Brown or Gray Bin (Trash)
Use this container only for non-hazardous, non-recyclable, and non-organic waste. Carts must be at the curb by 6:00 A.M.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Diapers and pet waste
- ✓Treated wood or heavily painted items
- ✓Styrofoam packing materials
- ✓Chip bags and non-recyclable plastics
Blue Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be placed loosely in the Blue cart. Absolutely no plastic bags should be used to bundle recyclables.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard boxes (must be flattened)
- ✓Clean paper, newspaper, and junk mail
- ✓Plastic detergent jugs and water bottles
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Food waste or greasy pizza boxes
- ✕Plastic shopping bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Clothing and textiles
- ✕Electronic waste
Yard Waste Bin
Do not put dirt, rocks, concrete, or animal waste in the Green bin. Contaminated organics bins will not be serviced.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and weeds
- ✓Leaves and small tree branches
- ✓Fruits, vegetables, and food scraps
- ✓Uncoated food-soiled paper (if approved by current city guidelines)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
No routine free curbside bulk pickup. The city provides Landfill Voucher Weeks three times a year for free disposal.
Placement
Temporary 3 CY bins can be placed on the street or on your driveway (driveway placement incurs an extra $20 fee). Must be removed or serviced within 30 days.
Accepted
- ✓ General junk (in rented bins)
- ✓ Mattresses (free drop-off at Corp Yard)
- ✓ E-waste (during bi-annual drop-off events)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous chemicals
- ✕ Heavy concrete, dirt, or roofing (unless renting a specific 10 CY heavy-duty roll-off)
A prepayment is required at City Hall (411 East Kern) before delivery. $77 for a 3 CY bin, or $251.53 for a larger 10-40 CY roll-off dumpster.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When an observed holiday falls on a weekday, trash and recycling services are generally pushed back one day for the remainder of that week. The city releases a specific printable holiday calendar annually.
Yard Waste Exception
The Green organics container and Blue recycling container follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as the standard Brown/Gray trash carts.
City Hall offices close on observed holidays. If a holiday lands on Saturday, offices close on Friday; if on Sunday, they close on Monday.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Flatten Your Cardboard
Cardboard boxes take up a massive amount of space and can wedge inside the Blue cart, preventing it from emptying fully when the automated arm tips it over. Always break down and flatten boxes completely.
Keep the Gutter Clear During Leaf Season
If you are utilizing the winter Leaf Vac program, do not blow or rake leaves directly into the street gutter. They must sit two feet away from the curb to allow stormwater to flow and prevent flooding.
Never Bag Your Recyclables
Keep materials loose in the Blue cart. Plastic garbage bags are the number one contaminant at the material recovery facility because they tangle in the sorting machinery, forcing the entire line to shut down.
Seasonal Information
Winter
Late November to Mid-JanuaryThe highly anticipated Leaf Vac program operates during this window. Remember that you must dial 559-684-4325 (press 9) to put your address on the active pickup list; the trucks will not collect unlisted piles.
Year-Round
VariousTulare offers 'Landfill Voucher Week' three times a year and 'Household Hazardous Waste Day' twice a year. Keep an eye on the city's utility billing inserts or social media to catch these exact dates.
About Tulare Waste Management
Navigating Tulare's Multi-Colored Bin System
The City of Tulare operates a comprehensive three-container automated residential pickup system. Depending on your neighborhood, your Blue (recycling) and Green (organics) carts will be serviced on either Monday or Tuesday, while your Brown or Gray (trash) carts are collected on Thursday or Friday. The city requires all carts to be wheeled to the curb prior to 6:00 A.M. on the day of service and removed by the end of that same day. Residents needing extra capacity can request additional bins for a monthly fee of $11.09.
Meeting California's Organic Waste Mandates
To comply with California Senate Bill 1383, the City of Tulare enforces strict rules regarding organic waste. All food scraps, yard clippings, and biodegradable organic materials must be placed in the Green 96-gallon container. It is absolutely critical that zero standard household trash ends up in the organics bin. For residents who produce heavy yard debris, ensuring the lid remains fully closed is required to maintain efficient automated lifting by the sanitation trucks.
Temporary Bins and Landfill Vouchers for Big Cleanups
Unlike some municipalities that offer routine curbside bulky item pickups, Tulare takes a different approach. The city hosts a 'Landfill Voucher Week' three times a year, allowing residents to haul their large debris to the local dump at no cost. For immediate needs, residents can rent a 3-cubic-yard temporary bin directly from the city for $77 (which covers drop-off and one pull). If you're tackling concrete, dirt, or full home remodels, 10- to 40-cubic-yard roll-off dumpsters are also available starting with a $251.53 prepayment.
The Seasonal Leaf Vac Program
Tulare's Solid Waste Division provides a highly popular 'Leaf Vac' service designed to manage the massive autumn leaf drop. Running annually from the first Monday after Thanksgiving through the second Friday of January, homeowners can have large piles of leaves vacuumed directly from their street. To utilize this service, you must rake leaves into piles no wider than two feet and place them exactly two feet from the curb (not in the gutter). Additionally, residents must actively call the Solid Waste office to be placed on the pickup list.
Free Mattress and E-Waste Disposal Events
Keeping illegal dumping off Tulare's streets is a top priority. Through the statewide 'Bye Bye Mattress' program, residents can drop off old mattresses and box springs absolutely free at the City Corporation Yard on South K Street every Friday from 9:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. For old computers, TVs, and gadgets, the city also sponsors two dedicated E-Waste and paper shredding drop-off events annually, providing safe and secure disposal avenues.
Drop-off Facilities
Tulare Corporation Yard (Mattress Drop-Off)
3989 South K Street, Tulare, CA 93274
Materials Accepted
Tulare City Hall (Utility & Solid Waste Payments)
411 E Kern Ave, Tulare, CA 93274
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What time should I put my trash bins out in Tulare?
All containers (Blue, Green, and Brown/Gray) must be placed at the curb by 6:00 A.M. on your assigned service day. They must be removed from the street by the end of that same day.
Does Tulare offer a free curbside bulky item pickup?
No, Tulare does not offer a standard free curbside bulky pickup. However, the city hosts 'Landfill Voucher Week' three times a year for free disposal. For home cleanups, you can rent a temporary 3-cubic-yard bin for $77.
How do I get on the list for the Leaf Vac Program?
Between late November and mid-January, you can have large piles of leaves vacuumed from your street. You must call 559-684-4325 and press 9 to put your address on the official pickup list.
Where can I recycle an old mattress for free?
Through the 'Bye Bye Mattress' program, Tulare residents can drop off old mattresses and box springs for free at the City Corporation Yard (3989 South K Street) every Friday from 9:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.