanup program rather than the weekly greenwaste container.
Violations & Fines
Allowing refuse or greenwaste to accumulate on a property for more than 7 days is declared an unlawful public nuisance under Section 5333. Violating any provision of the Municipal Code, including the greenwaste container and bundling standards, is a misdemeanor under Section 1200, punishable by a fine up to the state misdemeanor maximum, up to six months in County jail, or both, with each day of a continuing violation charged as a separate offense; the City may instead cite it as an infraction under Section 1205.
Frequently Asked Questions
What container can I use for yard waste in Lakewood?
How do I bundle tree branches for pickup?
When can I put my greenwaste container out for collection?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lakewood
California rules heatmap·Compare Lakewood to another location·View the California trash & recycling overview
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