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Trash & Recycling in Turlock, CA (2026)

6 verified trash & recycling rules for Turlock, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Recycling Requirements

Turlock requires households and businesses to keep recyclables source-separated in a city-supplied container and set it at the curb on the scheduled pickup day, with contamination risking a fee or skipped collection.

Turlock Curbside Recycling Requirements

Some Restrictions

Turlock Municipal Code § 6-3-108(a)(3)

Place garbage containers, recycling containers, and compost containers on the curb on the day specified for collection, unless a waiver has been granted by the Municipal Services Director pursuant to this chapter. Containers shall be placed in front of the premises in a location reasonably convenient for semiautomated or automated collection. The only exception would be if generator has reached...

Mandatory Organics Recycling

Every Turlock home and business must sort food scraps and other organic waste into the green compost container: mixing organics into the garbage container violates the city's SB 1383 compliance ordinance.

Turlock Mandatory Organics Separation Rule

Some Restrictions

Turlock Municipal Code § 6-3-108(a)(2)

Generators shall place source separated organic waste, including food waste, in the compost container; source separated recyclable materials in the recycling container; and garbage container waste (garbage) in the garbage container. Generators shall not place materials designated for the garbage container in the compost container or the recycling container. (3) Place garbage containers, recy...

Illegal Dumping

Dumping garbage, organic waste, or recyclables on city property or in someone else's collection container is banned outright in Turlock, with fines escalating up to $250 per infraction and misdemeanor charges for repeat offenders.

Turlock Illegal Dumping Ban and Fines

Heavy Restrictions

Turlock Municipal Code § 6-3-103

No person shall dump, deposit, place, cause, or assist in the dumping, depositing, or placing, upon City of Turlock property, or any portion thereof, or in any City of Turlock garbage, compost or recycling container, any garbage or industrial refuse, organic waste, or recyclable materials as those terms are commonly known, used, or defined in this chapter. (b) No person shall dump, deposit o...

Yard Waste Collection

Turlock residents put grass clippings, branches, and other yard waste in the green compost container, capped at 150 pounds and 4-foot lengths per load under the city's organics rule.

Turlock Yard Waste Compost Container Limits

Some Restrictions

Turlock Municipal Code § 6-3-108(a)(5)

The gross weight of any one (1) compost container shall not be in excess of one hundred fifty (150) pounds. The maximum length of any item placed in a compost container shall be four (4') feet. (6) No person shall tamper with, modify, remove from, or deposit solid waste in any container which has not been provided for their use without the permission of the container owner. (7) It shall b...

Dumpster Rules

New multifamily, commercial, and industrial trash and recycling enclosures in Turlock can't sit in a front or corner side yard, and need 10-to-15-foot setbacks near residential zoning.

Turlock Trash Enclosure Setback Rules

Some Restrictions

Turlock Municipal Code § 9-2-115(c)(3)

No recycling or trash enclosures shall be located in any front or corner side yard. When located on a property in an R district or on a property abutting an R district, a minimum setback shall be provided as follows: front yard and corner side yard: fifteen (15') feet; rear yard: fifteen (15') feet; side yard: ten (10') feet. (4) Deviation from standards. The Development Services Director ma...

Collection Schedule

Every Turlock home and business must subscribe to city trash, recycling, and compost collection and pay for it even if unused, with pickup guaranteed at least four times a month.

Turlock Mandatory Trash Collection Service

Some Restrictions

Turlock Municipal Code § 6-3-104(a)

Every single-family premises or commercial business (throughout this chapter, commercial business includes multifamily residential dwellings of five (5) or more units, unless otherwise excluded) in the City shall be required to subscribe with the franchised collector(s) for garbage container, recycling container, and compost container collection; comply with the relevant sections of this chapte...

Looking for Stanislaus County county-wide rules?

County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Turlock city rules.

Trash & Recycling in Stanislaus County