The City of Ventura has long maintained a strong environmental commitment to a healthy, beautiful, and sustainable community. In support of this effort, the City is actively working with stakeholders to enhance recycling efforts and reduce material sent to the Toland landfill.
On July 5, 2021, E.J. Harrison & Sons expanded weekly trash collection service to include all three carts, trash, recycling, and yard waste – every week, at no additional charge. Now, residents don’t need to worry about which bins goes to the curb each week. Additionally, this service upgrade provides more room to recycle and allows more recyclables and organics to be diverted from the landfill.
In the coming months and years to come, City staff and E.J. Harrison & Sons will take additional steps toward reducing landfill-bound waste. This includes the collection and recycling of food waste as well as replacing Ventura’s waste carts with new ones that are uniformly colored statewide for trash, recycling, and organic material. State laws, including California Senate Bill 1383, have mandated food waste and barrel color changes.
Another recent waste management improvement is the City’s ban of expanded polystyrene (EPS) containers used by food and beverage providers. Commonly known as Styrofoam, EPS food containers are a prevalent form of litter found in storm drains, creeks, rivers, beaches, parks, and open spaces. The EPS ban went into effect on July 1, 2021.
Types of banned EPS items include, but are not limited to, cups, plates, bowls, meat trays, clamshells, and coolers that are not wholly encapsulated by another material. Food providers may choose any non-EPS product to replace banned EPS products.
City staff is actively working with local businesses distributing EPS to support the transition away from EPS and providing a one-year exemption for those experiencing financial hardship.
While growing pains are anticipated during the implementation of these changes, these efforts are aimed at cleaning up our waste stream, curbing greenhouse gas emissions, protecting our beaches, improving recycling efforts, and supporting a beautiful community for generations to come.
For more information, contact the City of Ventura’s Environmental Sustainability Division at www.CityofVentura.ca.gog/ES or call 805-652-4525. To reach E.J. Harrison & Sons, call 805-647-1414.
