Trash Sorting in Ventura County may not be the most exciting part of the day,

but it is one of the most important things Ventura County residents can do to support recycling, reduce landfill waste and keep local collection systems working efficiently.

At E.J. Harrison & Sons, sorting accuracy matters because every cart affects the larger waste and recycling process. When recyclable materials are placed in the trash cart, they may end up in the landfill instead of being recovered. When trash is placed in the recycling cart, it can slow down sorting and contaminate otherwise recyclable materials. When food waste is placed in the trash instead of being properly bagged and added to the organics cart, it contributes to methane-producing waste in the landfill.

For a Ventura County Trash Hauler serving thousands of customers,

small mistakes can add up quickly. E.J. Harrison collects trash from about 100,000 customers. According to the Trash Flash, Harrison may collect around 250 tons of residential green waste cart material in a day, and several tons of that material may actually be trash. That contamination has to be handled, sorted and removed before the organic material can continue through the proper recycling process.

Proper sorting also matters because landfill space is limited. Ventura County cannot easily create new landfill capacity, which makes it even more important to keep recyclable and organic materials out of the landfill whenever possible. Good intentions are not enough. Residents need to take the extra moment to check what belongs in each cart.

As a reminder,

food waste should be bagged and sealed securely before being placed in the organics cart. Yard waste should be placed loose in the cart. Recyclables should be clean, empty and loose, not placed inside plastic bags. Trash should be reserved for items that cannot be recycled or placed in the organics cart.

If you have not reviewed the guidelines recently, now is a good time. Proper sorting helps improve recycling, supports Food Waste Recycling efforts and keeps Ventura County Trash Service running more effectively for everyone.

Review the latest sorting guidelines at ejharrison.com/guidelines.

Trash, Recycling and Organics Collection Will Continue on Regular Schedule

Harrison Industries will maintain its regular trash, recycling and yard/organics waste collection schedule in Ventura County during the week of Independence Day, June 28 to July 4, 2026.

Independence Day falls on Saturday, July 4, this year, so there will be no changes to Harrison’s regular collection schedule.

Residential customers should place their trash, recycling and yard/organics waste carts at the curb on their regular collection day.

Remember: All Three Carts Can Go Out Every Week

Harrison’s residential customers can place all three carts curbside every week. Harrison collects trash, recycling and yard/organics waste weekly, including food waste, which is recyclable.

Food waste should be placed in closed paper or plastic bags before being tossed into the organics waste cart. This helps prevent contamination because food waste and yard waste are processed separately.

Even if you only have bagged food waste and no yard waste, you can still place the food waste bags in your organics cart and take it to the curb every week for pickup.

To learn more about food waste recycling and current state guidelines, visit our Food Waste Recycling page.

Make Food Waste Recycling a Weekly Habit

It is important to recycle food waste every week and make it part of your regular household routine.

In 2022, the State of California began requiring the diversion of food waste from landfills. Harrison customers play an important role in helping meet these requirements and supporting a cleaner, healthier environment.

Food waste recycling is the law, but it is also vital for the environment. When food waste breaks down in landfills, it emits methane gas, a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.

Thank You for Doing Your Part

Thank you for your role in the success of Harrison’s food waste recycling program. By placing bagged food waste in your organics cart every week, you are helping reduce landfill waste and protect the environment.

For more information about Harrison’s food waste recycling program, visit:
https://ejharrison.com/residential-food-waste/

Harrison Industries will maintain its regular trash, recycling, and yard/organics waste collection schedule in Ventura County during the week of Juneteenth, June 14–20.

The Juneteenth holiday falls on Friday, June 19. There will be no delay to residential collection service during the holiday week. Customers should place their carts curbside on their regular collection day.

Regular Weekly Collection Will Continue

Harrison residential customers can continue placing all three carts curbside every week:

• Trash
• Recycling
• Yard/organics waste

Harrison collects all waste weekly, including food waste, which is recyclable and should be placed in the organics waste cart.

Reminder: Food Waste Belongs in the Organics Cart

Food waste should be placed in closed paper or plastic bags before being tossed into the organics waste cart.

Even if you do not have yard waste, you can still place bagged food waste in your organics cart and set it out for weekly pickup.

Making food waste recycling part of your regular weekly routine helps support California’s statewide food waste recycling requirements and keeps organic material out of landfills.

Why Food Waste Recycling Matters

Food waste recycling is required by law in California, but it is also important for the environment.

When food waste breaks down in landfills, it releases methane, a harmful greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. By recycling food waste every week, Harrison customers help reduce methane emissions and support a cleaner, more sustainable Ventura County.

