Event Bin Rentals and Services

Planning an event in Santa Monica? The City provides event recycling, compost, and trash collection services to ensure maximum participation in recycling programs at your event.

Please note the City is unable to provide hauling services to any event with 1,500 or more attendees. These events need to use a private hauler, review list of City approved private haulers here.

Community events with 150 people or more (as defined in Code 4.68.040) operating in Santa Monica need to go through the special events permitting process and submit a completed zero waste plan to the Resource Recovery and Recycling Division for Approval. 

If your event needs a special event permit, make sure to review the zero waste requirements your event will need to adhere to. This might impact the type of waste service you will be required to subscribe to.

Services and Fees

The City of Santa Monica offers a variety of containers to collect materials generated by your event. City staff will help event planners estimate the appropriate number and type of containers needed to ensure they are in compliance with the City’s Mandatory Recycling Ordinance.

Please note that ordering event hauling services from the City results in a onetime event coordination fee of $306.73 in addition to the cost of the container rental. Payment for all services must be made no less than two weeks prior to event. Failure to do so will result in requiring the use of a City approved private hauler. 

See below for a list of our event bins and services:

• Trash, Recycling, and Compost Bins (Dumpsters):  All event bins come with locks to prevent outside contamination or use. Bins are only delivered and serviced on weekdays. Trash and recycling bins come in 2 or 3-yard size options with no change in price. Compost bins only come in the 2-yard option. The event bin rental includes one dump (per bin). Additional servicing throughout the rental will incur additional costs and must be purchased and scheduled two weeks prior to the event. 
• Trash, Recycling, and Compost Carts: Carts do not come with locks. Delivery and service of carts are available on weekdays or weekends. The carts are 95-gallon in size. The event cart rental includes one dump (per bin). Additional servicing throughout the rental will incur additional costs and must be purchased and scheduled two weeks prior to the event. 

See the fee table below for details on costs related to event bin rentals.