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.

Harrison to maintain trash collection schedule during the week of Veterans Day

Harrison to maintain trash collection schedule during the week of Veterans Day

Harrison Industries will maintain its regular trash, recycling and yard/organic waste collection schedule during the week of Veterans Day, Nov. 6-12, 2022. The holiday will not affect customers’ service.

 

A reminder that Harrison’s residential customers can place all three carts curbside every week, as Harrison collects all waste weekly – including food waste, which is now recyclable. All food waste should be placed in closed bags and the bags should be tossed in the yard waste cart.

We at Harrison would like to thank all of our customers for your role in the success of food waste recycling, which took effect in January according to California Senate Bill 1383. Food waste recycling is the law, but more importantly, it’s vital for the environment. Food waste emits destructive methane gas as it decays, damaging our atmosphere and causing global warming.

Our effort has continued to evolve and grow this year, thanks to your participation and help from our partner cities and counties, Agromin and Gold Coast Recycling. 

 

We continue to be a statewide leader on developing the programs and infrastructure needed to implement this ambitious project and we wouldn’t be as successful without your participation.

 

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, the Channel Islands beach communities and the city of Carpinteria as E.J. Harrison & Sons; Fillmore and surrounding unincorporated areas as Santa Clara Valley Disposal; and the unincorporated areas of Newbury Park as Newbury Disposal. 

 

 

Fourth of July holiday delays trash pickup

Fourth of July holiday delays trash pickup

In observance of the Independence Day holiday, employees of Harrison Industries will be taking the day off on Monday, July 4th. As a result, Harrison will collect trash, recycling and yard/organic waste one day later than usual during the week of July 3-9. The regular schedule will resume the following week.

You can find the full EJ Harrison holiday schedule here

Harrison Earns New Contract in Carpinteria

Harrison Earns New Contract in Carpinteria

The Carpinteria City Council voted 4-0 on May 23 to approve a new Solid Waste Handling Services Franchise Agreement with E.J. Harrison & Sons, Inc.

The new 15-year contract, with the option for two 5-year extensions, will take effect July 1. Renegotiation of the existing contract, set to expire Dec. 31, was spurred by state Senate Bill 1383, which requires food waste recycling and other measures to combat climate change.

Existing programs, including community cleanups and free bulky item pickups for single-family homes, will continue under the new contract. New or expanded programs will include free bulky item pickups for multi-family residences, collection of residential and commercial organic waste, and SB 1383 compliance monitoring.

“The new contract allows the city of Carpinteria the comfort of knowing they will be in compliance with SB 1383,” said Daniel Harrison, the company’s contract compliance manager. “The contract negotiations went well because it was the ultimate team effort. We trust each other and have open communication. We are excited to service the city of Carpinteria for the next 25 years.” 

E.J. Harrison, which is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year and has served Carpinteria since 1993, earned praise from the four council members May 23 (Councilwoman Natalia Alarcon was absent). “It’s great to see you guys again, and thank you for being part of Carpinteria,” Vice Mayor Al Clark told Harrison representatives. “We really appreciate your services.”

Harrison Industries does business throughout Ventura County, as well as in Carpinteria in Santa Barbara County, as E.J. Harrison & Sons, Santa Clara Valley Disposal and Newbury Disposal.

Agromin in the Spotlight

Agromin in the Spotlight

The incredible work being done by Agromin is no secret to us at Harrison Industries, and now the word about our Oxnard-based partner is being spread across the world by BioCycle.

Agromin, one of California’s largest organic waste recyclers, was featured in the May 10 online issue of BioCycle, a worldwide authority on organics recycling since 1960. 

Written by Nora Goldstein, the in-depth article tells the whole story of Agromin – from its early days trimming trees for utility companies to its current efforts to meet the demands created by new state rules on recycling food and other organic waste.

“Agromin is poised to increase its organic waste processing capacity considerably in 2022 to help cities, counties and other jurisdictions throughout California meet the organic waste mandates,” Agromin CEO Bill Camarillo tells BioCycle. Agromin last year composted more than 1 million tons of organics, now manages 21 processing and composting facilities throughout the state, and has three more in the works, the BioCycle story says.

It’s a great, well-written article, and I encourage you to read it at biocycle.net/california-composter-poised-to-process-more-organics.

Special 90th Anniversary Honors for Harrison

Special 90th Anniversary Honors for Harrison

It was a grand event May 19 at the Museum of Ventura County as the Pacific Coast Business Times honored Harrison Industries as Family-Owned Company of the Year during its 90th year in business.

With many dignitaries and Harrison business colleagues attending, it was a fun and rewarding night as the Harrison brothers saluted the past, present and future.

Introduced by Times Founder and Editor Henry Dubroff, the brothers thanked and gave credit to their parents, E.J. and Myra Harrison, who started the business in 1932 during the Depression. The couple discussed business and kept the books at the kitchen table, never dreaming that their one truck would one day grow into one of the largest family-owned trash companies in California.

The founders’ core values of “service is everything” and giving back to the community — not only by donating to local charities but also by serving on their boards — are alive and well. Another practice that never changed is salvaging anything that can be reused or sold. In the early days this helped the company survive, and today the same type of activities now occurs at Harrison’s Gold Coast Recycling and Transfer Station in Ventura.

Care for the environment and love of the land were taught to E.J. by his farming parents and passed down to his children. Today, this core value means creating new programs to promote sustainability and fight climate change.

Myron Harrison called Bill Camarillo, the CEO of Agromin, to the stage. The company was started by Bill and the Harrisons in 1993. They recognized early on the importance of recycling organic waste.

Today, many of the brothers’ children and grandchildren are involved in the business. Myron’s final comment was that while they are proud of Harrison’s generational roots, they’re just as excited about current projects such as the Limoneira Commercial Organics and Mountain View Food Waste recycling facilities. These projects help them keep their eyes on the future.

Also honored at the May 19 event were Jesus “Chuy” Loza, co-founder of Freska Produce, and the Deckers and Hardy Diagnostics companies. Much thanks to City National Bank and Wastequip for their sponsorships and wonderful full-page ads.

Refuse Collection Delayed One Day for Memorial Day Holiday

Refuse Collection Delayed One Day for Memorial Day Holiday

In observance of the Memorial Day holiday, employees of Harrison Industries
will be taking the day off on Monday, May 30. As a result, Harrison will collect
trash, recycling and yard/organic waste one day later than usual during the
week of May 29 to June 4. The regular schedule will resume the following
week.

 To see EJ Harrison’s full Holiday Schedule, follow the link below.

Please Recycle Your Food Waste!

Please Recycle Your Food Waste!

As most of our customers know, Harrison is now accepting residential food waste for weekly collection and recycling. We hope everyone is taking advantage of this invaluable new service.

Simply place all of your food waste in plastic or paper bags; securely close the bags (tie off plastic bags and tightly fold paper bags); and place them in your yard waste carts, for collection along with your (loose) yard waste on your regular service day.

NOTE: FOOD WASTE MUST BE BAGGED, so we can separate it out for use as compost, fertilizer, animal feed and other green products.

Food waste recycling is not just the right thing to do; it’s the law, as set forth in California Senate Bill 1383, which took effect in January as a mandate to set our state on the right path toward reversing climate change. Food waste emits destructive methane gas as it decays, damaging our atmosphere and causing global warming.

ALL FOOD WASTE is accepted for recycling, including bones, peels, shells and coffee grounds. DO NOT place trash; non-organic recyclables (plastic, metal, glass); pet waste; or Styrofoam in yard waste carts.


Click here for all the information, including a complete Q&A, on food waste recycling.

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