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Refuse Disposal Services | Recycling Programs | Multi-Family & Commercial Buildings | Residential Greenwaste Recycling | Bulky Item Pick-ups | CalMax Recycling | Household Hazardous Waste | Medical Waste Disposal
Refuse Disposal Services
The City of Norwalk has a franchise agreement with two refuse haulers and they are the only two companies authorized to serve the commercial and residential needs of our community. Both companies have served Norwalk for many years and they continue to work with the City to provide quality customer service. They are:
Consolidated Disposal Service (800) 299-4898
www.consolidateddisposalservice.com
CR&R (562) 944-4716
www.crrwasteservices.com
Click here to locate your provider and trash day.
Click here for Services Senior Citizen or Low Income/Disabled Trash Service Discount Application forms.
Trash, have you wondered where it all ends up? Each year, over three million tons of solid waste is disposed of right here in our backyard and this landfill space is running out fast.
Concern over our fragile environment and the ongoing solid waste disposal problem reached the state legislature in the late 1980's. This concern was deep enough to prompt the state government to pass laws aimed at finding solutions to our mounting trash problems. The most far-reaching law, commonly called AB 939, requires all of California's cities and counties to create ways to divert large amounts of solid waste from landfills. AB 939 requires cities to reduce waste by 50%, which is why Norwalk uses three containers to separate waste into recyclables and non-recyclables. Our Community has only reached 35% diversion. Norwalk residents are asked to participate fully in the program by recycling all products that are recyclable.
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Residential Curbside Recycling Programs
An important part of the City's programs is the regular curbside collection of recyclables. Each single family home should have a blue container bin for their recyclable items. This program, which accepts many products such as; glass and plastic bottles, aluminum and steel cans, and newspapers and junk mail, etc., has been successful, but much more needs to be done if Norwalk is to meet the State's 50% diversion mandate. A complete listing of recyclable products can be found by clicking here
One additional blue container is available at no charge by contacting the disposal company.
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Scavenging
The City of Norwalk is aware of the scavenging problem that exists in our community and the Public Safety Department continually responds to reports filed by residents. The only way that Norwalk will be able to deter people from scavenging is with help from the community. Call Public Safety at (562) 929-5732 to report scavengers. Also, try putting the most frequently taken recyclables at the bottom of the container and put your containers out in the morning instead of the night before *. All these things should help reduce the amount of scavenging that occurs.
* Make sure you know when your trash collector comes so you do not miss being collected if you put it out in the morning.
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Recycling Program for Multi-Family and Commercial Buildings
The trash collected from apartments and the business community is taken to a sorting facility, where 70 kinds of reusable materials are removed from the waste stream. This process is called mixed waste processing and does not require participants to change the way trash is handled. The sorting facility, called a "MRF", or Materials Recovery Facility, processes the waste and diverts significant amounts away from our landfills.
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Residentials Greenwaste Recycling
If you live in a single family home, your yard clippings, grass and other plant material are reused as part of the residential greenwaste collection program. Each single family home is issued a greenwaste collection container, which is collected on the same day as your regular trash service. The greenwaste program collects all forms of clippings, leaves, and plant material. However, no fruits or vegetables may be included in the greenwaste bins. Large branches can be bundled and collected by appointment as part of the free special item pick up program.
Additional Greenwaste containers are available from your solid waste collector. There is no charge for the second container.
After this greenwaste is collected, it can be reused either as compost or as alternative daily cover and will save valuable landfill space.
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Bulky Item Pick-ups
Tree limbs, large appliances, pieces of furniture, e-waste, and other bulky items will be picked-up on trash day if prior arrangements have been made with the trash haulers. This service is provided free of charge to single family homes four times per year up to five items per collection. A fee may apply for additional collections. To arrange a collection, residents must call their disposal company at least one day prior to the regular collection day. Services provided for multiple unit complexes for a fee. Please contact your disposal company for additional information.
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CalMAX Recycling Program
CalMAX is a free service designed to help businesses find markets for materials they have traditionally discarded. Businesses, schools, and non-profits can utilize CalMax to search for available and wanted materials.
The CalMAX program helps businesses, industries, and institutions save resources and money.
CalMAX conserves energy, resources, and landfill space by helping businesses and organizations find alternatives to the disposal of valuable materials or wastes.
Since 1992, more than 650,000 tons of materials have been diverted from landfills, and over $5.5 million has been saved through CalMAX.
Click here for more information on CalMAX, or to search the CalMAX database of available materials.
Click here for CalMAX Categories.
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Household Hazardous Waste & E-Waste Disposal
It is illegal to dispose of Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) in the regular trash, as it is toxic and will pollute the environment. The HHW may be driven to a County of Los Angeles Free HHW Round Ups which is held almost every Saturday at various locations throughout Los Angeles County.
