City of Monrovia

Illegal Dumping

Do you see an illegally dumped or abandoned bulky item on public property? Help us keep Monrovia beautiful and report it! Report an illegally dumped item online

More Information?

For more information about illegal dumping, visit our Illegal Dumping page.

Waste Reduction & Composting

 When you think of the global climate crisis, what do you think? Do you think, "Maybe I should drive less or turn off the lights in my home?" Those could be good ideas, but did you know that reducing your waste can also make a major impact on global greenhouse gas emissions? According the CalRecycle, waste in landfills produces 20% of the state’s methane, a pollutant 84 times more potent that carbon dioxide.

It makes you think, what did I throw away today? Coffee cup, stirrers, Ziploc bag, plastic utensils, napkins, paper, plastic bags…. The list goes on, and that’s not even the tip of the iceberg. But it doesn’t have to be this way. One of the biggest misconceptions of helping reduce waste is that you have to do it perfectly or not at all. Let’s ditch that thinking!

Whether it be ditching the plastic bag for a reusable tote, a one-time use Ziploc for a reusable container, a plastic waste bottle for a reusable water bottle, or ditching the black bin for the compost bin!

More Information? 

For more information on anything related to composting and waste reduction, visit our SB 1383 Organics Recycling page. 

Rain or shine, drought or monsoon, the time is always right to save energy, water, and money on utility bills.  Luckily, there are a number of local resources for Monrovia residents interested in learning ways to conserve water and energy.  Below is a list of programs and websites that can provide conservation ideas, resources and opportunities.

Local Energy Efficiency and Water Conservation Resources

This program is only available to professional gardeners and landscapers who live and work within the South Coast AQMD's 4-county jurisdiction.  This includes most of Los Angeles County (excluding the Antelope Valley), all of Orange County, almost all of Riverside County, and the non-desert portion of San Bernardino County.

Click here to learn more about the Lawn Mower and Leaf Blower Programs.

• Leaf Blower Exchange Brochure

After a rainstorm, have you ever watched a leaf float down the gutter and out of sight? Have you ever wondered where it goes? Well, a leaf or anything else that goes into a storm water drain in Monrovia can make an incredible journey all the way to the Pacific Ocean. The leaf using the long and complex storm drain system can be carried by rainwater away from our homes, streets and businesses.

Unlike the sewer system, which carries water from indoor drains to water treatment plants, the storm water drain system releases water into the ocean untreated. This means any trash or hazardous chemicals which are dumped into the storm drain system in Monrovia can pollute our important water resources, beaches and marine wildlife along the coast. Urban runoff pollution contaminates the ocean, closes beaches, harms aquatic life and increases the risk of inland flooding by clogging gutters and catch basins. 100 million gallons of polluted urban runoff enters the Pacific Ocean untreated each day, leaving toxic chemicals in our surf and tons of trash on our beaches.

What can you do to prevent storm water pollution?

• Perform routine maintenance on vehicles to prevent leaks from oil and other car fluids.
• Keep absorbent materials handy to allow prompt cleanup of all spills. Don't hose down oil spills into gutters or drains.
• Wash vehicles with biodegradable, phosphate-free detergents. Use a bucket (not a running hose) to wash and rinse your car to conserve water.
• Properly dispose of used oil, hydraulic transmission, and radiator fluids at a Household Hazardous Waste Facility.
• Don't blow or rake leaves into streets, gutters, or storm drains.
• Use organic or non-toxic fertilizers. Don't over fertilize and don't fertilize near ditches, streams, or other water bodies.
• Use non-toxic pesticide alternatives whenever possible.
• Never clean paintbrushes or rinse paint containers into a street, gutter, or storm drain.

State and Local Stormwater Requirements

On November 8, 2012 the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Permit (MS4 Permit) for the County of Los Angeles was adopted, and the permit became effective on December 28, 2012.  The MS4 Permit incorporates several existing and new provisions in which the city is required to comply. To fulfill the requirements of the MS4 Permit, the City of Monrovia is a participant in the Rio Hondo/San Gabriel River Water Quality Group comprised of the cities of Arcadia, Bradbury, Duarte, Monrovia, Sierra Madre and the County of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles County Flood Control District.

Visit the California Water Boards-Los Angeles (Region 4) Rio Hondo/San Gabriel River Watershed Management Group website for documents pertaining to the MS4 Permit.

If you have any questions regarding Monrovia's Stormwater Program, please contact the Public Services Department at (626) 932-5575.

About Expanded Polystyrene

Styrofoam is made up of expanded polystyrene, a naturally transparent thermoplastic and is ranked by the Environmental Service Protection as one of the most hazardous material created due to its toxicity and inability to be recycled. Products containing expanded polystyrene can be identified with the number “6” on the bottom.  

The City of Monrovia has over 150 food services establishments and Styrofoam is one of the most commonly used packaging material for take-out containers, bowls, plates, hot cups, and other food and beverage storage items. However, the material cannot be recycled, resulting in more harmful waste in our environment.   

Expanded Polystyrene's Effects on the Environment  

Expanded polystyrene food packaging is not biodegradable, compostable, or recyclable. It makes-up almost 80 percent of litter found in our bodies of water worldwide. 

Expanded polystyrene ends up as litter in our open spaces and bodies of water, and breaks down into small toxic pieces that our wildlife consume.  

It has been estimated that 165,00 tons of expanded polystyrene is used each year for packaging and food service purposes alone, with no meaningful recycling. Due to its inability to decompose, expanded polystyrene waste is consuming an ever increasing amount of space within landfill facilities.

Expanded Polystyrene in Monrovia  

With over 150 restaurants in Monrovia, we can collectively make a significant contribution to preserve our streets and open spaces by switching to alternative food packaging products.

What can you do to reduce polystyrene use?

• As a resident, avoid buying any product that is marked with the number “6” recycling number.  
• As business owners, contact your food packaging distributor about alternatives to expanded polystyrene food packaging, and consider switching to the following: 

• aluminum 
• coated and uncoated paper
• any other plastic besides styrofoam 

Resources for Environmentally Acceptable Food Packaging:

• American Paper & Plastics Inc.
• Cater Green  
• Enviroware
• Goldberg and Solovy Foods, Inc.
• Greengood/Eco-tech
• Pak West Paper