Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Visalia
Trash Day
Varies by neighborhood zone
Recycling
Varies by neighborhood zone (collected weekly on the same day as trash)
Yard Waste
Varies by neighborhood zone (collected weekly on a separate designated day)
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day (no earlier than 7:00 PM the evening before)
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Residential utility accounts in good standing can schedule up to three free curbside special bulk collections per 12-month period.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay (ACH), Mail, In Person, Phone, Drop Box
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
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.
Local Tips & Community Info
How Residential Garbage Collection Works in Visalia
Navigating waste disposal in Visalia is straightforward, as the city's Solid Waste Management Department directly handles residential pickups. Households are issued a three-cart system to seamlessly separate standard garbage, single-stream recyclables, and organic materials. Unlike many other municipalities that contract out entirely, Visalia manages its own fleet of automated collection trucks to keep neighborhoods clean. You are expected to roll your containers to the curb early on your scheduled morning to avoid missing the driver. If you happen to move into a newly built subdivision or just purchased your first home, contacting the local Public Works division will promptly get your property added to the routing schedule.
Golden Rules for Cart Spacing and Placement
Because the city utilizes advanced automated side-loading trucks, physical clearance around your bins is strictly enforced. Residents must ensure each cart is placed at least three feet apart from the next one. Furthermore, keep a generous ten-foot distance away from parked cars, basketball hoops, mailboxes, and low-hanging tree branches. If the driver's mechanical arm cannot safely reach your containers without risking property damage, your trash simply will not be collected that day. Always point the cart handles toward your house and ensure lids are fully closed to deter local pests and prevent litter from scattering across the San Joaquin Valley winds.
Making Sense of Single-Stream and Organics Sorting
Recycling is designed to be effortless for Visalia households thanks to a convenient single-stream system. You can confidently toss clean cardboard, junk mail, plastics, glass bottles, and metal cans directly into your designated recycling bin without any pre-sorting. However, remember to keep all recyclables loose inside the bin rather than bagging them in plastic grocery sacks. For your green organics cart, state mandates require all residents to dispose of yard trimmings, grass clippings, and kitchen food scraps in this specific container. Keeping organic matter and liquid contamination out of the standard landfill garbage helps the community meet California's aggressive climate and sustainability goals.
Handling Heavy Items and Medical Exemptions
Eventually, everyone needs to dispose of oversized waste like a broken mattress or outdated electronics. Instead of overstuffing your standard bins, Visalia residents can take advantage of regular Dump On Us events and designated e-waste drop-off locations to ethically recycle hazardous household items. If you have mobility issues or a medical condition that prevents you from wheeling heavy carts to the curb, the city offers a specialized Packout Application. Approved residents receive customized assistance where crews will collect the containers directly from the side of the house, provided they aren't locked behind tall fences or stored inside closed garages.
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.