Tulare County, CA Trash & Recycling: Recycling Requirements (2026)

Article 13 of the Ordinance Code's Chapter 3 makes curbside recycling mandatory, not optional, for households in the unincorporated area; addresses in Visalia, the city of Tulare, Porterville, Dinuba or any other incorporated city are covered by that city's own program instead. Under § 4-03-1635(b), Single-Family Organic Waste Generators must participate in the county's collection service by placing designated materials in designated containers, choosing either Option 1a or 1b for how food waste is split between the Green and Blue Containers. The Blue Container is reserved solely for Recyclable material: no organic waste and no nonrecyclable trash is permitted in it.

Generators may skip subscribing only if the Solid Waste Director has granted a waiver under § 4-03-1645; otherwise the county can review the number and size of a household's containers and require the resident to adjust its service level. Placing a Prohibited Container Contaminant, meaning garbage or organics, in the recycling cart is declared unlawful by § 4-03-1635(b)(2) and can subject the generator to a contamination processing fee or an Enforcement Action under § 4-03-1675. The Solid Waste Department, through the Solid Waste Director or a designee, monitors compliance through route reviews, inspections and complaint investigations, though inspectors may not enter the interior of a private residence.

A cart-tag notice is issued the first time contamination is found; after three consecutive contaminated collections the county or its franchise hauler may begin assessing a contamination fee. For every other violation, the county issues a written Notice of Violation giving the resident 60 days to come into compliance before an administrative citation and fine can follow.