Waste & Recycling Events
Bulky Waste & Electronic Waste Recycling 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 recycling and disposal. California law states that Electronic Waste (E-Waste) must be recycled. Residents may also bring in their E-Waste to these collection events and any of the County operated facilities. Click here for information about E-Waste Collection options.
Upcoming Events: |
Date | Location | Time | Details |
| September 30, 2023 | Taft - County Administrative Building | 8 AM to 12 PM | |
| October 7, 2023 | Bakersfield - 3 Locations:
| 8 AM to 12 PM | |
| October 14, 2023 | Buttonwillow - Buttonwillow Parks & Rec District | 8 AM to 12 PM | |
Past Events: |
Date | Location | Time | Details |
| March 11, 2023 | Lost Hills - North of Lost Hills Park | 8 AM to 12 PM | Flyer |
| March 18, 2023 | Mojave - Mojave Jr./Sr. High School | 8 AM to 12 PM | Flyer |
| April 22, 2023 | Lamont - Lamont Department of Human Services | 8 AM to 12 PM | Flyer |
| May 6, 2023 | Ridgecrest - Leroy Jackson Park | 8 AM to 12 PM | Flyer |
| May 13, 2023 | Bakersfield - 3 LOCATIONS:
| 8 AM to 12 PM | Flyer |
| May 20, 2023 | Lake Isabella - Thomas Refuse Service | 8 AM to 12 PM | Flyer |
| June 17, 2023 | Frazier Park - Frazier Mountain Park | 8 AM to 12 PM | Flyer |
| August 5, 2023 | Rosamond - Waste Management Offices | 8 AM to 12 PM | Flyer |
One-Day Residential Hazardous Waste Collection
The Public Works Department sponsors several 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 |
| August 4, 2023 | Tehachapi Sanitary Landfill | 9 AM to 1 PM | Flyer |
| August 5, 2023 | Tehachapi Sanitary Landfill | 9 AM to 1 PM | Flyer |
| August 12, 2023 | Ridgecrest Special Waste Facility | 10 AM to 1 PM | Flyer |
| August 12, 2023 | Shafter-Wasco Sanitary Landfill | 9 AM to 1 PM | Flyer |
| August 19, 2023 | Kern Valley Transfer Station | 9 AM to 1 PM | Flyer |
| August 26, 2023 | Ridgecrest Special Waste Facility | 10 AM to 1 PM | Flyer |
| September 1, 2023 | Tehachapi Sanitary Landfill | 9 AM to 1 PM | Flyer |
| September 2, 2023 | Tehachapi Sanitary Landfill | 9 AM to 1 PM | Flyer |
| September 2, 2023 | Mojave Special Waste Facility | 9 AM to 12 PM | Flyer |
| September 9, 2023 | McFarland-Delano Transfer Station | 9 AM to 1 PM | Flyer |
| September 9, 2023 | Ridgecrest Special Waste Facility | 10 AM to 1 PM | Flyer |
| September 16, 2023 | Lebec Transfer Station | 9 AM to 1 PM | Flyer |
| September 23, 2023 | Ridgecrest Special Waste Facility | 10 AM to 1 PM | Flyer |
| September 30, 2023 | Taft Sanitary Landfill | 9 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
Clean California Tire Drop Off Events
The Kern County Public Works Department has partnered with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) in their Clean California Initiative to hold Tire Drop Off Events. During the events, residents can bring in tires for FREE to the designated County Landfill diversion area(s) until capacity is reached. Click here for information about the Clean California Initiative.
When transporting tires, follow these guidelines:
- Per California law, transport only 9 tires at a time.
- Tires must have rims removed.
- Residential tires only. No commercial waste.
- No earthmover/oversized tires.
- To prevent litter, loads must be tarped for transport.
Upcoming Events: | |||
Date | Location | Time | Details |
October 7, 2023 | Shafter-Wasco Landfill | 8 AM to 4 PM (or until capacity is reached) | Flyer (coming soon) |
| Taft Landfill | 8 AM to 4 PM (or until capacity is reached) | ||
| October 21, 2023 | Bena Landfill | 8 AM to 4 PM (or until capacity is reached) | Flyer (coming soon) |
| December 2, 2023 | Boron Landfill | 8 AM to 4 PM (or until capacity is reached) | Flyer |
| Mojave-Rosamond Landfill | 8 AM to 4 PM (or until capacity is reached) | ||
| Ridgecrest Landfill | 8 AM to 4 PM (or until capacity is reached) | ||
| Tehachapi Landfill | 8 AM to 4 PM (or until capacity is reached) | ||
Past Events: | |||
Date | Location | Time | Details |
February 18, 2023 | Shafter-Wasco Landfill | 8 AM to 4 PM (or until capacity is reached) | Flyer |
| Taft Landfill | 8 AM to 4 PM (or until capacity is reached) | ||
| March 18, 2023 | Bena Landfill | 8 AM to 4 PM (or until capacity is reached) | Flyer |
| March 25, 2023 | Shafter-Wasco Landfill | 8 AM to 4 PM (or until capacity is reached) | Flyer |
| Taft Landfill | 8 AM to 4 PM (or until capacity is reached) | ||
| March 25, 2023 | Boron Landfill | 8 AM to 4 PM (or until capacity is reached) | Flyer |
| Mojave-Rosamond Landfill | 8 AM to 4 PM (or until capacity is reached) | ||
| Ridgecrest Landfill | 8 AM to 4 PM (or until capacity is reached) | ||
| Tehachapi Landfill | 8 AM to 4 PM (or until capacity is reached) | ||
| August 19, 2023 | Boron Landfill | 8 AM to 4 PM (or until capacity is reached) | Flyer |
| Mojave-Rosamond Landfill | 8 AM to 4 PM (or until capacity is reached) | ||
| Ridgecrest Landfill | 8 AM to 4 PM (or until capacity is reached) | ||
| Tehachapi Landfill | 8 AM to 4 PM (or until capacity is reached) | ||
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.
2023 Events:
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, September 20, 2023, from 2-3 p.m. Click on the link above for details.