Ventura County, CA Trash & Recycling: Bin Placement Rules (2026)

Cart placement rules in unincorporated Ventura County are set by the County's franchised haulers, Athens Services and EJ Harrison & Sons, to allow automated side-loading trucks to service each cart. Residents should have all three carts (trash, recycling, and organics) out by 6 a.m. on their collection day. Each cart should be placed two to three feet away from the other carts and from objects such as mailboxes and parked cars, with the wheels facing the curb so the truck's mechanical arm can grasp and lift it. Carts that are crowded together, blocked by vehicles, or set out facing the wrong direction may be missed. The County's published residential placement guidance is consistent across haulers and reflects standard automated-collection practice. Beyond collection-day placement, carts are expected to be stored on the resident's property between pickups rather than left at the curb, consistent with the County's general property-maintenance expectations. On narrow, shared, or private-access roads, residents with placement difficulties should contact their hauler, which can advise on alternate set-out points. To confirm collection day and any address-specific placement instructions, residents can contact their assigned provider directly or use the Ventura County Public Works residential collection resources to identify their hauler.