Residential Recycling
We recycle to resolve the problem of excessive waste in our landfills. In 1989, the State of California passed the Integrated Waste Management Act. Assembly Bill (AB-939) required all cities and counties to implement programs to reduce landfill tonnage by 25% by the end of 1995, and 50% by the end of 2000. The City of Visalia has met that challenge.
Prior to recycling, we discarded more than 500 million containers made from aluminum, glass, plastic, and paper per year. Products made from these materials do not decompose, thus remain in their original composition for millions of years. When we recycle these commodities, they are reused to make new items.
Cans made from recycled aluminum save 75 to 95 percent of the energy used to produce them from raw materials. Every ton of paper recycled saves 17 trees, 380 gallons of oil, and 7,000 gallons of water. Five recycled plastic soda bottles make enough fiberfill to stuff a ski jacket.
Have a recycling question? Call the Public Works Hotline at 559-713-4499 for more information.
Solid Waste does issue fines for repeated contamination issues. As stated above, the Solid Waste Division will issue an initial ‘warning tag’ about recorded contamination. If additional contamination issues are recorded at the same account, Solid Waste will then issue contamination fines:
- A fine not exceeding fifty dollars ($50.00) for a first violation
- A fine not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100.00) for a second violation within one year of the initial warning tag; and
- A fine not exceeding two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) for each additional violation within one year of the initial warning tag. Each day a violation continues shall be regarded as a new and separate offense.
Every year, Visalia's Solid Waste Division hosts the Christmas Tree Recycling Program.
Starting on December 26th, solid waste will begin collecting and composting Christmas trees from seven designated drop-off sites around town. To find the drop site closest to you, view Christmas Tree Recycling (PDF).
Under the SB-1383 regulations, the City is required to monitor all collection routes for contamination in order to make sure that wastes are being sorted properly.
This means that you may see City staff looking inside your trash, recycling, and/or organics cans when they are set out on the street for collection. If wastes are not sorted correctly, a contamination warning tag may be left on the can with information on sorting wastes appropriately. Nothing will be removed from your cans during these inspections, and cans will not be serviced until contaminated materials have been removed.
If you have concerns about sensitive items in your trash or recycling cans, please consider additional steps to keep information secure, including shredding paper and scratching out personal information, etc. The City of Visalia Solid Waste Division offers free shredding services six times per year for residents during the scheduled Dump On Us event.
Dump On Us (DOU) events are another great way for Visalia residents to recycle as much of their unwanted waste materials as possible.
Dump On Us events help to divert approximately 75% of the waste materials dropped off from our local landfill. The recyclable materials include, but are not limited to: mixed plastics (not Styrofoam), all types of metals, electronic waste, mattresses, tires (without rims), concrete, large appliances, and green waste/organic materials. Dump On Us events are for Visalia residents only (a copy of a city utility bill or ID). All DOU Events are held at the Visalia City Yard located at 335 N. Cain St., Visalia. Visit the DOU page for more information.
If you are interested in beginning a recycling program in your home, school, or business, please contact the Visalia Solid Waste Department at 559-713-4499.
In Visalia, our beautiful community is filled with trees and lush landscapes, which generate large amounts of green waste. Green waste is a great portion of the recyclable materials that end up in our landfills. Fortunately, we recycle green waste and food waste into compost, which is then placed in our gardens, where it decomposes and enriches the soil. View the Organic Composting Poster (PDF) for a complete list of materials that can be composted here in Visalia.
The City of Visalia salvages approximately 1,150 tons of recyclables and 2,500 tons of green waste per month in our residential and commercial operations.
Recycling begins with all of us in our homes. Much of what we use is simply thrown away, and we forget that it is actually recyclable. One of the ways the City of Visalia assists the recycling process is by providing a recycling container to its residents. A brochure explaining how to use it is available below.
This is only the beginning... To make recycling truly effective, we need to purchase items made from recycled and environmentally safe products. Our recyclables are made into products like tissue, writing pads, egg cartons, carpets, sweaters, sleeping bags, jackets, benches, tables, and construction materials.
Remember to set your cans out three feet apart!
The City of Visalia's solid waste trucks are equipped with automatic arms that pick up the cans to service them.
If cans are too close together or close to other objects, our drivers are unable to provide service, as doing so runs the risk of knocking over other cans or damaging property. Solid Waste drivers can collect materials more safely and efficiently when your trash, recycling, and composting cans are placed three feet apart from each other and 10 feet from other objects like vehicles, basketball hoops, mailboxes, etc.
Thank you for helping us to get in and out of your neighborhood quickly and safely!
Solid Waste would like to encourage our residents to make their holidays as waste-free as possible. The holiday season may be the most wonderful time of the year for many of us, but it's also one of our most wasteful.
The good news is there are things that can be done to help reduce, reuse, and recycle during the holiday season! From gifts and wrapping paper to decorations and food, there are many changes you can make if you're trying to be more waste-conscious. Changes to consider include composting all food waste generated over the holiday season, using recyclable wrapping paper, purchasing plant-based compostable tape, reusing decorations, and purchasing a real holiday tree and composting it at the end of the season. Other changes can include upgrading your holiday lights to LEDs and using a smart plug so that you can set exact times for your holiday lights to run.
Composting organic (food) waste further diminishes environmental impact during the holiday season. This holiday season, let's celebrate with intention and compassion for our planet. By making small, thoughtful changes, we can enjoy our holiday season celebrations while being mindful of the planet, promoting a sustainable lifestyle that respects and protects our community for future generations.