Thank you for your continued participation in Harrison’s food waste recycling program.

For more information, visit Harrison’s residential food waste recycling page:
https://ejharrison.com/residential-food-waste/

Refuse Collection Delayed One Day for Memorial Day Week

In observance of the Memorial Day holiday, employees of EJ Harrison & Sons will be taking the day off on Monday, May 25. As a result, residential trash, recycling, and organics collection services will occur one day later than normal during the week of May 24–30. Regular collection schedules will resume the following week.

Memorial Day Trash Pickup Schedule Change

Customers throughout Ventura County and surrounding service areas should place carts curbside one day later than their normal pickup day during the holiday week.

Weekly Waste Collection Reminder

Harrison Industries customers can place all three carts curbside every week:

• Trash cart
• Recycling cart
• Organics/yard waste cart

Harrison collects all waste weekly, including food waste recycling services for residential customers.

Food Waste Recycling Is Required in California

California law now requires food waste to be diverted from landfills. Residents play an important role in reducing environmental impact by properly recycling food waste every week.

All food waste should be placed inside sealed paper or plastic bags before being placed in the organics cart. Even if you do not have yard waste, food waste bags alone can still be placed in the organics cart for weekly pickup.

Why Food Waste Recycling Matters

Food waste that ends up in landfills produces methane gas, a harmful greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change and damages the environment. By recycling food waste properly, residents help reduce landfill waste and support a cleaner, more sustainable community.

Harrison Industries continues to lead California in developing programs and infrastructure that support successful organics and food waste recycling efforts. Community participation remains essential to the continued success of the program.

Learn More About Food Waste Recycling

For additional information about Harrison’s residential food waste recycling program, visit:
Residential Food Waste Recycling Program

Expanded regional food waste recycling is now operational for Ventura commercial customers.

A major step forward in Ventura County’s food waste recycling system is now fully operational.

Just months after opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, the Mountain View Organic Waste Processing Facility is already receiving commercial food waste collected by E.J. Harrison trucks directly from local routes. That means material is now moving faster through the recycling process, improving efficiency and helping businesses comply with California organic waste laws.

According to Agromin CEO Bill Camarillo, the facility is currently processing about 40 tons of material per day and producing a clean food waste slurry designed for multiple beneficial uses.

Why This Facility Matters

California Senate Bill 1383 requires businesses to divert food waste and other organic materials away from landfills in order to reduce methane emissions.

The Mountain View facility improves local capacity to process commercial food waste while reducing contamination issues that often slow recycling systems down.

One of the facility’s biggest strengths is contamination removal. Equipment is designed to separate food from common nonfood materials such as:

• plastic containers

• clamshell packaging

• bags

• glass

• metal

More than 95% of food material is being recovered from collected waste streams.

What Happens to the Recovered Material?

Once processed, the resulting clean slurry can be used for:

• animal feed

• fertilizer

• energy production

This creates a stronger circular waste system where commercial food waste becomes a usable resource instead of landfill material.

Trash Collection Schedule to Remain Unchanged for Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Regular Trash, Recycling, and Organics Pickup in Ventura County

Harrison Industries will maintain its regular trash, recycling, and yard/organics waste collection schedule throughout Ventura County during the week of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 18–24, 2026.

There will be no service delays or changes due to the holiday. Customers should place their carts curbside on their regularly scheduled collection day.

Weekly Collection for All Three Residential Carts

Harrison Industries provides weekly residential collection for trash, recycling, and organics carts. This includes weekly food waste pickup, which is required under California law.

Residents may place all three carts curbside every week, even if one or more carts are only partially full. Consistent participation supports efficient service and keeps recyclable materials out of landfills.

How to Properly Dispose of Food Waste

Bag Food Waste Before Placing It in the Organics Cart

All food waste must be placed in closed paper or plastic bags before being added to the organics waste cart. Bagging food waste helps reduce odors, prevents spills, and keeps carts clean.

Even if you do not have yard waste, you should still place bagged food waste in your organics cart and set it out for weekly collection.

Accepted Food Waste Materials

Examples of acceptable food waste include:

• Fruit and vegetable scraps
• Meat, poultry, and fish (raw or cooked)
• Dairy products
• Leftover or spoiled food
• Food-soiled paper such as napkins and paper towels

If the item came from the kitchen and is not liquid, it likely belongs in the organics cart when properly bagged.

