Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Porterville
Trash Day
Trash (black can) is collected on Thursdays for Zones 1 and 2, and on Fridays for Zones 3 and 4.
Recycling
Recycling (blue can) is collected on Mondays for Zones 1 and 4, Tuesdays for Zone 3, and Wednesdays for Zone 2.
Yard Waste
Yard waste (green can) is collected on Tuesdays for Zones 1 and 2, and Wednesdays for Zones 3 and 4.
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Refuse and recycling charges are billed monthly alongside city water and sewer services on your municipal utility statement.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Phone, Mail, In-Person
Black Bin (Trash)
Place container at the curb by 6:00 AM on your scheduled collection day. The lid must be completely closed. Keep the container 3 to 5 feet away from cars, mailboxes, and fences.
Accepted Items
- ✓Household trash
- ✓Plastic bags
- ✓Chip bags and candy wrappers
- ✓Clothing and fabric
- ✓Styrofoam
- ✓Foil pouches and juice boxes
- ✓Porcelain, china, and ceramics
Blue Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables can be mixed together loosely in the Blue Can. Flatten all cardboard boxes and empty/rinse containers before disposal.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics #1 through #7 (beverage bottles, detergent jugs)
- ✓Glass jars and bottles (all colors)
- ✓Steel and tin cans
- ✓Aluminum cans and clean foil
- ✓Clean paper (newspaper, mail, magazines, phone books)
- ✓Cardboard and dry food boxes (flattened)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags
- ✕Food scraps
- ✕Pizza boxes (food or grease-soiled)
- ✕Light bulbs and mirrors
- ✕Window glass
- ✕Hazardous waste
Yard Waste Bin
Do NOT use plastic bags. All green waste and organics must be placed loosely inside the green cart. The lid must close completely.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves and lawn clippings
- ✓Small tree trimmings
- ✓Miscellaneous garden waste
- ✓Food waste and kitchen scraps
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
During City-sponsored clean-up events
Placement
During Community Clean-up events, residents must transport their bulky items directly to the City Corporation Yard. You must present a current City of Porterville refuse bill as proof of residency.
Accepted
- ✓ General bulky trash
- ✓ Wood waste
- ✓ Excess yard clippings
- ✓ Electronic waste (e-waste)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Dirt, sod, rock, and concrete
- ✕ Hot ashes
- ✕ Flammable materials and gasoline
- ✕ Household hazardous waste
Disposal of accepted large items during official City Clean-up events is free for verified residents.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a designated holiday falls on a weekday, refuse collections for the rest of the week will be pushed back one day (e.g., Thursday service moves to Friday). If the holiday falls on a weekend, there are no delays.
Yard Waste Exception
The one-day delay applies to all residential carts, including the blue recycling and green yard waste containers.
Carts must still be placed at the curbside by 6:00 AM on your adjusted holiday collection day.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Fall
OctoberPorterville typically hosts an annual Fall Community Clean-Up Event in October. Residents can bring general bulk trash, yard clippings, and e-waste to the Corporation Yard for free disposal with a current refuse bill.
Summer
JulyDuring the hot summer months, especially around the Fourth of July, expect a one-day delay in trash collection if the holiday falls on a weekday. Ensure all food waste in your green bin is kept dry to minimize pests and odors.
Local Tips & Community Info
Solid Waste Zones and Weekly Schedules
The City of Porterville’s Solid Waste Division is the primary entity overseeing residential refuse collection. To streamline operations, the municipal boundaries are split into four distinct collection zones, utilizing Highway 65 as the main geographical divider. Because each zone has a completely different weekly calendar, your specific days for emptying the Blue, Green, and Black cans will vary based on your home address. Residents who are uncertain about their specific zone assignment should consult the public works map or dial the Refuse Division directly for immediate clarification.
Strict Curbside Bin Placement Rules
Proper container placement is strictly enforced to ensure the automated collection trucks operate safely and effectively. Every bin must be rolled out to the curb by no later than 6:00 AM on its scheduled morning. The public works department requires residents to leave a minimum clearance of three to five feet between the bins and any obstacles, including parked cars, fences, and mailboxes. Furthermore, the lids on all cans must be fully closed before the truck arrives. If a bin is overfilled, improperly spaced, or not ready when the driver passes, it will be skipped, and returning for a delayed pickup will incur extra municipal fees.
Maximizing the Blue Can Recycling System
Porterville utilizes a straightforward, single-stream Blue Can system for household recyclables. Sorting is unnecessary, meaning you can place clean aluminum, tin, glass jars, paper products, and flattened cardboard directly into the same container. It is imperative to empty and rinse food containers before tossing them in to avoid attracting pests. Certain items strictly belong in the garbage; do not contaminate the Blue Can with styrofoam, soiled pizza boxes, light bulbs, or regular plastic grocery bags. If you have extra recyclables that exceed your bin's capacity, a free 24-hour drop-off center is accessible at the City Corporation Yard on North Prospect.
Organics Collection in the Green Can
California's aggressive waste reduction goals make the Green Can program a critical part of Porterville’s environmental strategy. This bin is reserved exclusively for organic material such as yard clippings, leaves, small branches, and food scraps. The most important rule to remember is that plastic bags of any kind are banned from the organics bin. Throwing dirt, rocks, or non-compostable trash into the Green Can causes severe contamination issues at the processing plant. If city inspectors find prohibited items inside, the container will be rejected at the curb, and the homeowner may face financial penalties.
Safe Drop-Offs for Hazardous Household Items
Highly flammable or toxic substances require specialized handling and are legally banned from all curbside collection containers. Never throw wet paint, gasoline, solvents, motor oil, or batteries into your household trash. To facilitate safe disposal, Porterville operates a dedicated Waste Collection Center. This facility opens specifically on the third Saturday of every month from 8:00 AM until noon, giving residents a compliant way to drop off household hazardous waste without endangering sanitation workers or the local environment.
Drop-off Facilities
Porterville Recycling Drop-Off Center
City Corporation Yard, 555 N. Prospect Street, Porterville, CA 93257
Materials Accepted
Porterville Waste Collection Center (HHW)
City Corporation Yard, 555 N. Prospect Street, Porterville, CA 93257
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What time should I put out my trash cans in Porterville?
All automated carts (black, blue, and green) must be placed at the curbside by 6:00 AM on your scheduled collection day. Ensure the lids are completely closed and keep them 3 to 5 feet away from parked cars, mailboxes, and fences.
Can I recycle plastic grocery bags in my Blue Can?
No. Plastic grocery bags and film are strictly prohibited from the blue recycling can because they tangle in the sorting machinery. You should return them to designated local retail drop-offs or throw them in the black trash can.
Where can I dispose of excess cardboard or large recyclables?
If your blue cart is full, Porterville offers a convenient 24-hour Recycling Drop-Off Center at the City Corporation Yard (555 N. Prospect Street). This self-serve location is free and designed specifically for residential bulk recyclables.
Does the City of Porterville offer free bulky item pickup?
Porterville does not offer standard free curbside bulk item pickup year-round. However, they host annual Community Clean-Up events (such as the Fall Clean-up in October) where residents can bring large items, e-waste, and wood waste to the Corporation Yard for free disposal.