On January 24, 2012, the City Council approved the green waste recycling program for all Torrance residents with City Service.  Click here for the Council Agenda Item and click here for the Resolution.  Containers and instructions will be delivered over the following 12 months.

As part of the new fee structure related to this program, residents can adjust the size of their refuse, recycling and green waste containers as they prefer.  All containers are available in 64 or 96 gallon sizes.  Please note - the monthly fee for collection is based only on the size of the refuse container.

For the new rate structure, click here.

To change container size or request additional containers, click here or call Customer Service at 1-855-354-5623.  Please note that all container change requests, size and additional containers, must be kept for a minimum of 6 months before another change can be requested.  Please be sure you will have enough container capacity for trash before changing the trash bin size to the 64 gallon container. Once the request is made, after removing your containers from the curb on your pick up day, please leave the container to be changed out in a visible place that is easily accessible by our City crew such as near a gate or garage but not in a back yard. Containers cannot be left on City property more than 12 hours after pick up per Municipal Code. Depending on the demand for containers, this could be several weeks. 

Please Note:  Residents will be charged as of February 1, 2012 based on the containers they have at that time.  Residents must request changes to their container sizes.  Residents will receive the 96 gallon green waste recycling container unless a change is requested.

To see the map for approximate green waste container delivery schedule, click here.

For instructions on how to use your green waste container, click here.

Sanitation services container size dimensions:

• 64 gallon containers - 40" H x 27.5" W x 30" D
• 96 gallon containers - 46.75" H x 29.25" W x 34.50" D
• Older containers may be slightly smaller.

In Torrance, approximately one-third of all residential waste is green waste - grass, leaves, weeds and trimmings from bushes and trees.  This large volume uses up valuable landfill space. Yard waste in landfills generates methane gas and acidic leachate, both of which can be hazardous to the environment.  The high moisture content of green waste retards burning, which reduces the efficiency of waste-to-energy plants.

When separated from regular trash, green waste can be recycled into mulch or soil amendment.  By recycling green waste, we will save landfill space and provide a better use of this natural resource.  Plant waste recycles naturally, and the decomposed materials form a rich, dark soil called humus or compost. Humus returns nutrients to the soil, improves soil texture, and promotes new plant growth.

For questions and additional information, please contact the Torrance Public Works Department at 310-781-6900.