Porterville, CA Trash & Recycling: Recycling Requirements (2026)

Municipal Code section 13-18 gives the city authority to 'establish a separate collection service for recyclable materials, including compostable wastes, and establish specific guidelines for such service,' as well as to create a permit system for anyone else collecting recyclables. Section 13-19 builds on that by requiring any person who wants to gather, collect, transport or otherwise dispose of recyclables to get a city recycling hauler permit; permits are nonexclusive, must specifically describe the type of recyclable material covered, and require an application and fee under guidelines the city manager sets.

The city manager can refuse to grant or renew a permit under section 13-20 if the proposed service is inconsistent with the chapter's diversion purpose in section 13-1 or does not serve the public interest, and a granted permit runs through the end of the calendar year and renews with the hauler's business license under section 13-21. Permittees must keep records for five years on material types, collection site locations and disposal destinations, and report that data to the city on request under section 13-22.

Chapter 13 separately protects the designated recycling stream: section 13-4(A)(3) makes it unlawful for anyone but the city or its designee to collect materials set aside for recycling, and section 13-4(A)(4) bars putting non-qualifying materials into recycling receptacles.