Reducing Methane Is Everyone’s Business

Reducing Methane Is Everyone’s Business

A worldwide heat wave in June

set off alarms for climate watchers around the globe and produced a collection of frightening headlines. Among them:

While food waste recycling is now the law in the state, headlines like these should inspire all Californians to pitch in where they can. And when businesses and individuals follow the state’s food waste recycling requirements, they help lower production of a so-called “super pollutant”: methane. And reducing methane is the quickest way to fight climate change, officials say.

Methane is caused by anaerobic decomposition of organic waste,

food-waste-from-cutting-strawberries

like food scraps, in landfills. It is 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide when it comes to global warming, according to the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, or CalRecycle.

A May 2023 report by the nonprofit, nonpartisan Environmental Integrity Project – “Trashing the Climate: Methane from Municipal Landfills” – said Americans throw out about 40 percent of their food. 

“Food waste, in particular, is a growing problem that can be addressed,” the report said. 

Recognizing this, California in 2016 passed Senate Bill 1383, which added food materials to the list of landscaping, agricultural and other green waste that should be recycled by commercial and residential customers. It went into effect on Jan. 1, 2022.

Harrison Industries began a pilot program for commercial food waste recycling

years ago. The program has continued to evolve and expand these past two years, thanks to your participation and help from our cities, counties and business partners Agromin and Gold Coast Recycling.

Compost-recyclables-landfill-commercial-trash-ej-harrison-industriesUnder SB 1383, commercial customers must recycle all their organic waste, including food waste, unless they have a waiver. Among business requirements:

  • Businesses must either subscribe to and participate in recycling and organics curbside collection service OR self-haul recyclables and organic waste to a recycling or composting facility. 
  • Businesses must ensure they have adequate access to both recycling and organics recycling services for their employees, contractors, customers and tenants, including supplying and allowing access to an adequate number, size and location of containers with either sufficient labeling or appropriate color.
  • All businesses except for multifamily properties must provide recycling and organics recycling bins next to each trash bin (except in restrooms) for their employees, contractors, tenants and customers to use.
  • Businesses must annually provide information to employees, contractors, tenants and customers about waste diversion requirements and about the proper sorting of waste. Businesses must prohibit their employees from placing organic waste and recyclables in the wrong bins.
  • Businesses must inspect trash, recycling and organic waste bins for contamination on a quarterly basis. If waste collection bins are found to be contaminated, employees need to be informed of the requirement to sort waste properly.
  • A business may seek approval from its municipality for a waiver if it generates a minimal amount of paper, cardboard and organic waste or if it doesn’t have adequate space for recycling and organic waste bins.

Every business customer of Harrison must participate in the recycling program. 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.

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Refuse Collection Delayed One Day for Labor Day 2024

Refuse Collection Delayed One Day for Labor Day 2024

In observance of the Labor Day holiday,

employees of Harrison Industries will be taking the day off on Monday, Sept. 2. As a result, Harrison will collect trash, recycling and yard/organics waste one day later than usual during the week of Sept. 1-7. The regular schedule will resume the following week.

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

It’s important to recycle your food waste EVERY WEEK

and establish this as a regular habit. In 2022, the state of California began to require the diversion of food waste from landfills, and your efforts are needed. Even if you only have food waste bags and no yard waste, you can still put the food waste bags in your organics waste cart and take it to the curb every week for pickup.

Thank you for your role in the success of our food waste recycling program. 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. We all have to do our part and make food waste recycling a daily habit.

For more information on Harrison’s food waste recycling program, please visit https://ejharrison.com/residential-food-waste/.
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It’s Easy To Recycle Your Food Waste

It’s Easy To Recycle Your Food Waste

Breaking old habits can be hard.

But when it comes to recycling food waste, Harrison Industries is committed to making it easier for everyone to change their trash habits. If you haven’t started recycling your food waste, it’s time to start. Not only will you be helping save our planet from climate change, you’ll be helping California meet its goal of cutting organic waste in our landfills.

Signed into law in 2016,

California Senate Bill 1383 added food waste to the list of organic materials that should be recycled by commercial and residential customers, effective Jan. 1, 2022.

