Is Downey's trash service still CalMet?

No. Athens Services acquired CalMet Services and Downey's exclusive residential franchise was assigned to Athens effective April 1, 2022. Athens now provides residential collection in Downey.

Can you recycle plastic bags in Downey, CA?

Not in your blue cart. Bags and film wrap around the sorting equipment at the facility Athens Services uses, which is why they're excluded almost everywhere. Take clean, dry bags back to a grocery-store drop-off, or put them in your black cart.

What do I do with batteries in Downey, CA?

Batteries never go in any of your Downey, CA carts — not the blue cart, not the black cart. They're household hazardous waste and a genuine fire risk in the truck. Tape the terminals and take them to a local e-waste or household-hazardous-waste drop-off.

Recycling rules in Downey, CA

📍 Athens Services · 3-cart program

Who collects your recycling in Downey, CA

Residential curbside collection in Downey, CA is provided by Athens Services under an exclusive franchise, so every household on the route gets the same carts and the same accepted-items list. Households get three carts — a blue cart for recyclables, a green cart for food scraps and yard trimmings, and a black cart for everything else.

That third cart isn't optional: California's SB 1383 requires organic-waste collection statewide, which is why food scraps have their own cart here instead of going in the trash.

How recycling works in Downey, CA

Downey's residential collection runs on an exclusive city franchise, and the company behind it changed hands recently: Athens Services acquired CalMet Services — Downey's longtime hauler — and the franchise was assigned to Athens effective April 1, 2022. Longtime residents may still think of the service as CalMet, but the carts are Athens' today.

Downey is a three-cart city, as required statewide in California by SB 1383: recycling, organics (green), and trash.
Food scraps belong in the green organics cart alongside yard trimmings — not in the trash. This is the change SB 1383 brought to every California city.
The franchise is city-administered, so program details, rates, and bulky-item pickups are arranged through the City of Downey even though Athens operates the trucks.

Common mistakes in Downey, CA

Food waste in the black trash cart is the most common mistake in California cities post-SB 1383 — it belongs in the green cart.
Produce stickers and plastic produce bags don't belong in the organics cart; peel them off before scraps go in.

Sources: downeyca.org · athensservices.com · athensservices.com — checked 2026-08-22

The quick answer for Downey, CA

Plastic bottles & jugs	♻️ Blue cart	Empty; keep the cap on.
Aluminum & steel cans	♻️ Blue cart	Give them a rinse.
Flattened cardboard	♻️ Blue cart	Clean, dry sections only.
Glass bottles & jars	♻️ Blue cart	Lids off.
Food scraps	🌱 Green cart	Fruit, veg, leftovers, bones.
Greasy pizza box	🌱 Green cart	A clean box can be recycled instead.
Plastic bags & film	🗑️ Black cart	Store drop-off is better.
Batteries	⚠️ Hazardous	Never curbside — tape the terminals.

This is the short list. The full A–Z of what is and isn't recyclable is on what can I recycle? — or scan the item and get the answer for Downey, CA directly.

📷 Scan an item

Downey, CA recycling FAQ

Is Downey's trash service still CalMet?: No. Athens Services acquired CalMet Services and Downey's exclusive residential franchise was assigned to Athens effective April 1, 2022. Athens now provides residential collection in Downey.
Can you recycle plastic bags in Downey, CA?: Not in your blue cart. Bags and film wrap around the sorting equipment at the facility Athens Services uses, which is why they're excluded almost everywhere. Take clean, dry bags back to a grocery-store drop-off, or put them in your black cart.
What do I do with batteries in Downey, CA?: Batteries never go in any of your Downey, CA carts — not the blue cart, not the black cart. They're household hazardous waste and a genuine fire risk in the truck. Tape the terminals and take them to a local e-waste or household-hazardous-waste drop-off.

Popular item guides

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Still not sure?

Rules vary by material and by hauler, and the sorting line is strict — one wrong item can contaminate a whole load. When in doubt, point your camera at the item for a verdict, or check the official Athens Services guide.