Gray or Brown Lid Bin (Trash)
Place your can curbside by 6:00 a.m. on the day of collection. Keep it 3 feet away from other carts and 10 feet away from vehicles.
Accepted Items
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Ceramics and porcelain
- ✓Clothing and fabric
- ✓Diapers
- ✓Foil contaminated with food
- ✓Candy wrappers
Blue Lid Bin (Recycling)
Recyclables should be placed loose in the bin, never bagged. Ensure all boxes are fully flattened to save space.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard boxes (flattened)
- ✓Catalogs and magazines
- ✓Clean paper and newspaper
- ✓Empty plastic bottles
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags or film
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Mirrors and window glass
- ✕Diapers
- ✕Clothing
Yard Waste Bin
No plastic bags, palm fronds, bamboo, or yucca are allowed in the green waste cart as they damage processing machinery.
Accepted Items
- ✓Food scraps (meat, dairy, seafood)
- ✓Grass clippings and weeds
- ✓Tree trimmings
- ✓Paper tea bags and coffee filters
- ✓Wax-coated paper containers
- ✓Pizza boxes (torn into quarters)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Visalia does not offer free curbside bulk pickup. Residents receive up to 2 landfill vouchers per year and can attend multiple 'Dump On Us' events.
Placement
Materials must be hauled directly to the Visalia City Yard located at 335 N. Cain St. during scheduled Dump On Us events, typically from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Accepted
- ✓ Mattresses (limit 5 per DOU event)
- ✓ Tires without rims (limit 4 per DOU event)
- ✓ Electronic waste
- ✓ Large appliances (doors removed)
- ✓ Concrete
- ✓ Mixed plastics and metals
Not Accepted
- ✕ Box or moving trucks
- ✕ Commercial loads
- ✕ Hazardous waste (unless specifically designated)
- ✕ Explosives
Dump On Us events are free for Visalia residents. You must present a City of Visalia utility bill to prove residency at the gate.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
The City of Visalia provides service on or for all holidays. If a driver's holiday falls on a weekday, collections for the remainder of the week shift forward one day, with crews working on Saturday to make up the time.
Yard Waste Exception
Recycling and yard waste routes follow the exact same holiday shift schedule as regular garbage collections.
If a holiday falls on a Monday, drivers work Tuesday through Saturday. Always check the annual Holiday Schedule PDF on the city's website for exact dates.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Fibrous Plants Out of Green Waste
Unlike standard yard trimmings, palm fronds, bamboo, and yucca are extremely tough and fibrous. They easily wrap around and jam the city's green waste processing equipment. Always place these specific plants in your gray garbage can instead.
Mind the Spacing Gap
If your carts are placed too close together, the automated arm of the garbage truck cannot grab them safely. Always enforce the '3-Foot Rule' between bins and ensure they are at least 10 feet away from parked cars, trailers, and basketball hoops.
Say No to Tanglers
Keep hoses, cords, wires, and plastic bags out of your blue recycling cart. These items are 'tanglers' that wrap around the gears of the recycling facility's sorting machines, causing dangerous breakdowns and delays.
Seasonal Information
Summer
June to AugustSan Joaquin Valley summers can be brutally hot, causing organics carts to smell. Freeze your food scraps in a container during the week and dump them into your green lid can on the morning of your collection day to minimize odors and pests.
Winter
Late NovemberDuring Thanksgiving week, if your normal trash day is Thursday or Friday, your service will shift to Friday and Saturday respectively. Keep this in mind to avoid missed collections during the holiday cooking rush.
Fall
October to NovemberAs the leaves begin to fall, remember that your green yard waste bin is perfect for seasonal leaf cleanup. However, be sure not to pack the bin so tightly that the materials get stuck inside when the automated truck tips it over.
About Visalia Waste Management
Municipal Solid Waste Services in Visalia
Unlike many California cities that contract out their waste management, the City of Visalia's Solid Waste Division directly handles the collection of residential and commercial waste. By keeping operations in-house, Visalia ensures a cost-effective, standardized weekly collection system. Each household is provided with a set of three carts—for garbage, recycling, and yard waste—serviced efficiently by advanced, automated garbage trucks.
Navigating SB 1383 Organics Recycling
In compliance with California’s SB 1383 mandate to reduce short-lived climate pollutants, Visalia residents are required to separate all organic waste from standard trash. Your green-lidded organics cart is designed for much more than just grass clippings. It is the designated bin for food scraps, meat, dairy, pizza boxes, and wax-coated paper. Diverting these materials from the Tulare County landfill significantly cuts down on harmful greenhouse gas emissions.
The Popular 'Dump On Us' Events
Instead of traditional curbside bulk pickup, the City of Visalia hosts highly popular 'Dump On Us' (DOU) events at the Visalia City Yard on North Cain Street. These drive-through events allow residents to drop off bulky items, e-waste, mattresses, and scrap metal completely free of charge. The city diverts an impressive 75% of the collected materials at these events away from the landfill through robust local recycling partnerships.
Free Compost for Visalia Gardeners
A unique perk of the Visalia waste program is the free compost giveaway during the Dump On Us events. The compost is generated locally from the residential and commercial green waste collected throughout the city. Residents are encouraged to bring their own bags and shovels to take home nutrient-rich compost, which helps conserve water and promotes healthier soil in Central Valley gardens.
Mastering Cart Spacing Requirements
Because Visalia utilizes highly automated collection trucks equipped with mechanical arms, proper cart placement is essential. Cans must be placed within one foot of the curb and spaced exactly three feet apart from one another. Furthermore, the city requires a 10-foot clearance from parked cars, boats, trailers, and basketball hoops to ensure safe and efficient pickup without property damage.
Drop-off Facilities
Visalia City Yard (Dump On Us Location)
335 N. Cain St., Visalia, CA 93292
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get rid of bulky items like couches or mattresses in Visalia?
The City of Visalia does not offer standard curbside bulk pickup. Instead, residents can take advantage of free 'Dump On Us' drop-off events held at the Visalia City Yard (335 N. Cain St.) several times a year. Alternatively, residents can pick up two free landfill vouchers per year from the city office at 707 W Acequia Ave.
Where do I put my food scraps to comply with SB 1383?
All food waste, including meat, dairy, bones, and food-soiled wax paper or pizza boxes, must go into your green-lidded organics/yard waste cart. Do not place them in the garbage or in plastic bags.
What is the proper way to place my trash cans on the street?
Visalia uses automated trucks, so correct placement is crucial. Set your cans in the street, within one foot of the curb, by 6:00 a.m. Cans must be at least 3 feet apart from each other and 10 feet away from parked cars, boats, and basketball hoops with 15 feet of overhead clearance.
What items are strictly prohibited in the green organics cart?
While the green cart accepts most yard waste and food scraps, you must never include palm fronds, bamboo, or yucca, as these tough plants damage the composting machinery. Plastic bags, pet waste, and treated wood are also prohibited.