Regular Service During Presidents Day Week

Presidents Day is a federal holiday observed each February to honor the leadership legacy of U.S. presidents, beginning with George Washington. While some offices and businesses close in observance of the holiday, essential community services continue as usual.

During the week of Presidents Day, February 15–21, trash, recycling, and organics collection schedules will remain unchanged. Residents should place their carts curbside on their regularly scheduled service day.

To see our Holiday Schedule, click here. 

––––––––––––––––––
Weekly Collection Includes Food Waste Recycling

Residential customers may place all three carts curbside every week:
• Trash
• Recycling
• Yard and organics waste

Food waste is collected weekly and is fully recyclable. All food waste must be placed in closed paper or plastic bags before being placed in the organics cart.

Food waste and yard waste are processed separately, which is why bagging food waste is essential. Proper bagging prevents contamination, helps control odors, and allows processing facilities to operate efficiently. Even if you only have food waste and no yard waste, you can still place food waste bags in the organics cart and set it curbside every week for pickup.

––––––––––––––––––
Why Food Waste Recycling Matters

Food waste is one of the largest contributors to landfill methane emissions. When organic material decomposes in landfills without oxygen, it produces methane, a greenhouse gas significantly more potent than carbon dioxide over short periods of time.

Reducing food waste sent to landfills helps:
• Lower greenhouse gas emissions
• Slow climate change impacts
• Extend landfill lifespan
• Recover nutrients for reuse

Food waste recycling turns discarded scraps into valuable resources instead of environmental liabilities.

––––––––––––––––––
California’s Organics Recycling Law

California law requires residents and businesses to separate food waste and organic material from trash. These regulations were created to address methane emissions and improve statewide sustainability outcomes.

Compliance alone is not enough. Proper sorting and clean organics streams are critical. When food waste is bagged correctly and kept free of contamination, it can be processed into high-quality compost and soil products. Contaminated loads increase costs and reduce the effectiveness of recycling programs.

Local participation directly affects statewide success.

––––––––––––––––––
Ventura County’s Role in Sustainability Leadership

Ventura County is playing a key role in advancing California’s organics recycling goals through infrastructure investment and local partnerships. A major step forward is the collaboration between EJ Harrison & Sons and Agromin.

Agromin’s new Mountain View facility is designed to process source-separated food waste and organic material collected locally. This facility transforms food waste into compost and soil amendments used in agriculture, landscaping, and land restoration throughout the region.

By keeping organic processing local, Ventura County reduces transportation emissions, improves efficiency, and ensures environmental benefits remain within the community.

––––––––––––––––––

What Happens to Your Food Waste

Once collected, properly sorted food waste is delivered to an organics recycling facility where it undergoes controlled processing rather than uncontrolled decay in a landfill.

The result is a closed-loop system where food scraps are converted into usable products that improve soil health, support agriculture, and reduce reliance on synthetic fertilizers.

This is practical, measurable sustainability in action.

––––––––––––––––––
Your Role in the Program

Every properly bagged food waste load helps reduce methane emissions and improves the performance of recycling systems. Small actions at home scale into meaningful environmental impact across Ventura County.

Your participation helps:
• Protect air quality
• Support local recycling infrastructure
• Meet California sustainability goals
• Create long-term environmental benefits

––––––––––––––––––
Presidents Day Service Reminder

There will be no change in trash, recycling, or organics collection during Presidents Day week. Please set your carts out on your regular service day.

Presidents Day is about leadership and long-term vision. Participating in food waste recycling is a simple, effective way to contribute to a more sustainable future for Ventura County and the state of California.