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The City’s Refuse Collection 101 page acts as a centralized resource for accessing the most frequently requested online services. Whether you're requesting a special collection, reporting a missed pickup or dumped item, or arranging a cart exchange, you'll find clear, streamlined options to guide you.

Residential Organics (Green Cart) Collection 

Person adding food scraps to green bin

The City of Long Beach's residential organics collection for City-serviced accounts is part of the State of California's mandatory Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy (SB 1383) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote waste reduction. SB 1383 aims to keep organic material out of landfills by diverting yard trimmings and food scraps into dedicated green carts.

For service information about addresses that do not receive service from the City, see the following pages:

When will I get a cart?
When is my service day?		   Collection Guidelines and Accepted Materials
Collection Guidelines and Accepted Materials		   Report a Collection Issue or Missed Pickup
Report a Collection or Request a Cart Change
 
Food Waste Prevention
Food Waste Prevention		   Resources
Resources		   Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
Collection Guidelines and Accepted Materials

What Goes in the Green Cart?

Items Tips

Food Scraps

Examples Include:

  • Meat, eggs, bones, and shells 
  • Coffee grounds 
  • Bread and pasta 
  • Cheese 
  • Expired or spoiled food without packaging 
  • Vegetables and fruits 
  • Food-soiled paper (napkins, paper towels, pizza boxes)
  • Collect scraps in a container or paper bag near food prep areas. After emptying containers into the green cart, clean and return them to prep areas.   
  • Store collection containers in the freezer until collection day to help prevent odors.  
  • Wrap scraps in used paper. 
  • Line the bottom of the green cart with cardboard or used paper to absorb liquids.  

Yard trimmings

Examples Include:

  • Plant trimmings
  • Grass clippings
  • Leaves, flowers, twigs, and branches
  • Palm fronds, cacti, and succulents SHOULD NOT BE DISPOSED OF IN GREEN CARTS.
  • For palm fronds and large logs, request a special collection. These are not accepted at composting facilities.
  • Non-plant material, such as nursery tags, pots, and plastic, should be removed and disposed of in the trash.
  • Yard trimmings can be placed in green carts unbagged.

What Does NOT Go in the Green Cart?

  • Products labeled compostable or biodegradable
  • Food packaging
  • Palm fronds, cacti, or succulents
  • Logs and tree stumps
  • Treated wood, such as furniture parts
  • Recyclables, including items listed on the Recycling Guidelines
  • Trash, including items listed on the Refuse Guidelines
  • Oil
  • Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) and electronic waste (e-waste). View more information on drop-off locations.
  • Bulky or oversized items and tires

Tips to keep the green cart clean such as rinsing your kitchen pail, wrapping food scraps in newspaper, freezing food scraps, and lining your cart with cardboard or used paper

Images showing that pet waste, rocks, or trash need to stay out of the green cart as well as large logs and palm fronds.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
Need Help?

Important Notice
  • Cart sizes are available in 95-gallon, 65-gallon, and 35-gallon.
    • We’re currently out of 35-gallon and 65-gallon trash carts. They’ll be restocked in November. Customers requesting exchanges via the form will be scheduled after the new carts arrive.
  • If you recently received a new cart, customers are asked to wait at least two weeks, preferably longer, after receiving their new cart before submitting a size-change request.

Report an Issue: Collection issues can be reported online.

Request a Change in the Size or Number of Carts: The City offers green carts in three sizes (35‑gal, 65‑gal, and 95‑gal) to match service needs. Whether composting items at home or relying fully on collection, selecting the best-fit cart can help reduce spills, contamination, and costs. 

Cart sizes in 35 gallon, 65 gallon, and 95 gallon

Carts may be exchanged only once every six months. If requesting a smaller cart size, one or two random site visits may be conducted within the first month to ensure no overage issues.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
Educational resources

 

General Organics Collection Questions

 

Residential and Multifamily Apartments/Condos – Serviced by the City of Long Beach

 

  • What can I expect when organics collection starts where I live?

    Residents are asked to place food scraps and food-soiled paper along with their yard trimmings in their new green cart instead of the trash. Green carts will be picked up weekly from normal collection locations. Customers are asked to place carts at collection locations by 6 a.m. on their regularly scheduled weekly collection day.

  • Can products labeled as “compostable” or “biodegradable” go in the green cart?

    No, compostable and biodegradable plastics should not be placed in the green cart. Composting facilities cannot break down these types of products. All compostable or biodegradable products should be placed in the trash cart. 

  • Can I use a bag?

    Bags are not recommended. However, if bags are used, paper bags are strongly recommended, as they can be processed along with organic material. Plastic bags are discouraged as they can lead to higher operational costs due to additional equipment needed to separate organic material from the bags. However, if plastic bags are used please ensure they are clear so that contents are visible. Acceptable organic materials will be processed, but the plastic bags themselves will not be recycled or composted.

  • How can I keep my green cart clean?

    A few tips include:

    • Collecting food scraps in a container or paper bag near food prep areas. After emptying containers into the green cart, clean and return them to prep areas.
    • Storing collection containers in the freezer until collection day helps prevent odors.
    • Wrapping food scraps in used paper.
    • Lining the bottom of the green cart with cardboard or used paper to absorb liquids.

  • How can I dispose of large logs?

    Please schedule a special collection by visiting longbeach.gov/specialcollection.  

  • Will my purple recycling cart be exchanged for a blue recycling cart?

    California State Law requires standardized colors for trash, organics, and recycling carts to improve waste sorting. The transition will happen gradually, and the City will notify customers before any large-scale cart exchanges are planned. For now, if your cart is damaged and needs replacement, you will receive a blue recycling cart. Damaged purple recycling carts will be recycled. 

Cart Exchanges

 

Collection Rates

 
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