Turlock, CA Trash & Recycling: Mandatory Organics Recycling (2026)

Organic waste recycling is mandatory in the City of Turlock under California's SB 1383 (the Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Act) and TMC Chapter 6-3. The City's solid-waste newsletter states plainly: 'California State Law (SB 1383) and City Municipal Code now require residents to separate their organic waste (yard waste like grass clippings, leaves, branches and food waste) from their regular garbage.' Residents use the green 95-gallon cart for all plant debris, food wastes, and food-soiled paper, collected weekly by Turlock Scavenger. The City Council incorporated SB 1383 requirements into the Municipal Code with the ordinance required to be adopted and enforced by January 1, 2022. As a city of roughly 72,700 people, Turlock exceeds the population threshold for any rural exemption, so the mandate applies citywide. SB 1383 obligations also reach businesses: commercial and multifamily (5+ unit) generators producing two cubic yards or more of waste per week must subscribe to organics service, and large food-generating businesses such as supermarkets and wholesale food distributors must contract with edible-food-recovery organizations to donate surplus edible food. The hauler conducts periodic random container inspections for contamination and annual resident audits. Sign up or ask questions via Turlock Scavenger at 209-668-7274; statewide rules are administered by CalRecycle.