The Mountain View Organic Waste Processing Facility in Oxnard,

continues to draw attention for its role in local Food Waste Recycling. Since its official grand opening in November of 2025, the facility has been recognized by local media and recycling industry publications for its technology, processing capabilities and importance to organic waste diversion.

The facility is operated by E.J. Harrison’s partners at Agromin. Agromin currently recycles 40 tons of food waste per day at the Mountain View facility and has the capacity to process as much as 300 tons per day.

The New Mountain View Facility

plays an important role in both commercial and residential food waste recycling. E.J. Harrison trucks that pick up food waste from commercial customers take that material directly to Mountain View. Residential food waste is first separated from other materials in organics carts at Gold Coast Recycling in Ventura, then transported to Mountain View for processing.

At the facility, food waste moves through advanced equipment and processes that remove nonfood material and prepare the organic material for beneficial uses. The finished material can support composting or energy production, helping reduce the amount of organic waste sent to landfills.

This matters because food waste in landfills produces methane, a climate-harming gas. Diverting food waste from landfills is a key part of California’s organic waste reduction goals and local sustainability efforts. For Ventura County residents, participating is straightforward: collect food scraps, bag them securely and place them in the organics waste cart.

The Attention Mountain View has Received

from recycling industry publications and local media reflects the importance of building systems that can manage food waste at scale. But the system still depends on daily participation from customers. Proper sorting at the cart helps keep trash, plastic and other contaminants out of the food waste stream.

As a Ventura County Trash Hauler, E.J. Harrison is proud to work with partners like Agromin and Gold Coast Recycling to support practical, local solutions for organic waste. Every properly sorted organics cart helps move food waste away from landfills and into a better recycling pathway.

Learn more about food waste recycling at ejharrison.com/food-waste.

Photos by Brendan Daly with WhizCom Marketing.

A new California bag law went into effect on Jan. 1, 2026,

changing the types of bags stores can provide at checkout. Senate Bill 1053 restricts point-of-sale carryout bags and is intended to reduce plastic bag waste. California had already banned single-use plastic bags at checkout counters years ago.

However, the earlier law did not create the intended reduction in plastic bag use. Some businesses began offering thicker plastic bags that were considered reusable. According to the Trash Flash, the tonnage of grocery and merchandise bags disposed of by Californians increased by 47% between 2014 and 2022.

The New California Bag Law

responds to that issue by no longer allowing those thicker plastic carryout bags. Stores may now provide customers with recycled paper carryout bags for a minimum charge of 10 cents per bag.

For Ventura residents, the most practical solution is simple: bring reusable bags when shopping. Reusable grocery bags are affordable, strong and often hold more than paper bags. Keeping a few in your car or near the door can make it easier to remember them before heading into the store.

Reducing Plastic Bag Use Matters

Plastic has long-term environmental impacts. Plastic does not biodegrade the way organic materials do. Instead, it breaks into smaller and smaller pieces over time, creating microplastics and nanoplastics that can pollute the environment. Plastic bags and bottles are part of a larger global plastic pollution problem affecting oceans and waterways.

This law also connects to broader waste-reduction efforts across Ventura County. Proper sorting, recycling and Food Waste Recycling all depend on keeping the wrong materials out of the wrong places. Plastic bags should not be placed in recycling carts, and they do not belong in organics carts.

As your Ventura County Trash Hauler, E.J. Harrison encourages residents to make small daily changes that reduce waste and support cleaner communities. Bringing reusable bags is one of the easiest steps to take.

Review local recycling and trash guidelines at ejharrison.com/guidelines.

Food Waste Recycling is a Team Effort

That includes E.J. Harrison truck drivers, Gold Coast Recycling sorting in Ventura, Agromin and the Mountain View Organic Waste Processing Facility in Oxnard developing end products for sustainable use in farms and gardens.

When you properly bag your food waste, place it in your E.J. Harrison & Sons organics cart and close the lid, you have completed an important first step. But your food waste’s journey is only beginning.

Each step helps move food waste away from the landfill and toward more useful environmental outcomes.

The process begins on residential collection routes.

Harrison drivers empty organics carts into their trucks, where bagged food waste joins yard trimmings, plants, cut grass and branches. Once the trucks are full, drivers take the material to Gold Coast Recycling in Ventura. There, the load is emptied onto the floor and sorted. Equipment and workers help separate trash, green waste and bagged food waste.

Once the bagged food waste is separated from the green waste, it is added to a large roll-off container. When the container is full, it is transported to Agromin’s Mountain View Organic Waste Processing Facility in Oxnard.

At the Mountain View Facility,

food waste is emptied into a hopper and moves through a series of machines and processes. Those systems remove nonfood material and compress the remaining food waste into a clean slurry. That material is then stored in tanks. According to the Trash Flash, much of the material is currently shipped to a wastewater plant, where it can ultimately become renewable natural gas and be pumped into a pipeline. It can also be used for fertilizer production and compost enrichment.

This process shows why proper sorting at home matters. Trash, plastic, pet waste, glass, metal and other contaminants do not belong in the organics cart. Food waste should be securely bagged, while yard waste should be placed loose in the cart.

As your local Ventura County Trash Hauler, E.J. Harrison is proud to support a system that helps reduce methane-producing food waste in landfills and turn discarded material into useful green products.

Learn more about food waste recycling at ejharrison.com/food-waste.

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/