recycLA is a collaborative initiative between public and private sectors to enhance our city by minimizing landfill waste, improving the quality of the air we breathe, and enhancing the overall cleanliness of Los Angeles.
The program features eleven collection zones with a designated service provider for each zone. Universal Waste Systems is proud to have been selected to provide recycling and waste collection services to the businesses and multifamily residences in the Northeast collection zone.
Customers are offered a variety of container sizes for recycling paper, plastics, glass, metals, food waste, and other organic materials.
What can be recycled?Customer service requests are handled directly by the city's professional staff, and then dispatched to the company serving each zone.
Submit a requestAll of the service providers are now using efficient, low-emission collection vehicles, and have optimized their routes to minimize the number of truck trips required.
Our Zero Waste Team is available to provide onsite training to help your business implement or exand your recycling program.
Universal’s Zero Waste account representatives will explain how you can help improve LA’s quality of life by participating in this innovative program.
If you haven't yet heard from a Zero Waste representative, one will be contacting you soon.
In observance of Thanksgiving Day, UWS will be closed on November 28, 2024. Service will be delayed by one day. Please contact LASAN 1-800-773-2489 to arrange for alternate collections if necessary.
For all customer service issues not related to billing, please contact the City of Los Angeles call center at 800-773-2489, or use the city's online service request system to file a service request.
For all questions regarding your bills for service, please contact our customer service staff at 323-923-2825.
UWS bills for regular services monthly, in advance. Charges for any special services—such as installation of locks, temporary bin service, or container cleaning—are billed after the special services are provided. Payment is due within 15 days of the bill date. Late payments can result in late fees or interruptions in service.
Customers can arrange to receive copies of their bills by mail or email. UWS offers a secure online bill-pay system for our customers’ convenience, and the opportunity to set up regular auto-pay with a credit card. Our customer service representatives can discuss these options, and can be reached at 323-923-2825.
All customer bills include a code that lets you create an account in our customer portal so you can perform a variety of tasks. If you cannot find a code on your bill, please contact our customer service staff for assistance.
To begin the set-up process, use the link on the home page or click here. Enter the code from your bill to register. Once you have registered, your login information will be sent to the email address you provided.
As a registered customer, you can utilize all the functions available online, such as:
To provide uniform and transparent monthly rates for commercial and multi-family customers, the City of Los Angeles has set rates for all services provided by the franchisees. The City has also implemented policies to determine how and when those rates can be adjusted. The three general rate categories are:
To receive the maximum benefit from the services provided by UWS, please follow these guidelines:
The City of Los Angeles has created a map tool that you can use to find the zone and sub zone in which your business or building is located. Download a NE Zone map.
Materials Not Accepted
For more information on the California Mandatory Commercial Recycling program, please visit the LA Sanitation & Environment website.
Materials Not Accepted
Many materials that are used in our homes and businesses are hazardous and must be disposed of properly. Placing hazardous materials or used electronics in your black, blue, or green containers can damage our environment and cause injury to the people who handle and process those containers. Examples of hazardous materials are:
The LA Sanitation and Environment website has information on how to properly handle and dispose of these materials.