Solid Waste & Recycling

Notice: Residents in the unincorporated Ojai Valley area should contact the County of Ventura for information.

Place Residential Organic Waste in Yard Waste Bins

If you have a yard waste bin, please place food waste in a tied bag and add it to the yard waste. All food waste, including meat, bones, fish, shells, dairy, bread, fruits, vegetables, peels, pits, cobs, and coffee grounds, must be placed in a bag, tied off, and added to the yard waste container. Once at the recycling facility, food waste will be separated from yard waste and composted into soil products and renewable energy. This is part of a statewide requirement designed to reduce greenhouse emissions from food waste.

For more information about this program, review our SB 1383 FAQ (PDF) or learn more about SB 1383 on the CalRecycle website.

Organic waste broadly refers to food scraps, yard waste, non-hazardous wood waste, and food-soiled paper.

Organics like food scraps, yard trimmings, paper, and cardboard make up half of what Californians dump in landfills. Reducing Short-Lived Climate Super Pollutants like organic waste will have the fastest impact on the climate crisis.

Recycle, Reduce & Reuse

What Is Recyclable?

The City's Curbside Recycling Program accepts:

  • Plastics (including nursery pots, yogurt containers and toys)
    • Plastic bottles with numbers 1 and 2
  • Newspaper, junk mail, mixed paper, paper bags
  • Aluminum/Metal Cans
  • Empty aerosol cans
  • Cardboard, magazines
  • Glass containers, jars
  • Empty and dry paint cans

What Can't I Recycle?

  • Hazardous waste
  • Tires
  • Televisions (TV)/Computer monitors
  • Batteries
  • Closed Containers
  • Oils or paints
  • Florescent light tubes
  • Medical needles
  • Medicine, prescriptions

Assembly Bill (AB) 1826 Requires Organic Recycling to Increasing Number of Businesses (2016)

AB 1826 requires businesses, including the following, to recycle their organic waste, based on the amount and type of waste the business produces on a weekly basis, with full implementation realized by 2019: Commercial or public entities such as schools, hospitals, stores, restaurants, industrial businesses, For profit or non-profit organizations, Multi-family dwellings with 5 or more units and others

AB 341 Mandatory Commercial Recycling (2012)

California Assembly Bill 341 is mandating commercial recycling for all businesses that generate more than 4 cubic yards of waste per week and Multi‐Family dwellings with 5 or more units. (Regardless of the amount of waste generated).

CA Integrated Waste Management Act of 1989 (AB 939)

This law established a new direction for waste management in the State through the creation of the CA Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) and a new mandate for local jurisdictions to meet diversion goals.

AB 939 mandated local jurisdictions to meet solid waste diversion goals of 25% by 1995 and 50% by 2000. The CIWMB determined this diversion by looking at the base-year solid waste generation (waste normally disposed of in landfills) to determine the amount of solid waste diverted. To help increase diversion rates, each jurisdiction was required to create an Integrated Waste Management Plan that looked at recycling programs, purchasing of recycled products and waste minimization.

What Can I Do?

Here are a few things you can do to assure compliance with this new law:

  • Make sure all employees are aware of what materials can be recycled
  • Contact EJ. Harrison, they can provide waste assessments to help you comply or improve your waste diversion
  • For Multi Family units, property managers can inform tenants of what materials can be recycled

Trash/Recycling Collection Services are provided in the City of Ojai by E.J. Harrison and Sons. Ojai Municipal Code requires all households and businesses to have service. Contact E.J. Harrison at 805-647-1414 to sign up for service or for questions regarding trash, recycling, or yard trimmings related issues.

Bulky Item Disposal

Once a year, Ojai Residents are eligible for two bulky items to be collected at no additional costs. Please contact EJ Harrison to arrange for pick up at 805-647-1414 or visit the E.J. Harrison and Sons Ojai City page.

Just a Friendly Reminder

  • Keep trash and Recyclables inside your barrels
  • Do not place extra materials next to the barrels
  • If you have extra trash or recyclables to collect please contact E.J. Harrison by calling 805-647-1414 and make arrangements for collection