Help us keep Placer’s Roads Clean of Litter and Safe from Unsecured Debris. Tarp, Cover, Enclose, or otherwise Secure Your Load as Required by California State Law.
When customers utilize the Western Placer Waste Management Authority (WPWMA)’s facilities, drivers must ensure their loads are properly secured to prevent materials from falling, spilling, blowing, or escaping from their vehicle.
California and Placer County law establishes requirements for covering and containing loads to help protect motorists, reduce roadway debris, and keep our roadways and communities clean.
California Vehicle Code Requirements:
- Waste and refuse loads – Section 23115: Vehicles transporting garbage, refuse, trash, recyclable materials, and other materials intended for disposal or recycling must have their loads completely covered in a manner that prevents materials from spilling or falling from the vehicle, subject to the exceptions provided by law.
- General loads and aggregate materials – Section 23114: Vehicles must be constructed, covered, or loaded to prevent their contents from escaping onto the roadway. Additional requirements apply to aggregate materials such as sand, gravel, dirt, and crushed rock, including specific vehicle equipment and load-covering provisions.
Placer County Code Requirements:
- Solid waste collection and transport – Section 8.16.170: Requires waste to be loaded, covered, and transported in a manner that prevents materials from escaping.
Examples of How to Secure Your Load:
Wonder what this means for your next trip to the WPWMA? Securing your load is easy, but may look different depending on what type of vehicle you are driving.
Open Truck Bed or Trailer with Loose Materials
If the materials you are disposing of are entirely exposed and loose and/or lightweight, it is recommended that to properly secure your load, use a tarp and securely fasten the tarp down using rope, bungee cords, or another fastening device, so the material does not fly away and escape from your vehicle.
Examples:
- Green waste
- Inert materials (dirt, rock, broken concrete, etc.)
Open Truck Bed or Trailer with Bulky (Non-Loose) Materials
If you are transporting bulky, non-loose materials that are heavy enough not to fly away, you may not need to use a tarp to secure your materials, however these materials will still need to be secured using ropes, bungee cords, or another fastening device to ensure the contents cannot escape from the vehicle.
Examples:
- Mattresses and box springs
- Bulky furniture
Completely Enclosed Vehicle with No Truck/Trailer Bed (Sedan, SUV, Van, or similar)
If you are visiting the WPWMA’s facilities in an entirely enclosed vehicle that does not have an external truck bed, you do not need to additionally secure your load. We do recommend keeping materials tidy using a container like a box for a faster and easier disposal process.
Examples:
- Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)
- Smaller amounts of General Refuse
- Bags or containers of bottles and cans for Recycling Buyback
At the October 2026 Meeting of the WPWMA’s Board of Directors, the WPWMA’s Board approved a policy aligning the WPWMA’s operational practices with State and local requirements for securing your load. Beginning January 2027, the WPWMA will be assessing a $10 fee to customers who use the WPWMA’s facilities and do not have their loads properly secured. If you have specific questions about securing your load that are not answered by this article, please email info@wpwma.ca.gov or call us during normal business hours at 916-543-3960.