Decomposing organic waste emits methane, a potent greenhouse gas 84 times worse than carbon dioxide’s damaging contribution to climate change. California
aims to cut 75 percent of organic waste ending up in landfills by 2025 (with the 2014 amount as the baseline).

The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle)

recently issued an update on SB 1383 implementation, and the numbers were encouraging. CalRecycle said:

  • Almost 100 percent of California communities reported expanding commercial organic waste collection programs.
  • About 75 percent reported they had residential organics collection programs in place.
  • Disposal of organic materials at landfills declined by 2 million tons from 2014 to 2021, before SB 1383 even took full effect in 2022.
  • California now has 206 organic waste processing facilities, and 20 more are being built.

If you’re not participating yet, it’s easy to start. ALL FOOD WASTE is accepted for recycling, including bones, peels, shells and coffee grounds. Just place food waste
in tied plastic bags or tightly folded paper bags and place them in your yard/organic waste cart for collection on your regular service day.

REMEMBER:Tying-a-Plastic-Bag-with-food-waste-EJ-Harrison-Industries-Trash-Hauler-Ventura-County

Food waste must be bagged, while yard waste should be loose. And even if you only have bags of food waste and no yard waste, put the cart out by
the curb anyway.

Harrison began a pilot program for commercial food waste recycling years ago. And we’d like to thank our customers for their crucial participation and commitment to this climate-saving effort. The program has continued to evolve
and expand thanks to help from our partner cities and counties, and our business partners, Agromin and Gold Coast Recycling.

Questions?

View our food waste FAQ or visit our food waste recycling page online, at ejharrison.com/food-waste.

 

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California Adds Wine and Liquor Bottles to Redemption Program

California Adds Wine and Liquor Bottles to Redemption Program

The new year brought a major change to the recycling of wine and liquor bottles and containers in California.

On Jan.1, wine and distilled spirits were added to the California Redemption Value (CRV) program. The change was authorized by state Senate Bill 1013, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2022. Under the law, deposits for wine (including alcohol-removed brands) and distilled spirits are:

  • 5 cents for aluminum, glass, plastic or bimetal containers under 24 ounces
  • 10 cents for containers 24 ounces and larger (a typical wine bottle)
  • 25 cents for all boxes, bladders or pouches

Redemption and deposit value for these containers began on Jan. 1. However, some containers may not yet have the value on their labels. The law gives manufacturers until July 1, 2025, to add the information. The law also authorizes funding, market development and infrastructure improvements to promote glass recycling.

Our business partner, the Gold Coast Recycling & Transfer Station, pays top prices for:

  • CRV aluminum cans
  • CRV plastics 1 through 7
  • CRV bimetal
  • CRV glass

Find their Buy-Back Center at 5275 Colt St. in Ventura. Hours are 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.

Recyclables must be separated into categories of plastic, aluminum and glass. For more information, call 805-642-9236 or visit goldcoastrecycling.com. To learn more about the state CRV program, go to Calrecycle.ca.gov/bevcontainer.

 

Harrison logo with flags in the background
Independence Day holiday delays trash pickup for Thursday and Friday customers

Independence Day holiday delays trash pickup for Thursday and Friday customers

In observance of the Independence Day holiday,

employees of Harrison Industries will be taking the day off on Thursday, July 4. As a result, Harrison will collect trash, recycling and yard/organic waste one day later than usual for all Thursday and Friday customers during the week of June 30 to July 6. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday customers are not affected. The regular schedule will resume the following week.

 

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

 

It’s important to recycle your food waste EVERY WEEK and establish this as a regular habit. In 2022, the state of California began to require the diversion of food waste from landfills, and your efforts are needed. Even if you only have food waste bags and no yard waste, you can still put the food waste bags in your organics waste cart and take it to the curb every week for pickup.

 

Thank you for your role in the success of our food waste recycling program. 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. We all have to do our part and make food waste recycling a daily habit. 

 

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

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Trash Collection Schedule to Remain Unchanged for Juneteenth

Trash Collection Schedule to Remain Unchanged for Juneteenth

Harrison Industries will maintain its regular trash, recycling and yard/organic waste collection schedule in Ventura County during the week of Juneteenth, June 16-22. The holiday this year is on Wednesday, June 19.

