Residential Curbside Organics Program (Food Waste, Yard Waste and Soiled Paper)
The green residential curbside Waste Management cart is the "Organics" cart - for food, yard waste and soiled paper (think used paper towels or wet newspaper).  Manhattan Beach residents can order an Organics cart at no additional charge by calling Waste Management at (310) 830-7100. 

Beginning July 1, 2020, food waste, yard waste and soiled paper should be placed loosely in the green Organics cart. The residential program transitioned to a curbside composting program as of July 1, 2020.  The material in the green Organics cart will be transported to a commercial composting facility. It's easy to participate - just put all food scraps, yard waste and soiled paper waste loosely in the green cart!

No plastic - do not bag anything in plastic bags starting July 1, 2020. 

Tip: Worried about odor?  If you don't want food waste to be loosely tossed in the Organics cart, fold it inside some newspaper or put in a paper bag and place on top or inside some green waste that's already in the container (soiled-paper is accepted). Residents can also store their food scraps in a bag/container in the freezer throughout the week and then empty the contents into the Organics cart on collection day.  This will keep food scrap storage off your countertops and help prevent any worries about curbside cart odor.   

ACCEPTED FOOD WASTE:  All food scraps including fruits, vegetables, meat, cheese, eggshells, coffee grounds, small bones, bread, pasta, rice and tea bags

ACCEPTED YARD WASTE:  Grass clippings, leaves, pruning, branches (3” diameter or smaller), brush, garden trimmings and unpainted/untreated wood

ACCEPTED SOILED PAPER WASTE:  Food-soiled paper including napkins, paper towels, coffee filters, paper plates, greasy pizza boxes and greasy paper bags

NOT ACCEPTED IN ORGANICS CART:  Do not place yucca, iceplant, rock, dirt, palm fronds, pet waste/feces, cat litter, dirt, rocks, concrete, logs or stumps, waxed, coated paper such as wax coated paper plates, wax coated paper cups or wax coated paper takeout containers.  Also, do not place any liquid, glass, metal, or plastic of ANY kind, including biodegradable/compostable plastic or construction material of any kind in the green Organics cart. For additional FREE green organics cart(s) call Waste Management directly at (310) 830-7100.

At-Home Backyard Composting Program
The City also offers a Backyard Composting Program for residents who like to create natural fertilizer for at-home gardens.  For Manhattan Beach residents, there are free backyard composting classes year-round and a discount bin purchase program through the City's hauler, Waste Management. 

Worm composting bins are $65 each and backyard compost bins are $45 each.  There is a purchasing limit of two per household each calendar year.  Complete your purchase at one of the Backyard Composting Classes (cash or check) or year-round by calling Waste Management directly at (310) 830-7100.

2024 FREE Composting Class Schedule

Saturday, May 4, 2024

Saturday, July 13, 2024

Saturday, October 12, 2024

COMPOSTING CLASS FLYER 2024

Backyard Composting Workshop Basic Information

Time: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM (Question and Answer session at the end)
Location: Manhattan Beach Botanical Garden in Polliwog Park (on Peck Avenue, just north of Manhattan Beach Boulevard)

During the workshops, Manhattan Beach residents may purchase Composting Bins or Worm Composting Bins at a great discount.  The basics of residential food waste recycling, curbside recycling and yard waste recycling will also be covered. Can't attend the class?  Manhattan Beach residents may purchase discounted bins year-round by contacting Waste Management directly at (310) 830-7100. 

Green Garden Tip

Your lawn and your grass catcher don’t make such a great couple after all.

It seemed like a good idea at the time: attaching a grass catcher to your mower. But, as it turns out, leaving those clippings over the lawn is actually better for the lawn, the environment, and you.

The process is called grasscycling. And grasscycling is a very common sense thing to do. For starters, leaving clippings returns valuable nutrients and organic matter back to the soil. (Besides the nutrient value, grass is 80-85% water, so you get an irrigating effect, too.) And when you grasscycle during the spring and summer months, you can reduce the added expense of organic fertilizers. More good news: grasscycling hands you a nifty refund in time and money. Just think - no more bagging, no more schlepping the bags to the curb. Plus, you’ll save on fertilizer, save on water. You can live with that, right?

SOME EASY WAYS YOU CAN MAKE A BIG DENT IN A BIG PROBLEM:

A little perspective: the average California lawn generates about a ton of grass clippings per every 1000 square feet, every year. (Almost as much as a VW bug weighs!).

Converting your landscaping to native drought-tolerant is best.  If you're not ready for that change, try this:

1. Don’t cut more than the top third of grass each time you mow.
2. Mow every 5-7 days during spring and summer. Grasscycling only takes about half as long as bagging.
3. Mow your lawn when it’s dry.
4. Keep your mower blades sharp.
5. Only 1 inch of water is needed each week (including rainfall), or about 10 minutes of watering for healthy growth in the summer. Your lawn might require a little more or less water. A half-inch per week is enough for fall and spring. Water in the morning.
6. Apply slow-release fertilizers in the fall and spring for steady growth. Fertilizing in summer means more work for you.
7. Consider buying an electric mulching mower when it’s time for a new one.

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