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Refuse and Recycling Services

The City of South Gate contracts with Waste Management, Incorporated for refuse services. For information about trash pickup schedules, special pickups of large items, ordering or replacing bins, or billing questions, please call (800) 774-0222.

Click here for a list of what is recycable and what is not.

Scavenging is Illegal
Note: The South Gate Police Department is issuing citations to anyone found scavenging through recycling bins. The City is required by law to divert as much recycled waste as possible to avoid heavy fines by the State. Help the City meet its goal by reporting to the Police Department anyone found scavenging recycled waste. Click here for more information.

Bulky Item Pickups
Residents are eligible for unlimited bulky item pickups per year. Bulky items that can be picked up include appliances, tree branches, electronic waste, and more. Individual items cannot exceed 8 feet in length and 4 feet in width, weigh more than 150 pounds, or require more than two people to handle. For more information or to schedule a bulky item pickup, call Waste Management Customer Service at 800-774-0222.

Christmas Tree Recycling
After the holidays, Waste Management will pick up Christmas trees for two weeks at no charge. Please remove any ornaments, lights, tinsel, and garland, as well as the stand. If the tree was more than 6 feet tall, please cut it in half.

Safe Disposal for Hard-to-Handle Waste
Don't know where to throw away your old paint, cell phones, pool and garden chemicals, cleaning products, household hazardous waste or electronic waste? It's simple! You can recycle all of these items at the nearby S.A.F.E. Collection Center, which is located at 1400 N. Gaffey Street in San Pedro. Materials are accepted Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. The Center is closed during heavy rain storms.

The Center accepts used motor oil and filters, antifreeze, other automotive fluids, aerosol cans, all medicine and pharmaceuticals, auto batteries, household batteries, fluorescent tubes and lamps, thermostats and other mercury-containing lamps. You can also drop off computers, monitors, printers, network equipment, microwaves, cables, telephones, video game consoles, stereos, TVs, and electronic toys. Residents are limited to six electronic devices per visit.

The S.A.F.E. Center does not accept business waste, ammunition, explosives, radioactive material, biological waste, tires, washing machines, dryers, conventional ovens, or computer software.

Keep in mind that it is against the law to transport more than 15 gallons or 125 pounds of hazardous waste to collection sites. Make sure to pack your waste safely to prevent spilling and breakage during transport. For more information, call 1-800-98-TOXIC.

Household Hazardous Waste Roundups
Los Angeles County holds monthly roundups in locations in the area for collecting such hazardous waste as paint, batteries, pesticides, oils, and chemicals. For more information, including a list of eligible items or schedule of dates and locations, call 1-888-CLEAN-LA or click here.

Tire Recycling
Call your local tire stores for drop-off locations.

Used Oil Recycling Hotline
The City of South Gate has a 24-hour used oil recycling hotline. By calling (323) 357-9635, the hotline can provide information on the nine certified used motor oil recycling centers located throughout the city.

2010 Holiday Schedule
Waste Management will observe six holidays in 2010 which include; New Years Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
8650 California Avenue • South Gate, CA 90280 • (323) 563-9500