Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Turlock
Trash Day
Collection runs Monday through Friday depending on your neighborhood route. Residents can contact Turlock Scavenger at (209) 668-7274 to verify their specific service day.
Recycling
Collected weekly on your scheduled collection day in the blue cart.
Yard Waste
Collected weekly on your scheduled collection day in the green organics cart.
Set Out Time
By 5:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Garbage and recycling services are billed monthly through the City of Turlock bundled together with your city water and sewer utilities.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail, In-Person
Pro Tip / Discount
A Senior Citizen Discount on garbage service is available for residential account holders aged 65 and older.
Grey Bin (Trash)
Use the 95-gallon Grey Cart strictly for non-hazardous, non-recyclable refuse. All trash should be bagged, and the lid must close completely.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Diapers and pet waste
- ✓Styrofoam and packing peanuts
- ✓Chip bags and wrappers
- ✓Treated wood or heavily painted items
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Place all recyclables loosely inside the 94-gallon Blue Cart. Never bundle your recyclables inside plastic garbage bags, as they jam the sorting facility's equipment.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean cardboard and shipping boxes
- ✓Newspaper, junk mail, and magazines
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic grocery bags
- ✕Food waste and greasy pizza boxes
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Clothing and textiles
- ✕Electronic waste
Yard Waste Bin
The 95-gallon Green Cart is strictly for organic waste. Do not place plastic bags, dirt, rocks, concrete, or animal waste in this bin. Cart inspections are frequently conducted.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings and weeds
- ✓Leaves and small tree branches
- ✓Vegetable and fruit scraps
- ✓Coffee grounds
- ✓General yard trimmings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Up to two free bulky-item pickups per calendar year for qualifying residential households.
Placement
Items must be neatly placed at the curb by 5:00 A.M. on the scheduled morning of your pickup. Do not block sidewalks or street traffic.
Accepted
- ✓ Couches and large furniture
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Large appliances (without Freon)
- ✓ General household bulky items
Not Accepted
- ✕ Automobile parts and tires
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Dirt, concrete, and bricks
- ✕ Hazardous waste and wet paint
- ✕ Commercial landscaping waste
If you exceed your annual limit or have prohibited materials, you can haul items to the Turlock Transfer Station where solid waste drop-offs start at a $40 minimum, with a $10 fee for mattresses.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When a major holiday falls on a weekday, collection services for that day and the remainder of the week are typically delayed by one day, with Friday routes being serviced on Saturday.
Yard Waste Exception
Your Blue recycling and Green organics carts follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as your Grey trash cart.
Most minor holidays do not affect the collection schedule. Always ensure your carts are at the curb by 5:00 A.M. to avoid missed pickups during holiday shifts.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Winter
November to FebruaryThe City of Turlock operates its Leaf Pickup Program. After filling your Green cart, excess leaves can be raked into unbagged, loose piles in the street exactly 18 inches from the curb for specialized vacuum trucks.
Post-Holiday
December 26 to January 31Turlock Scavenger offers free curbside pickup for live Christmas trees. Place the unornamented tree at the gutter on your normal collection day, and a separate truck will collect it.
Local Tips & Community Info
Introduction to Turlock Scavenger Operations
Waste management and refuse collection in the City of Turlock are efficiently operated by Turlock Scavenger. Since pioneering automated side-loader pickups in the 1990s, the local hauler has maintained a commitment to keeping neighborhoods spotless and reducing environmental impact through clean-energy trucks. Every residential household is provided with a standard automated three-cart bundle to separate their weekly waste. To find out your specific neighborhood service day, residents are encouraged to reach out to Turlock Scavenger's main office directly via phone or email.
Strict Cart Placement and Timing Regulations
When preparing for your weekly curbside collection, it is crucial to adhere to the city's precise spacing and timing rules. All refuse, recycling, and organic carts must be placed by the curb no later than 5:00 a.m. on the morning of your scheduled pickup. The placement geometry is equally important: carts must sit approximately 18 inches away from the curb edge, positioned at least two feet apart from one another, and kept a generous six feet away from any parked vehicles. Overfilling is strictly prohibited, meaning the lids must be completely closed. Furthermore, to maintain street aesthetics, carts cannot remain in public view for more than 24 hours after service.
Avoiding Contamination Penalties and Inspections
California State Law mandates strict adherence to organics and recycling diversion, and Turlock takes cart contamination seriously. Turlock Scavenger regularly conducts random cart inspections to ensure households are properly sorting their waste. If you place incorrect materials in your blue recycling or green organics carts more than three times within a twelve-month rolling period, the city will automatically upgrade your account to the most expensive, largest-capacity refuse tier. Continued violations will trigger specific contamination fines as outlined in the Turlock Municipal Code.
The Three-Cart System Breakdown
To help prevent hefty contamination fees, it is important to know exactly what goes into each container. Your Green Cart is meant solely for organic materials, which includes yard trimmings and all household food scraps, effectively diverting methane-producing waste from the landfill. The Blue Cart is reserved strictly for co-mingled clean recyclables like paper, cardboard, plastics, and glass. The final garbage cart is intended only for true solid waste that cannot be composted or recycled, such as pet waste, heavily soiled paper, and non-recyclable packaging.
Specialized Rates and Senior Citizen Discounts
The City of Turlock Finance Division, which handles the billing for Turlock Scavenger's services, offers financial relief for qualifying elderly residents. A specialized Senior Citizen Discount is available exclusively for the garbage portion of the utility bill. To qualify, the applicant must be at least 65 years of age, serve as the primary account holder, and reside full-time at the single-family property utilizing the standard 96-gallon garbage bundle. Interested seniors can submit an application along with a valid ID directly to the municipal finance office on South Broadway to secure this lower rate.
Drop-off Facilities
Turlock Transfer Station
1100 S Walnut Rd, Turlock, CA 95380
Materials Accepted
Stanislaus County Household Hazardous Waste Facility
1710 Morgan Rd, Modesto, CA 95358
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do I need to put my carts out for collection in Turlock?
Turlock Scavenger requires all three carts (Grey, Blue, and Green) to be placed at the curb by 5:00 A.M. on your scheduled collection day to guarantee service.
How do I get rid of an old mattress in Turlock?
Qualifying residents can utilize one of their two free annual bulky item pickups by calling Turlock Scavenger. Alternatively, you can self-haul the mattress to the Turlock Transfer Station on South Walnut Road for a $10 processing fee.
Are food scraps allowed in the Green yard waste cart?
Yes. To comply with California SB 1383, all organic waste—including kitchen food scraps, coffee grounds, and yard debris—must be placed in the Green Cart to divert it from the landfill and reduce methane emissions.
What should I do with extra leaves during the autumn drop?
During the City's Leaf Pickup Program (typically November to February), always fill your Green cart first. Any remaining overflow leaves can be placed in loose, unbagged piles in the street exactly 18 inches away from the curb for the city vacuum trucks.