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) which 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.
Remember to set your cans out 3 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 to 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, recycle and composting cans are placed 3 feet apart from each other and 10 feet from other objects like vehicles, basketball hoops, mailboxes, etc. Thanks for helping us to get in and out of your neighborhood quickly and safely?
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 ended up in our landfills. Fortunately, we recycle green waste and food wastes into compost which is then placed in our gardens, where it decomposes and enriches the soil. Click on Organic Composting Poster for a complete lists of materials that can be composted here in Visalia.
The City of Visalia salvages approximately 1,150 ton 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.
The City of Visalia is continuing to look for more ways to recycle. Click on the 2022-23 Waste Guide for more information.
Dump On Us (D.O.U.) 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 includes but is 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 (copy of city utility bill or I.D.). All D.O.U. events are held at the Visalia City Yard located at 335 N. Cain St. in downtown Visalia. Click on D.O.U. 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.
Contamination monitoring: 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 scheduled Dump On Us event.
Avoid getting Fined. 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:
1. A fine not exceeding fifty dollars ($50.00) for a first violation
2. A fine not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100.00) for a second violation within one year of the initial warning tag; and
3. 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.