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Ventura, CA Trash & Recycling: Recycling Requirements (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified June 2026

Key Facts

Blue cart required
All residents and businesses
Accepted
Paper, cardboard, plastics #1–7, metal cans, glass
Not accepted
Bags, foam, food-soiled paper, e-waste, batteries
Commercial threshold
≥4 cy/wk solid waste = mandatory recycling (AB 341)
State law
PRC §42649 (AB 341), PRC §42652.5 (SB 1383)
Plastic bag ban
Statewide SB 270. Pub. Res. Code §42280

Summary

California's Mandatory Commercial Recycling Act (AB 341, PRC §42649) and the Mandatory Organic Waste Recycling Act (SB 1383, PRC §42652.5) require every resident and business to separate recyclables into the blue cart. SBMC Ch. 6.500 Article 5 (Organic Waste Recycling) and §6.500.540 (Requirements for commercial businesses) implement these state mandates locally. Commercial businesses generating ≥4 cubic yards/week of solid waste must subscribe to recycling service.

California's Organic Waste Reduction SB 1383 Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy. Landfilled food and other organic waste rotting in landfills emits methane climate pollution contributing to California's hotter summers, more frequent droughts, and more wildfires. To reduce methane pollution and other short-lived climate pollutants, California passed SB 1383 (Lara, 2016). The law set targets for 2025: 75% less organic waste sent to landfills. 20% of unsold, still-edible food sent to food recovery organizations. Landfills Are Third Largest Source of Methane in California. Organic waste in landfills emits: 20% of the state's methane, a climate super pollutant that heats 84 times more than carbon dioxide. Air pollutants like PM 2.5, which contributes to health conditions like asthma. Organics like food scraps, yard trimmings, paper, and cardboard make up half of what Californians dump in landfills. Cutting short-lived climate pollutants can have the fastest impact on the climate. Collections: All jurisdictions need to provide organic waste collection services to all residents and businesses, and recycle organic waste. Procurement: Procurement requirement information. Jurisdictions must use the products made from the recycled organic material, such as compost and mulch. Food Recovery: Some food service businesses must donate unsold food to food recovery organizations to help some of the 1 in 5 Californians without enough to eat. Capacity Planning: Counties must take the lead to plan for needed organic waste recycling and food recovery capacity. Enforcement: Enforcement provisions support jurisdictions, non-local entities, local education districts, state, and federal facilities. Recordkeeping: Entities must maintain records used for compliance inspections required by local and state agencies. Jurisdictions: Requirements for city, county, and special districts with solid waste collection.

Source: CalRecycle SB 1383View official code

Full Breakdown

Blue-cart recyclables collected by Harrison include: paper (newspaper, junk mail, cardboard flattened), plastic bottles and containers #1–#7, aluminum and steel cans, glass bottles and jars, and clean paperboard. Contaminants that get a cart tagged: plastic bags (return to grocery store), polystyrene/Styrofoam, food-soiled paper (goes in green cart), needles, batteries, e-waste, and yard waste. Multi-family complexes (5+ units) must provide either separate recycling carts or central bins per AB 341. Commercial businesses generating ≥4 cy/week solid waste must subscribe to recycling under SBMC §6.500.540 and AB 341. Under SB 1383, contaminated loads trigger education and, after notice, monetary penalties; jurisdictions may impose minimum $50/$100/$500 escalating fines per PRC §42652.5(g). California's plastic-bag ban (SB 270, codified at Pub. Resources Code §42280 et seq.) preempts local bag rules, single-use carryout plastic bags are banned statewide; thicker reusable bags carry a 10-cent minimum charge.

Violations & Fines

Failure to separate recyclables, contamination of the blue cart, or commercial non-subscription violates SBMC Ch. 6.500 Art. 5 and state law. Initial response is contamination-tag education; persistent violations escalate to administrative fines: $100 / $200 / $500 (Gov. Code §36900(b)). Commercial generators above thresholds can face state CalRecycle enforcement under PRC §42652.5.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to recycle in Ventura?
Yes. State law (AB 341 / SB 1383) plus SBMC Ch. 6.500 Article 5 require source separation of recyclables. Every subscriber gets a blue cart; commercial businesses ≥4 cy/wk must subscribe to recycling service.
Can I put plastic bags in the blue cart?
No. Plastic bags jam sorting equipment and contaminate loads. Return them to grocery stores with film-plastic recycling. California banned single-use plastic carryout bags statewide under SB 270.
What happens if I contaminate the blue cart?
Harrison tags contaminated carts and may refuse collection. Under SB 1383 (PRC §42652.5) the city can issue escalating fines after notice, typically $100 / $200 / $500.

Sources & Official References

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