Waste Collection Tips & Reminders

Weekly trash and recycling collection is one of the essential services that keep Thousand Oaks healthy, clean, and beautiful. When everyone follows a few simple guidelines, Athens Services—the City’s waste hauler—can operate efficiently and safely. Your cooperation is appreciated, especially when it comes to sorting materials correctly and managing your carts properly.

What Goes in the Organics Cart?

Green Waste: branches, flowers, grass clippings, hedge trimmings, leaves, weeds, untreated/unpainted wood

Food Scraps: fruits (remove produce stickers), vegetables, bread, pasta, rice, dairy, coffee grounds/filters, meat/poultry/seafood, bones, soft shells

Food-Soiled Paper: 100% fiber-based compostable cups/containers, paper egg cartons, napkins, paper towels, plates, packaging, pizza boxes

These materials must be 100% plant-fiber with no plastic, wax, or bioplastic coating. They should be soiled only with food or liquid.

When residents sort correctly, it helps Athens Services create nutrient-rich compost and prevents contamination. Something our community takes pride in.

What Goes in the Trash Cart?

Glass: ceramic, porcelain, non-food glass

Food Containers: chip bags, plant-based “compostable plastics,” juice pouches, snack wrappers

Paper: tissues, padded mailing envelopes, laminated or plastic-coated paper, photos, receipts

Plastic: #3 and #6 (hard or foam), black plastics, bubble wrap, Styrofoam, packing peanuts, take-out clamshells, gloves, hoses, film plastics, toys, tarps, small plastics (straws, utensils)

Misc: clothing/fabric, succulents, cigarette butts, diapers, hard shells, lint, palm fronds, pet waste, produce stickers, yucca leaves

Plywood, treated or painted wood

What Goes in the Recycling Cart?

(Empty, clean, and dry items only.)

Plastic:

• #1 PET bottles/clamshells

• #2 HDPE containers

• #5 PP containers

• Beverage jugs, detergent bottles, food containers, soda/juice/water bottles

Paper: magazines, mail, office paper, newspapers, paper bags

Cardboard: broken-down boxes, corrugated fiberboard, clean pizza boxes

Glass: bottles and jars only (lids removed)

Metals: aluminum cans/foil/trays, scrap metal, steel/tin cans

Acceptable but not always recyclable: cereal boxes (remove inner bag), egg cartons, frozen food boxes, aseptic/tetra-pak containers such as soup/milk/juice cartons.

If you're still unsure about where to place certain items, check Athens Services’ What Goes Where guide.

Maximize Your Recycling

If you run out of room in your recycling cart each week, Athens Services offers free upgrades to help you recycle more and waste less.

You can:

• Replace a 64-gallon recycling cart with a free 96-gallon cart

• Add an extra 64-gallon or 96-gallon recycling cart at no cost

Taking this step helps you stay consistent with your recycling habits and supports our citywide waste-reduction goals.

Waste Collection Tips

1. Flatten cardboard to save space and ensure proper pickup.
2. Close your lids. Tight-fitting lids are required by City ordinance to prevent rodents and keep materials from entering storm drains.
3. Do not overfill carts. Per City ordinance, carts must be accessible, comply with maximum weight limits, and be free of household hazardous waste (HHW). Overfilled or contaminated carts may not be serviced and could incur fees.
4. Never place hazardous waste in your carts. Make an HHW appointment by calling (800) 356-8570 or schedule a home collection at (805) 852-5264.
5. Properly place carts. Set your carts on the street against the curb by 7:00 a.m. on collection day (no earlier than 4:00 p.m. the day prior). Store carts away by 8:00 a.m. the day after collection.

Bulky Item Collection

Bulky items are oversized or overweight household items that do not fit in your waste cart or may need special handling (e.g., appliances, water heaters, televisions, furniture, etc.).Thousand Oaks residents living in single-family homes can schedule two free bulky item collections (up to six items total) each calendar year. Residents in multi-family complexes receive bulky item collection one time per month on a designated date from a designated location approved by the property manager. This service prevents improper dumping and keeps our neighborhoods clean.

Request Services

To request a recycling cart replacement or upgrade, schedule a bulky item pickup, or learn more recycling tips, visit athensservices.com/residential-services/thousand-oaks/ or call Athens at (805) 852-5264.

By sorting correctly, sizing your carts appropriately, and using available services, you’re joining a community-wide effort that keeps Thousand Oaks clean, sustainable, and thriving.

Blog developed with AI assistance.