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
!Contamination Tips
Keep Recyclables Loose and Unbagged
Never put your recyclables in plastic garbage bags. The recycling facility cannot safely open bags on the fast-moving conveyor belts, meaning bagged recyclables are simply thrown away as trash.
Styrofoam is Always Trash
Despite having a recycling triangle on the bottom, Styrofoam (expanded polystyrene) is not accepted in Turlock's Blue recycling carts. It must go into your Grey trash cart or be taken to a specialized drop-off center.
Beware the Cart Inspectors
Under state law, Turlock Scavenger conducts random cart inspections to check for contamination. If you put trash in the Green or Blue cart, you will receive a violation tag and the cart may be left unserviced.
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.
About Turlock Waste Management
Mastering Turlock's Three-Cart System
Waste collection in Turlock is franchised through Turlock Scavenger, which utilizes a color-coded three-cart system to streamline neighborhood waste. Residents receive a Grey 95-gallon cart for general refuse, a Blue 94-gallon cart for loose recyclables, and a Green 95-gallon cart for garden refuse and organics. To ensure your route driver can safely service your home, always have your carts at the curb by 5:00 A.M. on your assigned pickup day, keeping them spaced adequately from parked cars and mailboxes.
California SB 1383 and Organics Recycling
In line with California's aggressive methane reduction goals, Turlock mandates that all residents separate their organic waste from regular garbage. This means that grass clippings, autumn leaves, and kitchen food scraps must go directly into the Green cart. Keeping these materials out of the local landfill helps significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Turlock Scavenger randomly inspects carts to ensure compliance, so properly separating organics is crucial to avoiding collection tags.
The Beloved City Leaf Pickup Program
Every winter, typically from early November through early February, the City of Turlock rolls out its popular Leaf Pickup Program. While you should always fill your Green cart first, the overflow leaves don't have to be a headache. Residents can rake extra leaves into loose, unbagged piles located precisely 18 inches from the curb. Just ensure no tree limbs or parked cars block the leaf piles, as the city deploys specialized sweepers across 10 designated collection zones.
Post-Holiday Christmas Tree Collection
Getting rid of a dry Christmas tree is incredibly easy in Turlock. Turlock Scavenger provides a free curbside collection service for live Christmas trees immediately following the holidays, usually running from December 26th through January 31st. Just strip the tree of all ornaments, tinsel, and stands, and place it near the gutter next to your carts the night before your standard pickup day. A separate specialized truck will swing by to responsibly recycle the tree.
Turlock Transfer Station and Bulky Waste
When a home renovation or spring cleaning yields more trash than your Grey cart can handle, the Turlock Transfer Station at 1100 South Walnut Road is your best local resource. Open Monday through Saturday, the facility accepts everything from construction demolition debris and old mattresses to green waste and e-waste. Qualifying residential customers can also schedule up to two free curbside bulky-item pickups per year through Turlock Scavenger by calling their customer service line.
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.