Universal Waste Systems Inc. is one of the largest family owned and operated companies in Southern California. UWS is equipped to provide the services needed to all account types both commercial and residential. We are currently servicing offices, studios, shopping centers, apartments, hotels, construction sites, schools, service station, restaurants and manufacturing facilities.
Universal Waste Systems Inc. is a family owned and operated company with 3 generations working together with over 120 years' experience combined. Universal Waste Systems Inc. was founded in 1986 and today is one of the largest family owned and operated companies in Southern California. Our business model is simple customers are always # 1, we pride ourselves on excellent customer service and a hands on management approach.
Universal Waste Systems Inc. is a family owned and operated company with 3 generations working together with over 120 years' experience combined. Universal Waste Systems Inc. was founded in 1986 and today is one of the largest family owned and operated companies in Southern California. Our business model is simple customers are always # 1, we pride ourselves on excellent customer service and a hands on management approach.
Services
Universal Waste Systems Inc. has been servicing Los Angeles County since 1986. President Mark Blackburn has been in the waste industry for over 35 years, and is President of the Los Angeles County Disposal Association. Universal Waste Systems Inc. is one of the largest locally family owned and operated company in Los Angeles County.
No matter the size of your company or the size of your waste, we know that each business has different needs. We provide different containers and dumpsters that are able to fit your unique situation. Our reliable team is there to help throughout the entire process from setup to pick-up. We provide commercial waste and recycling services for office building, manufacturing facilities, hospitals, restaurants, and much more.
It requires all and any business, and that includes public entities, that generates four cubic yards or more of commercial solid waste per week, to arrange for recycling services with their waste hauler. As your local service provider, UWS complies with all applicable laws and provides this service to all businesses that fall under these new rules.
Recycling helps reduce the negative effect that our waste has on the environment, in the meantime, our team helps reduce the amount of time you spend thinking about waste. Since recycling relies on everyone to do their part, our team will help you develop processes that will lead to a more seamless procedure for your multi-family unit.
Standard portable toilets or basic portable restrooms are the right choice when an economical solution is needed for liquid waste management and handling. We keep our standard portable bathroom in good condition, and we'll work with you to set up a plan that keeps them well-maintained and easy to use.
Reviews (23)
Debby Acero
Jan 09, 2022
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They leave trash thrown in the street don’t always dump the trash . Yes it’s a hard job. My husband worked for trash company 25 years before it was automated. If you are late on bill within the 3 months of service they try to charge 25 plus late fee and don’t give credit for not picking it up. We used to have a choice of companies. But somebody made the decision for us to pick this lousy company. Palm greasing I guess. Especially Whittier unincorporated whoever made the decision for us that’s why they treat u so badly they know we don’t have options.
Marshall Dick
Nov 21, 2021
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What a bunch of complainers on here. Why don’t you try taking your own trash to the landfill if it’s so easy. These trash workers get up everyday and work hard to remove your unwanted/discarded items. Most of the people complaining on here wouldn’t last a week doing this kind of work, probably end up crashing the trash truck on day one😂. I hope, for all of these privileged people, that the trash workers keep working and don’t abandon these ungrateful consumers to be buried in their own filth.
Advocatus Leonibus
Nov 20, 2021
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The guys who do ghe p seem to mbe ok, but the office coordination with scheduling bulky or extra items is whack. We used to have 2 bins until one got completely destroyed by their own equipment and they didn't replace it. Have called amd emailed multiple times to get it and now the remaining one replaced as well because gorilla tape is all that is keeping it together. Despite the neighbors across the street and next door getting new bins on separate occassions, our now fourgh appointment window is closing with nothing to show again....