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

It’s important to recycle your food waste EVERY WEEK and establish this as a regular habit. The state of California in 2022 began to require the diversion of food waste from landfills, and your efforts are needed. Even if you only have food waste bags and no yard waste, you can still put the food waste bags in your organics waste cart and take it to the curb every week for pickup.

Thank you for your role in the success of our food waste recycling program. 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. We all have to do our part and make food waste recycling a daily habit.

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

Juneteenth-Web-Banner-Ej-harrison-and-Sons-Inc
Refuse Collection Delayed One Day for Memorial Day 2024

Refuse Collection Delayed One Day for Memorial Day 2024

In observance of the Memorial Day holiday, employees of Harrison Industries will be taking the day off on Monday, May 27. As a result, Harrison will collect trash, recycling and yard/organic waste one day later than usual during the week of May 26 to June 1. The regular schedule will resume the following week.

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

It’s important to recycle your food waste EVERY WEEK. The state of California in 2022 began to require the diversion of food waste from landfills, and your efforts are needed. Even if you only have food waste bags and no yard waste, you can still put the food waste bags in your organics waste cart and take it to the curb every week for pickup.

Thank you for your role in the success of our food waste recycling program. 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.

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

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

See our Full Holiday Schedule

Holiday Schedule

 

Harrison logo with flags in the background
Trash Collection Schedule Unchanged during Presidents Day Week

Trash Collection Schedule Unchanged during Presidents Day Week

Harrison Industries will maintain its regular trash, recycling and yard/organic waste collection schedules during the week of Presidents Day, Feb. 18-24.

Remember that Harrison’s residential customers can place all three carts curbside every week, as Harrison collects all waste weekly. This includes 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.

Thank you for your role in the success of food waste recycling. 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. We continue to be a statewide leader in developing the programs and infrastructure needed to implement this ambitious project and we wouldn’t be as successful without your participation.

See our Full Holiday Schedule

Holiday Schedule

 

Mount Rushmore in snow
Ralph Harrison Dead at 89

Ralph Harrison Dead at 89

Local corporate leader was eldest son of pioneering family that
first brought trash collection and recycling to Ventura County

 

VENTURA, California – Local business and philanthropic icon Ralph Harrison has died. The longtime president of E.J. Harrison & Sons trash collection company died on Saturday of natural causes, his family announced. Funeral arrangements are pending.

Ralph was born in Ventura on Nov. 14, 1934, to E.J. and Myra Harrison, who founded Harrison Industries nearly 92 years ago, in 1932. Ralph later bought a ranch in Bardsdale, where he last lived.

The eldest of the Harrisons’ three sons, Ralph joined the family business in 1963 and watched it grow from a relatively small local company to the major corporation it is today. Working with local community partners at Gold Coast Recycling and Agromin, Harrison Industries currently serves 90,000 residential and commercial customers throughout Ventura County and in Carpinteria, in Santa Barbara County.

As corporate president, Ralph was in charge of Harrison’s fleet operations, the maintenance and service departments and inventory controls and he headed up an extensive research and development department. Most of Harrison Industries’ innovations are due to Ralph’s ingenuity and he held many patents.

 

Ralph’s son Lynn Ralph Harrison, a longtime Harrison employee, took over his father’s responsibilities eight months ago and will continue to do so. Ralph’s brothers, Jim and Myron, also will continue to run the business.

In addition to his leadership at Harrison Industries, Ralph was well known throughout the Ventura County community. He was longtime president of the Ventura County Waste Disposal Association, which was formed in the early 1970s by his father, and also served on the California Refuse Recycling Council. As a member of these and other professional trash/recycling organizations, Ralph attended many trash industry seminars and conferences throughout the United States and Canada. He was active in other ways in his community, as well. Among his many affiliations, he was a longtime board member of the Ventura County Fair Foundation.

Ralph along with his brothers gave generously over the years to countless community organizations and causes. Among their most notable donations, the Harrisons made the largest contribution to the building of the new Community Memorial Hospital, and the Ventura Boys & Girls Club has a clubhouse in Saticoy because of Ralph and his brothers’ generosity. The Santa Clara Valley Boys & Girls Club was also very close to Ralph’s heart, as were local 4-H clubs, to whom he often donated livestock to raise.

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