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How much does it cost to dump at the landfill?It depends on the type of waste, what site you are taking it, how much waste you have and if the load is covered. The short answer is $10 per pickup load or $31 per ton, but there are exceptions. Check back at the Landfill Fees page for the prices at the specific site you wish to bring your waste.
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What are the days and hours that the site is open?It depends on what site you plan to take the waste. If you know which facility you want to take the waste, go to that site from the Solid Waste page for the hours and days of operation.
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Where are the landfills and transfer stations?The general locations are described on the Landfills page or the Transfer Stations page.
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I would like service or have questions about trash collection at my house or business.The County does not provide trash collection service. This is provided by your city or a private hauler licensed by the County. The County does not regulate collection services in the cities. For information regarding trash collection service and recycling programs, call your city.
In the unincorporated areas of Tulare County, the Board of Supervisors sets the rates the licensed haulers are allowed to charge. The County requires these licensed haulers to serve everyone within their service area, even if you are the only customer for miles. In exchange for being required to provide remote service, the licensed haulers have an exclusive right to provide collection service to the businesses and residences in their areas. Call us at 624-7000 to determine which licensed hauler serves your home or business.
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Why are foothill rates higher?If you live east of the foothill boundary line, the rates for collection service are a little higher because of the sparse population and the expense of hauling the trash a further distance to the landfills. All rates are set and controlled by the Board of Supervisors.
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What if I'm dissatisfied with my hauler's service?Talk to your hauler first and try to resolve the problem. If you cannot settle your differences, give us a call at 624-7000.
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Can I haul my neighbors trash to the dump?It is a violation of the Tulare County Ordinance Code if you live in an area served by a hauler licensed by the County.
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How do I get a large bin or roll-off? If you live in a city, roll-offs and bins are probably regulated by the city in which you live, so call them first. If you live in the County, your licensed hauler will provide you with a bin or roll off and service it for a fee. There are a couple of other companies that will also provide you with a bin or roll-off for a fee. Check the Yellow Pages under "Garbage Collection" for a list of companies providing this service. This applies only to non-regular service. In the unincorporated areas, the County does not regulate roll-offs for construction and demolition.
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Are commercial bins and roll-offs regulated by the County?Yes, there is a fixed rate structure set by the Board of Supervisors depending on the size of the bin and the frequency of the service.
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Could I pick up some free fill dirt at the landfill?No. Many years ago, this used to be the practice, but changes in landfill design driven by regulations has resulted in our need for all the fill dirt that we have. This is why we will now accept clean fill dirt for free rather than give it away for free.
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Why am I required to have a waste tire manifest?There is a large problem with tires being dumped illegally in the County and all over the State. In response, the State has required that loads of waste tires be manifested to identify where the tires are from, who is hauling them and where they are going. It also requires that all waste tire haulers, except public entities, be certified by the State to be sure they understand and comply with the rules and documentation requirements. To deliver ten or more tires to the landfill, you must have a manifest. To obtain a manifest, contact the State at (866) 896-0600. If you have a lot of waste tires, we recommend that you contact a certified tire hauler to perform this service. If the tires were illegally dumped on your property, you may be eligible for a fee waiver through the County. You may haul fewer than ten tires to the landfill without a manifest, so if you have a few more than that to dispose of, it may be easier to make a couple extra trips to the landfill.
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Can I salvage materials from the landfill?We would not allow it. There is too much liability to the County and it is a nuisance to our operations. Legal salvaging and recycling is done in the recycling area at the entrance to the landfill by companies under contract.
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Is there required collection in the County?If you live within certain designated urban area boundaries around the cities or in unincorporated communities, you are required to have waste collection service. This is because the haulers share the responsibility to meet the County's recycling goals and the only way they can do this is to collect and process as much of the waste stream as is feasible. The required collection in the more densely populated areas of the County is a first step in this direction. If you believe you can do a better job of recycling than the hauler or if your property is vacant with no waste being generated, you may apply for an exemption. County staff will inspect your recycling efforts and make a determination if an exemption from required collection is warranted.
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Do the landfills ever close because of bad weather?No. However, conditions at the landfills can be difficult after heavy or sustained rains. Our equipment will pull you out if you get stuck, but only after you sign a release that if we damage your vehicle in the process, we are not liable. Wait a week or so after significant rains, if at all possible, or go to one of the transfer stations if you have a small amount of waste during the wet season.
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Why should I cover my load? Our rates are higher for uncovered loads. We use the extra money we charge to pick up waste along the highways near our landfills. Tarps are not expensive and we strongly encourage you to cover your loads. Also, it is a violation of the California Vehicle Code to bring loads to the disposal sites that are not covered and you could be cited by the Highway Patrol.
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Can I bring non-hazardous materials from an environmental clean-up to the County landfills?Generally not. There is a category of waste called "designated waste". We are not allowed to accept designated waste. Questions need to be answered on a case by case basis. Call the Tulare County Environmental Health Department at 733-6441 for more information.
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Can I bring in waste from sources outside Tulare County? It is necessary to get prior permission from the Tulare County RMA Director before we can take out-of-county waste at the landfills. We view our landfills as a service and resource for the people of Tulare County and discourage out-of-county waste because we do not want our landfills filled by outside waste.