And WHY would they make the handle of these things just the
And WHY would they make the handle of these things just the
Fran Rios
Jun 24, 2021
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I have to agree with many of the reviews here. This company is one of the worse waste disposal companies. When Los Angeles change companies, this is what we received. It took months before we were able to get a new waste can, so what we did, they only got paid for the ones we had. And we told them that we would not pay the late fees either. it worked. They get the trash cans, but if something falls to the ground, they just leave it there. They get paid for pick up, so if it falls out of the trash can, then get out and pick it up!!!! These companies are only about the money, they don't care about
DeVorah Johnsen
Jun 18, 2021
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Jonathan DeCastro
May 26, 2021
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I had my 87 year old mother out to the crabpot in seal beach for dinne on saturday may 29, 2021. We were in the parking lot which was one way and trying to get out. This company blocked the driveway and refused to let us out. He parked and put his feet out the window like it was a stand off or something. We were devastated and had.absolutelty no clue how we would get out until a customer told us there was anothee exit. It was traumatic and my poor mother with alzheimers was acting out and confused. Next time this happen I will contact the police department. They were coming in the wrong direction
Frankie T.
Apr 14, 2021
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Suzan Blankenship
Mar 23, 2021
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Critical: Quality, Responsiveness, Value
This is the worst company ever. Their driver on 12/4/2020 put our recycle bin in his truck and drove away. We have been waiting for 15 weeks to get it replaced. I have called twice a week since, and spoken to many different Customers Service personnel, that have all lied about when it will be replaced.
This is the worst company ever. Their driver on 12/4/2020 put our recycle bin in his truck and drove away. We have been waiting for 15 weeks to get it replaced. I have called twice a week since, and spoken to many different Customers Service personnel, that have all lied about when it will be replaced.
Jason G.
Dec 15, 2020
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Office staff has the worst telephone and customer service skills. Drivers are crooked! They won't take a bin of mine because the lid was slightly open, but will take a bribe to dump a day cares Blue, Green, and 2 Blackbird full of trash! I hope they loose their contract and L.A. County gets another company!
Monique M.
Nov 26, 2020
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Trash did not get pick up on the scheduled day multiple times. Reported to the company next days a few times throughout the day, but Amanda insisted that drivers have time until 6pm. 6AM following day, trash still did not get pick up and here we are stuck with full trash bin over Thanksgiving LONG holidays for UNIVERSAL WASTE SYSTEMS. Messy pick up trash company ever and always spill trash on the street.
Jae B.
Nov 17, 2020
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Jennie G.
Sep 03, 2020
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Today the person who picks up my trash crushed my yard waist trash can , left it on the floor crushed and did not hesitate on picking up the trash or my container he left half inside and on the floor. I called to inform them and the person who answered stated they will contact me later and still no call back today horrible service .
Motomonk
Jul 29, 2020
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As a former employee, they are currently involved in 3 lawsuits. One of which an employee died because the company did not want to pay to have conditioning fixed. Management, HR, and the owner knew about it but saving money is all that matters. Also, they have been removing overtime hours and normal hours for years. The lack of safety equipment that deals with HIV needles in some of the trucks has been zero. Some of the employees are illegal immigrants which would explain why they did what they did.
Terence Neill
Jul 14, 2020
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This is a horrible, rotten company and their customer service is horrendous. They will straight out lie to you that they will do something ( an un-emptied bin that you need them to return to empty, a large order pick up that you had scheduled etc..) and will never fulfill the request. How they were rewarded the license to serve is beyond belief I literally despise this company. The only thing they are capable of doing is sending their bill to be paid.
Not enough words to describe my loathing of UWS.
Not enough words to describe my loathing of UWS.
Stephanie G.
Jun 21, 2020
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I had the worst experience with this company this week! Only 70% of the waste came out of my trash can so I called them and they told me to leave my trash at the street and that they would be back to empty it out. When they didn't show, I called the next day. I was treated so rudely and was told that I had my trash dumped and the driver said he had talked to me (which is a lie) and that I had just added more trash to my can and that they would not be back. They would not remedy the situation and let me know if I put out extra trash the following week, they wouldn't pick my trash up at
Tebo L.