A Household Hazardous Waste and E-Waste Collection Event is a one-day, drive-through collection event where residents can drive to a specific location to drop off their hazardous waste. These events are free, open to the public, and usually held on a Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. No appointment is needed. To locate the next closest collection event, call (888) CLEAN LA (888-253-2652), or visit www.888CleanLA.com.
Examples of Household Hazardous Waste
Brake fluid, paint, paint thinner, turpentine, cleaners with acid or lye, pesticides or herbicides, household batteries or car batteries, pool chemicals, motor oil, oil filters.
Preparing Household Hazardous Waste for a Collection Event
- Bring the items in a sturdy box, preferably in their original labeled containers. Label materials that are not in their original containers. Be prepared to leave your containers. Put your box of household hazardous waste in the trunk of your car. Remove all other items from the trunk.
- Put like chemicals together. Separate unlike chemicals.
- Generally, there is a limit of 15 gallons or 125 pounds per vehicle.
- Make sure containers are not leaking and lids are tightly sealed.
- At the collection site, trained personnel will ask you to remain in your car while they remove the household hazardous waste from your trunk.
The term "e-waste" is applied to consumer electronic equipment that is no longer wanted. Since electronics may contain lead, copper, and other heavy metals or potentially toxic substances, it is critical that any e-waste be disposed of properly. You can reduce e-waste by buying only what you need, reuse electronics that still work, and recycle electronics at the end of their useful lifecycle.
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Examples of E-Waste accepted at HHW Collection Events:
CRTs: Computer monitors, television sets, TV/VCR combos, or anything else with a Cathode Ray Tube. Computers: CPUs, mice, keyboards, printers, scanners, or any other computer peripheral. Personal Electronics: Cell phones, radios, alarm clocks, hair dryers, etc.
City E-waste and Document Shredding Events
The City organizes E-waste and Document Shredding events. These events are typically scheduled on a specified Saturday from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. during the months of January, April, and October of each year. The event is FREE. Residents drive their vehicles to the location and conveniently drop off their e-waste and watch their documents get shredded on-site. To find out when is the next scheduled City e-waste and shredding event, please call City Hall at 562-929-5700.
Business E-Waste
If you are a business with e-waste, please contact the County of Los Angeles at 1(800)98-TOXIC for a list of business e-waste recycling solutions. Information is also available online at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works Environmental Programs Division website, under the Smart Business Recycler Locator.
Used Motor Oil & Filter Recycling
To promote the proper disposal of motor oil and filters, the City typically hosts at least 2 used motor oil filter exchange events each year, where residents can bring in their used oil filter and get a new one for FREE. They are typically held at one of the Certified Used Oil Collection Centers on a Saturday.
For any Norwalk resident that changes their motor oil on their personal vehicles, the City also offers temporary storage oil containers. Residents can use these containers to safely transport the motor oil to one of the Certified Used Oil Collection Centers for disposal, for pick-up through the curbside collection program, or at a County Roundup event. All of these programs are FREE and help keep used oil from contaminating our environment.
Certified Collection Centers:
- Auto Zone - 13927 S. Pioneer Blvd. - (562) 863-8794
- Best Buy Tire Center - 12932 Pioneer Blvd. - (562) 868-7724
- O'Reilly/Kragen Auto Parts - 12233 Norwalk Blvd. - (562) 406-2466
- Okimoto's Automotive Center - 16400 Pioneer Blvd. - (562) 926-7317
Household Battery Recycling Program
Recycle household batteries, including AA, AAA, C, D, 9-volt, button, and spent rechargeables at one of our City locations during regular business hours: City Hall, Arts & Sports Complex, Senior Center, Social Services Center or City Parks.
Medical Waste Disposal
Home Generated Medical Waste Disposal
The improper handling and/or disposal of home-generated medical waste can pose serious health risks to the generator and everyone in the community. Medical Waste or "sharps" are objects such as needles, syringes, lancets and other sharp objects used for medical purposes.
These items should be placed in either a purchased medical sharps container (from a pharmacy or health care provider) or a heavy-plastic or metal container. The container should be puncture-proof with a tight-fitting lid, and the lid should be taped after sealed.
Household containers, such as heavy-plastic detergent bottles may be used if the following precautions are observed:
- Use heavy-duty tape, such as electrical or duct tape, to secure the lid to the container.
- Write the words "Used Syringes" on the container with a black permanent marker.
- Do not use a clear container.
- Do not over-stuff the container with medical sharps (fill it only about 3/4 full). This can increase pressure on the lid and cause a release of the medical sharps.
- Coast Plaza Doctors Hospital, 13100 Studebaker Road
- Norwalk Regional Health Center (JWCH), 12360 Firestone Blvd.
Thank you for helping preserve the quality of life in Norwalk by following the recommended guidelines for disposal of home generated medical waste.
Vehicle Donations
At this time, the City is not accepting used vehicles for donation. However, there are many non-profit organizations that accept vehicle donations. Please contact them directly.
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