New Recycling Bills in 2023

New Recycling Bills in 2023

The California Legislature passed nearly 1,200 bills last year, and Gov. Gavin Newsom signed about 1,000 of them into law. Several involve waste disposal and recycling, including these:

Assembly Bill 1985: This bill gives municipalities more time to comply with the state’s landmark Senate Bill 1383, which aims to cut by 75 percent the amount of organic waste ending up in landfills by 2025.

Jurisdictions were assigned specific, population-based targets for procuring compost, mulch or biogas derived from organic waste recycling. They were expected to be in full compliance with those targets last year but now have until Jan. 1, 2025. 

Senate Bill 1013: This bill adds wine and liquor bottles to the California Redemption Value (CRV) program, starting Jan. 1, 2024. It also authorizes funding, market development and infrastructure improvements to promote glass recycling.

Again, this change will not take effect until next year, and you can expect to hear more from us on this significant expansion of the state’s bottle and can deposit program.

Organic Waste Recycling Facility Gets Permits

Organic Waste Recycling Facility Gets Permits

Expansion of commercial food waste recycling capacity recently received a big boost when the city of Oxnard approved permits needed for a new processing operation off Mountain View Avenue.

Our business partner Agromin secured permits for its Mountain View Organic Waste Processing Facility as it prepares to launch a facility that can process source-separated commercial food waste.

In the works since 2017, the facility will be able to process up to 300 tons a day of source-separated organic waste, helping to convert it into animal feed, organic fertilizer or bioenergy.

To meet the challenges of California Senate Bill 1383, which mandates recycling of food and other organic waste to reduce climate-harming methane gas emissions from landfills, Agromin has spent years working with Harrison and local officials to launch the new Mountain View facility.

Mountain View will significantly expand our recycling capacity, as will Agromin’s project to expand its Limoneira compost facility in the Santa Clara River Valley to handle commercial and residential food waste.

Commercial Food Waste Recycling Success

Commercial Food Waste Recycling Success

Harrison’s commercial customers did a great job last year as we expanded our food waste recycling program. Now we’re hoping to do even better in 2023.

State Senate Bill 1383 added food materials to the list of landscaping, agricultural and other green waste that should be recycled, effective last year. At Harrison, we’re actually entering our eighth year of food waste recycling, thanks to pilot commercial programs in the cities we serve.

The goal is to greatly reduce the amount of organic waste ending up at landfills, thereby reducing climate-harming methane emissions.

Under SB 1383, commercial customers must recycle all their organic waste, including food waste, unless they have a waiver. All businesses must provide organic and recycling bins next to each trash bin for their employees, contractors, tenants and customers, except in areas that do not generate any recycling or organic waste. Waste bins must be clearly labeled to show which materials go where. And they must be inspected quarterly for cross-contamination.

If you haven’t signed up, contact us immediately to determine your individual requirements and waiver eligibility. Email Harrison Contract Compliance Field Supervisor Donald Sealund at donalds@ejharrison.com or Contract Compliance Manager Daniel Harrison at danielh@ejharrison.com.  

For more information about food waste recycling and the state legislation that mandates it, visit ejharrison.com/food-waste.

Ventura City Council Honors Harrison

Ventura City Council Honors Harrison

– Written by Nan Drake –

It was a proud moment for us at the latest Ventura City Council meeting. The kind words flowed Nov. 14 as the council recognized E.J. Harrison & Sons and our 90th anniversary.

“They’ve been a part of our community now for many generations,” Councilman Doug Halter said, adding later, “The Harrisons are so exemplative of what a good business owner here in the city of Ventura is all about … their ethics, their values are something shared by many of us in Ventura.”

Numerous Harrison family members, along with myself, were on hand to accept a certificate of recognition and have our picture taken with Doug and Mayor Sofia Rubalcava. We played one of our videos about the company, and I later introduced Jim and Ralph Harrison before they spoke.

Jim told the council about how all the Harrison brothers grew up on “the Avenue,” about how the company now has more than 400 employees, and how we’re all excited about the future. “We love the town. We love the people in the town,” he said.

Ralph added, “It’s been a wonderful time, and we really appreciate the city continuing with us.”

I then spoke briefly, urging everyone to recycle their food waste and put their organics cart out at the curb every week, even if they only have food waste.

What a special night for us. “I hope your business is here for at least 90 more years,” Doug said, and I remarked later, “We are ready for tomorrow.”

