Residential Services

New Food Waste Recycling Program for Residents 

The City of Ventura now offers a Food Waste Recycling Program in support of new statewide requirements, known as Senate Bill (SB) 1383. The program is being gradually rolled out citywide - first with residents with yard waste carts and then to residents without. 

Residents with a yard waste cart must place food waste in a bag of their choice, secure the bag, and place it in the yard waste cart.

Residents without a yard waste cart will also bag and secure their food waste, but will place it in a dedicated food waste container when instructed by their property manager.

To help encourage participation, the City of Ventura is providing all residents with a free food waste recycling pail and instructions on how to participate. Pails are provided courtesy of E.J. Harrison & Sons. If you are a City of Ventura resident, you can request a pail by emailing your name and residential address. 

All food waste can be collected in the program. This includes, but is not limited to, meat, bones, fish, shells, dairy, bread, fruits, vegetables, peels, pits, cobs, and coffee grounds.

This new program is part of a statewide effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and curb climate change. When organic material, such as food and yard waste, is landfilled, it decomposes and produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas contributing to climate change. 

Resources

  1. Container Updates
  2. Curbside Collection
  3. Bulky Item Collection
  4. Backyard Composting

The residential collection containers (trash, recycle, and yard waste,) provided by E.J. Harrison & Sons, will be swapped out for new, different colored containers over the next few years. E.J. Harrison & Sons is getting an early start on delivering new containers that will comply with California’s Senate Bill 1383, which creates a statewide uniform color container system.

The next generation of 32-, 64- and 96-gallon fully automated carts are wider, heavier, and slightly shorter than existing carts. This should make them more stable during wind events.

Residential Curbside Container Update


  1. What laws require food waste recycling?
  2. What is food waste?
  3. What is organic waste?
  4. How do I separate my food waste?
  5. Can I place my food waste directly in my yard waste container without bagging it?
  6. Why do we need to bag food waste?
  7. Do the bags have to be made of plastic?
  8. What happens to the bag of food waste after it's collected?
  9. Can I add compostable materials, like compostable plates, cups, utensils and napkins, to my yard waste bin?
  10. Will separating food waste cause odor or pests?
View All FAQs

Sole Provider of Services

The City of Ventura and E.J. Harrison and Sons have an exclusive franchise agreement, which means that E.J. Harrison and Son’s, Inc. is the sole provider of solid waste and recycling collection services in the City. This arrangement ensures competitive rates and quality service for residents and businesses. By eliminating duplicate trash collection services, we reduce large vehicle traffic and prevent excess wear and tear on our streets. The agreement also requires E.J. Harrison to meet stringent recycling standards, which is one of the reasons Ventura’s landfill diversion rate is an impressive 74%. Current rates are available on the latest related Administrative Resolution.

To inquire about residential trash, yard waste, and recycling service please call 1-800-418-7274 or 805-647-1414. To submit a service request, please visit the E.J. Harrison & Sons Website.

Contact Us

  1. Environmental Sustainability

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    Physical Address
    336 Sanjon Rd
    Ventura, CA 93002

    Phone: 805-652-4525

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