Ventura County, CA Trash & Recycling: Mandatory Organics Recycling (2026)

Organic-waste recycling is mandatory in unincorporated Ventura County, driven by California Senate Bill 1383, which took effect January 1, 2022, to cut methane emissions by diverting food scraps, yard trimmings, food-soiled paper, and other organics from landfills. The County implements SB 1383 locally through its Code of Ordinances (Division 4, Chapter 7, Article 3) and Ordinance No. 4590, approved December 7, 2021. All unincorporated-area residents have access to curbside organics collection in a green cart through the franchised haulers Athens Services and EJ Harrison & Sons, and residents can request free indoor kitchen food-scrap pails from their hauler. Per the County, all food waste may be placed in the residential organics cart - including meat and bones, fish, dairy, and peels and pits - and food should be placed in a paper or plastic bag and securely tied before going in the cart, with yard and food waste combined in the same green cart. Commercial generators (including multifamily complexes of five or more units) face additional duties under Section 4770-4: they must arrange organic-waste collection, provide proper containers and signage, and subscribe to a service level matching their volume, unless they self-haul and register or obtain an approved waiver (such as a physical-space-constraints or de minimis waiver). A two-tier edible-food-recovery mandate also applies to larger food businesses (Tier One from 2022, Tier Two from 2024). The County enforces these requirements through investigation of reported concerns.