You can view the presentation at youtube.com/watch?v=FVk-CVyqrV4, about 7 minutes and 40 seconds into the video.

A Model of Customer Service

A Model of Customer Service

Congratulations to Jimi Hampton for elevating customer service to new levels here at Harrison. The field supervisor earned a special resolution this year from the Channel Islands Beach Community Services District for his “outstanding public service.”

The district board initially approved the resolution at its May meeting, where General Manager Pete Martinez noted that Jimi has worked with the district since its initial contract with E.J. Harrison in 2008. District board President Jared Bouchard read and presented the resolution and a plaque to Jimi at a recent Harrison board meeting.

The resolution notes Jimi “has consistently proven himself to be a diligent and dedicated extension of the Channel Islands Beach Community Services District staff” and praises his “positive attitude, great demeanor and willingness to assist others.” It cites his “professional, friendly, customer service-oriented approach to problem solving” and his “passion and continued willingness to go above and beyond for the customers of the district.”

Thank you, Jimi, for your service to our customers and community.

Thank You For Recycling Your Food Waste! It’s Helping!

Thank You For Recycling Your Food Waste! It’s Helping!

Photo: Put your yard/organics cart out weekly with your food waste in it, even if you don’t have any yard waste that week. (Interim yard/organic waste cart color shown here.)

You rock! Since Harrison started collecting residential food waste this year, hundreds of you have begun recycling your food waste for weekly collection.

For those who have not gotten on board – PLEASE DO.

It’s so easy: Instead of throwing your food waste in the trash, drop it into plastic or paper bags, seal the bags securely and toss them into your organic/yard waste cart. REMEMBER: Yard waste should be loose in the cart, but food waste MUST BE BAGGED! (No yard waste? No problem! Put the cart out by the curb anyway, for food waste collection!)

It’s so important: Food waste that’s not recycled ends up in the landfill. When organic material, such as food and yard waste, is landfilled, it decomposes and produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas contributing to climate change. Recycled food waste becomes compost, energy, animal feed and other green products. With little effort, you can help reduce the impacts of climate change.

Questions? Visit our food waste recycling page here.

We’re Hiring

We’re Hiring

If you’d like to work in Ventura County, for a reliable company that’s been around since 1932; if you like independence and a sense of accomplishment on the job; and if you’re a person who cares about others, about community, about sustainability and the environment … we hope you’ll consider a career with us at E.J. Harrison & Sons.

Harrison currently is hiring drivers, diesel mechanics and welders; check out our careers page, to keep up on new positions as they become available.

We are a diverse company, but everyone on the Harrison team shares a gratitude for our jobs and a full understanding of how important our work is: It is nothing less than saving the planet, by fighting climate change. In addition to constantly improving our recycling programs to divert as much waste as possible from the landfill, we are proud to be operating a fleet of carbon-free trucks and working for an award-winning Climate Registered company that’s recognized annually for its environmental stewardship.

We offer a competitive salary, excellent work conditions and benefits including a comprehensive package for your families’ medical, dental, vision and life insurance needs, 401(k) plans, and opportunities for advancement.

Harrison Industries is an equal opportunity employer committed to workforce diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

APPLY TO HARRISON TODAY, on our careers page.

Labor Day Holiday Collection Delay

Labor Day Holiday Collection Delay

In observance of the Labor Day holiday, employees of Harrison Industries will be taking the day off on Monday, Sept. 6. As a result, Harrison will collect trash, recycling and green waste one day later than usual during the week of Sept. 5-11.

The regular schedule will resume the following week.

Harrison Industries serves the cities and surrounding unincorporated areas of Ventura, Ojai and Camarillo as well as the unincorporated areas of El Rio, Somis, Ojai Valley and Channel Islands beach communities as E.J. Harrison and Sons; Fillmore and surrounding unincorporated areas as Santa Clara Valley Disposal; and Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park and surrounding unincorporated areas as Newbury Disposal.

REMINDER TO RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS: Put All 3 Carts Out Every Week!

REMINDER TO RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS: Put All 3 Carts Out Every Week!

You no longer have to remember which cart to put out each week. E.J. Harrison & Sons is now collecting ALL THREE carts – trash, recycling and yard waste – every week, at no additional charge!

Note: Your pickup day of the week will not change. Simply set out all three carts on your regularly scheduled pickup day.

This service upgrade will provide more room for you to recycle and allow Harrison to divert more recyclables and organics from the landfill. 

For additional information, call 805-647-1414.

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