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Can I look for something at the landfill that was accidentally thrown out?No. We do not keep records on where specific loads are buried. It would be impossible to find and we would not allow you to try.
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When is cleanup week?In an effort to keep Tulare County clean, the Tulare County Board of Supervisors approved two annual Cleanup Weeks for valley and mountain residents. Tulare County residents that come to the landfills or transfer stations are charged half the normal disposal fees resulting from their cleanup activities, excluding tires and refrigerators. All disposal fees are rounded up to the nearest dollar. Valley residents utilize the Teapot Dome, Woodville and Visalia landfills, along with the Earlimart and Springville transfer stations. Mountain residents utilize the Badger, Balance Rock, Camp Nelson and Pine Flat transfer stations. All cleanup weeks are during normal operating hours.
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Valley Residents |
Mountain Residents |
- Third full week of every April
- Third full week of every October
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- Full week prior to every Memorial Day
- Full week prior to every Labor Day
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Are there any other special rates at the landfill?We will take your Christmas tree or loads of Christmas trees for free during specific times of the year. Contact 624-7000 for details. We will take clean fill dirt free anytime. If you have clean loads of broken asphalt surfacing, give us a call because we may accept this for free if it is needed to build our on-site roadways.
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What is the phone number at the landfill?We do not give the phone numbers at the landfill out to the public. If you have an emergency and need to contact someone at the landfill, call the main office at 624-7000
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Do you take personal checks at the landfill?Yes. No third party checks are accepted. Checks must have a printed address. Checks from outside the area or beyond the surrounding counties will not be accepted. Checks should be made out to "Tulare County Solid Waste". Checks will be accepted only for the cost to use the landfill.
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Do you take credit cards?No.
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Do you have charge accounts?The County issues charge cards for which the balance must be paid in full each month. If you are with a company that regularly delivers loads to the landfill, talk to our accounting office at 624-7000 about setting up a charge account. If the balance is not paid in full each month, the charge account is canceled and you will have to pay on a cash basis to use the landfill.
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Is there any relief from illegal dumping?Please see the fee waiver procedure, which will allow the landfill fees to be waived.
Click to View |
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Why do you ask me where I live when I go to the landfill? The County and each city are required to demonstrate they are achieving recycling goals that are mandated by the State. In order to estimate how much waste is recycled or diverted from the landfill, we need to know how much actually goes to the landfill. We need to determine the origin of the waste to identify and attribute it to the city or county that generated it.
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Can I have confidential records securely buried at the landfill right away?Yes. You should bring them out at between 10:30 to 11:30 in the morning or between 1:00 and 2:00 in the afternoon. Let the person at the scale house know what you are doing and you will be charged the "special handling fee". The caretaker and equipment operators at the landfill will locate a spot deep in the active face and cover the files with other trash right away while you watch. Do not bring your files out late in the day because there will be less incoming trash to cover it.
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How do I dispose of an old computer monitor or TV?The County will not accept computer monitors or TVs at the landfill sites or transfer stations. The picture tube, also known as a cathode ray tube (CRT), is subject to hazardous waste regulations which went into effect 08/31/01 and must be handled with care.
Goodwill at 732-7922 and American Cancer Society Discovery Shop at 627-1955 will accept only operable televisions as a donation for continued use.
Residents of Tulare County (proof of residency required) are welcome to drop off, free of charge, computer equipment/televisions to either of the following locations:
Recycle America Alliance (Tulare County Recycling)
26951 Road 140, Visalia, CA
(559) 741-1766
CSET E-Recycling Solutions
8234 W. Doe Ave, Visalia, CA
(559)741-4684
Businesses may deliver this material to either business free of charge. Businesses will be accessed a fee for large office copiers and printers. Contact the above locations for pricing information.
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Do you accept old mobile homes at the landfill and what is the procedure and cost?Yes, we will accept them at the landfills, provided it is a mobile home and not a large trailer that would be registered with the DMV. No title, registration or junk slip is required. You will be charged the normal disposal fee of $31 per ton plus the special handling fee of $10 per ton since it is a large bulky item. The mobile home does not need to be empty or cleared of fixtures, however, the attendant may check the interior of the mobile home to be sure it does not contain any items that cannot be accepted at the landfill or for which there would be an additional charge. Also, since the special handling fee will be imposed on the contents as well as the mobile home, it may be in your interests to remove heavy objects from the interior of the mobile home and bring them to the landfill in a separate load that would not be charged the special handling fee.
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What are the restrictions on the wood waste that is accepted?Creosote treated wood (railroad ties, utility poles) are not accepted at the landfills. Palms, yuccas and bamboo are not accepted at the wood waste rate. Palms, yuccas and bamboo will be accepted at the landfill at the general refuse rate. Stumps must be cut into not longer than 4 ft lengths and no larger than 8 ft in diameter for the landfill sites.
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Can I dispose of asbestos material in the landfill?Tulare County landfills will take non-friable asbestos if proper testing is performed by a certified lab that can insure that the material is non-friable before it is accepted. All loads containing non-friable asbestos must be accompanied by a letter from a certified asbestos consultant. You can contact the Solid Waste Division at (559) 624-7000 for additional information.
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