All single family homes in El Monte are provided with curbside pickup for trash, recyclables, and green waste. Each home is provided with three carts.

• The brown cart is for trash.
• The blue cart is for recyclables.
• The green cart is for green waste and food waste.

Curbside collection service is provided by Valley Vista Services. For any issues regarding this service, please contact Valley Vista Services at 800-442-6454.

New Food & Yard Waste Rules - SB 1383 

          Effective July 1, 2022

On October 5, 2021, the El Monte City Council passed the City’s Mandatory Organic Waste Disposal Reduction Ordinance (Ordinance # 3006) requiring all residential, commercial and multi-family premises in the City to subscribe to the City’s Organic Waste Reduction Program. The City of El Monte will be implementing various measures to achieve the state-mandated waste diversion goals. Information on food waste for businesses and commercial compliance can be found at California’s Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy.

Reason for Changes

In 2016 Senate Bill (SB) 1383 established a goal of reducing the volume of organic waste disposed in California landfills by 75% by 2025. As defined by the law, organic waste includes lawn and landscaping debris, wood and lumber, food, food-soiled paper and other paper and cardboard products. Currently, two-thirds of this material is landfilled. As organics break down in landfills, they create methane, a powerful greenhouse gas which the state of California has identified as a factor in climate change. In addition, SB 1383 establishes a goal of increasing edible food recovery by 20% by 2025.    

The regulations specify that certain food-related businesses must donate the maximum amount of edible food they would otherwise dispose of to food recovery organizations. Starting January, 2022, wholesale food vendors, food service providers, food distributors, grocery stores and supermarkets, must donate surplus edible food to food recovery organizations. Starting in 2024 this will include hotels, restaurant facilities, health facilities, state agency cafeterias, large venues, events and educational facilities. California is working towards a 2025 goal to redirect and donate 20% of edible food to those in need.