Jun 08, 2020
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Their drivers have zero integrity. Remember all those paper, cans, and bottles that you separated each week? Guess what! Their drivers don't give a damn and mix up black (trash) and blue (recycling) bin together in the same truck so that they can save a trip and get off work early. When you call them up, they have the guts to lie to your face saying their truck is somehow specialized and can take both. City needs to audit this commpany for their shady practice.
Sandy C.
Dec 21, 2019
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Kaitlyn E.
Oct 26, 2019
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Can I do no stars at all? This is one of THE WORST company customer service I have ever dealt with. The garbage men did not pick up our trash, again, and when we called to find out why the lady we spoke to said sorry and if it wasn't picked up by 6 pm it would be picked up on Monday. She could not even come up with a reason why our trash wasn't picked up. That is absolutely ridiculous. We always pay our bill on time, early even, and the men pick up everyone else's trash and always leave ours behind. Our bin is not in an inconvenient location and we have never been rude to them. Our
Cole D.
Jun 07, 2019
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Just a friendly reminder that RecycLA has been a failure, and every apartment and business in LA City has had their trash bills increased by 200-500% while simultaneously receiving poor, unaccountable service.
Also a reminder that UWS is the most absolute garbage company (pun emphasized) that has missed over 8 pickups at my business, throws my dumpster wherever the hell it lands like a bowling ball when they empty it, and hires some of the most immature and wreckless employees ever.
Remember to purge your local City Council and Garcetti in the next election! Don't forget to register!
Also a reminder that UWS is the most absolute garbage company (pun emphasized) that has missed over 8 pickups at my business, throws my dumpster wherever the hell it lands like a bowling ball when they empty it, and hires some of the most immature and wreckless employees ever.
Remember to purge your local City Council and Garcetti in the next election! Don't forget to register!
Yani E.
Apr 04, 2019
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Steve M.
Jul 18, 2018
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This is by far the worst trash company we have used. You pay the bill on time and they don't even pick up the trash when they are suppose to. I advise the supervisor in charge (Lilly) about the concern i had of them not picking up some of the trash when they are suppose to as it has happen more than 5 times. Her response was ( u never called more than 5 times) with a bad attitude and arguing with me as If I am the liar and this is my fault. This customer service is unacceptable and will make sure someone their knows how customers are being treated as it shows in their yelp review. Will not
Jeffery H.
Jul 16, 2018
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It's now been TWO weeks and UWS has skipped picking up our recycling for the second time, and that makes it a total of NINE times that they've skipped us since we moved here in 2014.
My wife and I are thinking of maybe putting the big bin in our van, driving over to UWS and just dumping the recycling on their property, maybe even in the lobby, since we've run out of room and we have recycling coming out of our ears at this point.
As you probably know, UWS has the WORST customer ratings in the entire city. Hundreds of 1 star reviews from people who get NO response from their horrible
My wife and I are thinking of maybe putting the big bin in our van, driving over to UWS and just dumping the recycling on their property, maybe even in the lobby, since we've run out of room and we have recycling coming out of our ears at this point.
As you probably know, UWS has the WORST customer ratings in the entire city. Hundreds of 1 star reviews from people who get NO response from their horrible
Zvoovie F.
May 02, 2018
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Reviewing Dumpster Rental Only -
This company is our county contracted residential trash pick up and I am pleased with their service and reliability (4 stars pleased)- no complaints on that front at all.
Their dumpster rental, however, is a very different story. Last summer we had work done on the house and I rented 3 dumpsters. The folks picking up and dropping off were fine - the back office tactics and service were abominable.
They have the shadiest billing practices I have ever experienced. I was charged 4 separate times for "extra" charges on 3 rentals (over weight, extended
This company is our county contracted residential trash pick up and I am pleased with their service and reliability (4 stars pleased)- no complaints on that front at all.
Their dumpster rental, however, is a very different story. Last summer we had work done on the house and I rented 3 dumpsters. The folks picking up and dropping off were fine - the back office tactics and service were abominable.
They have the shadiest billing practices I have ever experienced. I was charged 4 separate times for "extra" charges on 3 rentals (over weight, extended
