IWMD - Frequently Asked Questions - Ventura County Public Works Agency

If your business is located inside a city, we will direct you to your city recycling coordinator. If your business is located within unincorporated Ventura County, we offer a few ways to help such as sending staff to examine your waste and make recommendations for which items to reduce, reuse, or recycle. In other cases, we direct contracted waste collection companies (“haulers”) to conduct this waste assistance on our behalf. We can also provide some types of containers inside offices and break rooms, your hauler can provide other types of containers, and we can help you choose additional containers and signs for purchase.

For Water and Sanitation Department frequently asked questions, please click here, W&S

Do I need to rinse out bottles and cans before putting them in my curbside recycling container?

No. But as a courtesy to workers who collect and sort your recyclables, you should empty containers to the point where no drips or chunks will fall out and make stinky messes in their workplace.

Recycling Market Development Zone (RMDZ) program

What incentives help businesses make products from recycled materials?

The County does not fund commercial recycling efforts, but it can assist businesses with receiving incentives for businesses to make products from discarded material. For example, the Ventura County Recycling Market Development Zone helps businesses with state-provided loans and grants or such things as local site selection, permitting, partnerships, and obtaining materials for manufacturing.

Composting

Can I get a free compost bin?

If your home is located inside a city, we will direct you to your city recycling coordinator. If your business is located within unincorporated Ventura County, the best way for you to get a compost bin is to buy one from a local garden store or a home improvement store. The County also has a compost demonstration site at the Ventura County Government Center, with self-guided signs and examples of bins. In some cases, such as for vermiculture bins starting at schools, we can give you some worms to help you start.

Can I put my household food waste in my yard waste cart?

Yes, all food waste may be placed in residential yard waste carts. All food scraps are accepted including meat & bones, fish, dairy, peels & pits, cobs, egg shells and coffee grinds. Food scraps must be in a paper or plastic bag and securely tied.

NEWS ARTICLES

Where can I find past articles from the County’s “Eco-tip” or “Eye on the Environment” weekly news column?

Past articles can be found by visiting the following:

– Ventura County Star: https://www.vcstar.com/search/?q=Eco-tip

– Ventura County Reporter: https://vcreporter.com/?s=Eye+on+the+environment

– Muckrack: https://muckrack.com/david-goldstein-4

How can I find out more about topics covered in the County’s “Eco-tip” or “Eye on the Environment” weekly news column?

In some cases, you can find out more about an article you read in the weekly Eco-tip or Eye on the Environment column by asking the author. More frequently, the articles include information for follow up with the subject of the article.

Residential Trash Collection

I just moved to Ventura County. Who is my trash collector and how do I start collection service?

Welcome to Ventura County! There are multiple residential collectors in the unincorporated areas serving Ventura County: Harrison Industries (E.J. Harrison & Sons, Santa Clara Valley Disposal & Newbury Disposal) and G.I. Industries/Waste Management. You may view which communities each collector serves and then contact your collector to start service through the link below:

https://www.vcpublicworks.org/wsd/iwmd/residentialcollection/#1530818229219-71c31197-c6e5

In the County-approved collection contracts, residents are given 2 bulky item picks per calendar year. Contact your collector to schedule a pickup. More information on bulky item pick ups can be found here:
https://www.vcpublicworks.org/wsd/iwmd/residentialcollection/#Bulky-Items