Turlock, CA Trash & Recycling: Yard Waste Collection (2026)
Key Facts
- Weight limit
- 150 pounds per compost container
- Length limit
- 4 feet maximum per item
- Governing section
- TMC § 6-3-108(a)(5)
- Container
- Green compost/organics container
- Covers
- Grass, branches, shrubbery, lawn trimmings
Summary
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.
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 be the responsibility of the single-family resident or commercial business whose garbage container, compost container, or recycling container was not removed because it contained prohibited materials to properly separate those materials and place them in their designated containers. Allowing unseparated garbage, recyclable materials, or organic waste to accumulate will be considered a public nuisance with enforcement against the responsible person or the property owner. Pursuant to the agreement between the City and the franchise collector, contamination could also be subject to an administrative contamination processing fee or noncollection of the container.
(b) In addition to the requirements in subsection (a) of this section, commercial businesses shall also:
(1)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4937289; v6 updated 2026-06-25).
Full Breakdown
Under Turlock Municipal Code Section 6-3-108(a)(5), yard waste goes in the same green compost container used for food scraps: the ordinance's definition of 'organic waste' explicitly covers landscape and pruning waste. Each compost container load is capped at 150 pounds gross weight, and no single item placed inside may be longer than 4 feet, so oversized branches must be cut down before collection day. Grass cuttings, trees, shrubbery, and lawn trimmings may otherwise sit on the premises awaiting pickup under TMC 6-3-113, unlike other refuse, which cannot accumulate on a property.
Violations & Fines
Overloaded or oversized yard debris that a driver can't safely empty risks a missed pickup and contamination fee, and letting yard waste pile up elsewhere on the property is enforceable as a public nuisance under TMC 6-3-113.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does yard waste go in Turlock?
How big can a branch be for pickup?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Turlock
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Yard Waste Collection in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle yard waste collection.