The Sanitation Division handles residential refuse and recycling collection as well as the collection for the City Hall complex, City parks, fire stations, and the Police Department.
Residential refuse and recycling is collected once per week, Monday through Thursday (except holidays & weekends) for 30,500 single and duplex homes, plus 3 and 4 unit complexes which meet certain criteria. Refuse and recycling is collected with automated trucks. Each household that has curb side trash pick up is provided with a 96-gallon container for trash. There is also a smaller, easier-to-handle 64-gallon size available for trash. Those residents with alley pick up share a 300-gallon container that is placed in the alley. Each household is provided with a 96-gallon container for recycling; the 64-gallon recycling container is being phased out.
There are 250,000 tons of refuse collected throughout the City (including businesses and multi-family homes) of which 51,000 tons of refuse are collected by the City. The remaining 199,000 tons are picked up by private haulers.
To set up your account or ask questions on billing, please call our 24-hour Customer Service Line at 1-888-860-3273. You can also view and pay your Torrance Trash and/or Water bill on-line through our billing company, American States Water Company, by clicking here. You will need your account number. Note that after signing up, you will no longer get your bill through the mail. Instead, you will get an e-mail reminder.
NOTE: On your refuse collection day, be sure your automated container is at the curb, 3-4 feet away from any obstructions, by 7:00 a.m. Do not overfill your container. If you need additional capacity, leave the lid open and place a 30-gallon trash bag on top of your other waste. In some neighborhoods, where streets are very congested, it is recommended that containers be placed in the street at the curb. Containers carry a "No Parking" notice to remind residents to allow clearance for pickup of container when parking on the street.
For residents who continually have extra trash that will not fit in the regular trash container, extra 96-gallon containers are available for an additional fee (see Refuse Rates) and a one-time delivery fee of $10.00. The extra container must be kept for a minimum of six (6) months, after which time it can be returned if it is no longer needed. If you would like additional refuse containers, click here for a .pdf version of the Automated Container Request form. Type the information in the top section of the form, click Print Form, sign it, and mail it to the address on the form. Be sure to keep a copy for your own record.
We encourage residents to recycle whenever possible. Additional recycling bins are available free of charge for residents who have extra recycling that does not fit into one recycling bin. If you have the small, 64-gallon recycling bin and wish to replace it with the larger, 96-gallon recycling bin, click here for the request form.
For residents that require roll-off containers/dumpsters, the containers need to be rented from a private rubbish company. Click here for a .pdf list of private rubbish companies that have a business license in Torrance. If the container/dumpster is placed on City property, a permit is required. A permit can be obtained from Community Development at 310-618-5898 or click here to go to Community Development Permits webpage.
Important Notice
** If you live in a single-family residence and are not receiving services such as refuse collection from the City of Torrance, more than likely, your address is not considered City of Torrance. It is recommended that you call the City of Los Angeles. The City of Los Angeles Service Request Number is 1-800-996-2489 or click here to go to the City of Los Angeles Sanitation site.
Click here to go to the Los Angeles Sanitation District's listing of transfer stations within twenty (20) miles of Torrance. Call locations before visiting to confirm availability.
