Waste & Recycling Events
Bulky Waste Collections
Bulky Waste Collection Events have been hosted by the Kern County Public Works Department for over 20 years in the Metro Bakersfield area. As of 2020, the Kern County Public Works Department has decided to expand its Bulky Waste/Large Item Collection Events to include unincorporated communities to reach residents living in the outlying County areas. During the events, residents can bring unwanted bulky household items such as appliances and furniture to a convenient designated location(s) for FREE disposal.
Upcoming Events:
- Ridgecrest: Saturday, May 21, 2022 - Flyer w. Details
Completed 2022 Events:
- Bakersfield: Saturday, January 8, 2022
- Taft: Saturday, January 22, 2022
- Lamont: Saturday, February 5, 2022
- Mojave: Saturday, February 19, 2022
- Lost Hills: Saturday, March 12, 2022
- Delano: Saturday, March 19, 2022
- Lake Isabella: Saturday, April 23, 2022
- Frazier Park: Saturday, April 30, 2022
Completed 2021 Events:
- Bakersfield: Saturday, January 20, 2021
- Lamont: Saturday, February 20, 2021
- Wasco: Saturday, March 6, 2021
- Shafter: Saturday, March 20, 2021
- Lost Hills: Saturday, April 24, 2021
- Buttonwillow: Saturday, May 1, 2021
- Taft: Saturday, August 28, 2021
- Bakersfield: Saturday, October 23, 2021
Free One-Day Residential Hazardous Waste Collection
The Public Works Department sponsors several free one-day Residential Hazardous Waste Collection Events, in outlying areas, each year. During these half-day opportunities, residents have the chance to bring left-over residential hazardous waste for safe and easy disposal/recycling. If you have residential hazardous waste, these locations and dates might be the opportunity you’ve been looking for to get it off your hands and safely out of your home.
Date | Location | Time | Details |
| June 25, 2022 | Ridgecrest Special Waste Facility | 10 AM to 1 PM | Flyer |
| July 2, 2022 | Mojave Special Waste Facility | 9 AM to 12 PM | Flyer |
| July 2, 2022 | Tehachapi Sanitary Landfill | 9 AM to 1 PM | Flyer |
| July 9, 2022 | Ridgecrest Special Waste Facility | 10 AM to 1 PM | Flyer |
| July 16, 2022 | Tehachapi Sanitary Landfill | 9 AM to 1 PM | Flyer |
| July 20, 2022 | Glennville Transfer Station | 9 AM to 1 PM | Flyer |
| July 23, 2022 | Lebec Transfer Station | 9 AM to 1 PM | Flyer |
| July 23, 2022 | Ridgecrest Special Waste Facility | 10 AM to 1 PM | Flyer |
*Business waste NOT accepted. Collection events may be canceled due to weather conditions.
Click Here for information about the type of materials that are accepted and transportation/handling guidelines
Community Outreach & Education
Kern County Public Works Department staff members participate in community and business events, street fairs, and public speaking opportunities to get the department's message to the general public.
2022 Events:
April 23, 2022: Various times
Keep Kern Beautiful is Celebrating Earth Day and the Great American Cleanup 2022 with Community Cleanups
Throughout Kern County
For more information on how to participate, click here.
January 22, 2022: Any time during daylight hours
"Your Neighborhood" Clean-up
Throughout Kern County
For more information on how to participate, click here.
January 22, 2022: 8-10 a.m.
Taft Community Clean-up
Meet-up Location: Large empty lot about 4 lots north of the corner of Cedar Street and Jefferson Street
For anyone interested in joining the Taft Community Clean-up effort, please contact Christopher McGehee at chrismrotary@gmail.com.
2021 Events:
August 5, 2021: 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
12th Annual Ready Set Back to School Health & Wellness Fair
Kern County Museum
September 10, 2021: 5 p.m.
County Resource Fair and Movie in the Park
Frazier Mountain Park - Frazier Mountain
September 17, 2021: 5 p.m.
County Resource Fair and Movie in the Park
Meadowbrook Park - Tehachapi
September 22-October 3, 2021
2021 Kern County Fair
Fairgrounds - Exhibit Building #3
For more information, visit: https://www.kerncountyfair.com/directions.aspx
September 25, 2021: 8 a.m.-12 p.m.
Boron Community Clean-up
Twenty Mule Team Museum
26962 Twenty Mule Team Road, Boron, CA 93516
Lunch will be provided for all volunteers after the clean-up
For more information and to volunteer for the clean-up, contact Lynn Black 760-985-9219 or lynn6373@gmail.com
October 5, 2021: 6-8 p.m.
Delano Police Department's National Night Out
Cesar Chavez Park
925 Ellington Street, Delano, CA 93215
October 15, 2021: 6 p.m.
Movie Night in the Park - showing Hocus Pocus
Smothermon Park
800 Walnut Drive, Arvin CA 93203
October 21, 2021: 5:30-7 p.m.
Kern County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) National Night Out Harvest Celebration
KCSO Headquarters
1350 Norris Road, Bakersfield, CA 93308
For more information, visit: https://www.kernsheriff.org/Events
October 23, 2021: 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
Buttonwillow Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture’s Fall Farm Festival
Buttonwillow Park
556 Milo Avenue, Buttonwillow, CA 93206
For more information, visit: http://buttonwillowchamber.com/cms/
October 25, 2021: 5 p.m.
County Resource Fair and Movie in the Park
West Side Recreation and Park District, Community Center Parking Lot
500 Cascade Place, Taft, CA 93268
October 29, 2021: 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Supervisor Mike Maggard invites you to “2021 Oildale Trunk or Treat!”
North Chester Avenue and Frontage Road North of Norris Road
November 13, 2021: 8 a.m.-12 p.m.
America Recycles Day
Mechanics Bank Arena Parking Lot, N St. (between Truxtun Ave. and California Ave.) Bakersfield, CA 93301
December 2, 2021: 6-8 p.m.
Bakersfield Christmas Parade
For Parade route and information visit: https://www.bcparade.com/parade-maps/
Keep Kern Beautiful Events
Keep Kern Beautiful clean-up events are coordinated with volunteers from community organizations such as churches, schools, civic groups, businesses, and others that want to make Kern County the best that it can be. For more information about Keep Kern Beautiful, click here.
Upcoming Keep Kern Beautiful Events:
Upcoming Keep Kern Beautiful Meetings:
- Wednesday, June 15, 2022 from 2-3 p.m. via Microsoft Teams. Click on the link above for details.
Electronic Waste Recycling Collection Events
California law states that Electronic Waste (E-Waste) must be recycled. Many consumer electronics contain low levels of hazardous metals that can potentially contaminate soil and water. To comply with the State mandate and preserve natural resources, Kern County supports Electronic Waste Recycling Collection Events. In addition to dropping off unwanted E-Waste items at County operated facilities, residents can drop off E-Waste at collection events throughout the county free of charge. In addition to the items listed below, many event organizers accept car and rechargeable batteries as well as printer cartridges. Common Electronic Waste Items:
- Televisions and Computer Monitors
- Cellular Telephones, Landline Telephones (corded or cordless)
- Computer Keyboards, Hard Drives, Towers, Laptops, Printers or Scanners
- Stereo Systems, IPODS, Boom Boxes, Record Players
- DVD Players, VCRs, Fax Machines, Copiers, and Microwaves
Click here for information about E-Waste Collection options.