Why Food Waste Recycling Is Important

Food waste recycling helps protect the environment and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

When food waste breaks down in landfills, it produces methane gas, a powerful contributor to climate change. Recycling food waste diverts organic material from landfills and allows it to be processed into compost or renewable energy.

Environmental benefits include:

• Reduced methane emissions
• Improved soil health
• Extended landfill lifespan
• A more sustainable local waste system

Thank You for Supporting Ventura County’s Food Waste Recycling Program

Harrison Industries thanks its residential customers for their continued participation. Every correctly sorted cart helps create a cleaner, healthier Ventura County.

If you have questions about sorting, acceptable materials, or your trash collection schedule, please contact Harrison Industries customer service or visit the request services link for more information.

Follow Us to Learn More 

Trash, recycling, and organics pickup will continue as scheduled during the week of Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Ventura County. Learn how to properly dispose of food waste and keep your collection on track by signing up for our newsletter or following us on social media at the links below. 

Holiday Trash Collection Schedule Changes

E.J. Harrison & Sons is reminding customers of minor trash collection schedule changes during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. In observance of Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, Harrison employees will be off on Thursday, Dec. 25, and Thursday, Jan. 1.

As a result, trash, recycling, and yard or organics waste will be collected one day later than usual during both holiday weeks for Thursday and Friday customers only. Customers with Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday service will not experience any delay. All routes will return to their regular schedule the following week.

See our full 2025 Holiday Schedule here.

Extra Holiday Trash Pickup at No Charge

To help customers manage additional waste during the holidays, Harrison is offering an extra holiday service. For two weeks following Christmas, customers may place up to twice the usual amount of residential trash at the curb at no additional cost.

From Friday, Dec. 26, through Monday, Jan. 16, extra trash bags may be placed alongside the regular trash cart on your scheduled pickup day. All extra trash must be bagged. Customers may also place additional recyclables next to their blue recycling cart, and all cardboard boxes should be flattened.

Easy Christmas Tree Recycling Program

Harrison also makes it easy to recycle Christmas trees after the holidays. From Dec. 26 through Jan. 16, customers can recycle their trees alongside their normal trash, recycling and organic waste pick-up.

The preferred method is to remove all decorations, including ornaments, hooks, lights, tinsel, and stands, then cut the tree into four-foot sections and place the pieces inside the organics or yard waste cart. Whole trees may also be placed at the curb on collection day if needed and flocked trees are also accepted.

Recycled Christmas trees are processed into mulch by Harrison’s partner, Agromin. The finished products support local farms, orchards, nurseries, landscaping projects, and home gardens, making tree recycling a simple way to give back to the environment.

Weekly Organics and Food Waste Collection Reminder

Remember, Harrison residential customers may place all three carts at the curb every week. Trash, recycling, and organics are collected weekly, including food waste.

Food waste should be placed in closed paper or plastic bags and then put into the organics waste cart. This helps prevent contamination, as food waste and yard waste are processed separately. Even if you only have food waste and no yard waste, the organics cart should still be placed curbside for weekly pickup.

Harrison thanks its customers, partners Agromin and Gold Coast Recycling, and local municipalities for participating in these holiday programs and helping keep Ventura County clean and sustainable.

Learn more about Food Waste Recycling here!

Thanksgiving Week Trash Collection Schedule for Harrison Customers

Harrison Industries will adjust service schedules for the Thanksgiving holiday. In observance of the holiday, employees will have Thursday, November 27 off. Because of this closure, customers with Thursday or Friday service will have their trash, recycling, and yard or organics collection delayed by one day during the week of November 23 to 29.

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday customers will not experience any changes. Normal collection schedules for all customers will resume the following week.

Holiday Reminder: Keep Recycling Your Food Waste

As we enter the holiday season, Harrison encourages all customers to continue recycling their food waste. This time of year traditionally produces a significant increase in food waste from Thanksgiving through the new year, making proper disposal more important than ever.

Residential customers can place all three carts at the curb each week. Harrison collects trash, recyclables, and yard or organics waste weekly, including food scraps. All food waste should be placed inside paper or plastic bags, securely tied, and then placed in the yard or organics cart.

Recycling food waste is required by state law and is one of the most effective ways to reduce harmful methane emissions from landfills. When food waste decomposes at a landfill, it emits methane, a major contributor to climate change. By participating in food waste recycling, you help protect the environment and keep our communities sustainable.

Harrison Industries appreciates your continued commitment to proper recycling and waste reduction. Your efforts directly support the success of our food waste recycling program and help create a cleaner future for Ventura County.

For more information on Food Waste Recycling guidelines and tips, visit https://ejharrison.com/food-waste/.