September & October 2024

City of Ventura's

Food Waste Recycling Program 🥦

What really happens to your food waste?

Check out the video below to discover the journey of turning your food waste into compost!

Recycle your food scraps with the City's Residential Food Waste Recycling Program, now available to all single-family residences in Ventura and actively rolling out to multi-family properties.

This program helps residents to comply with SB 1383, a California state law aimed at diverting food waste from landfills to reduce methane emissions, a powerful greenhouse gas.

Collected food waste is turned into compost and distributed back into our community.

The City's Food Waste Recycling Program is an easy, simple way to help reduce your landfill-bound food waste and feed the Earth!

Ventura residents can pick up a free food waste pail at 336 Sanjon Road between 8:00am-5:00pm (closed alternating Fridays)

Questions about the program? Contact the City's Environmental Sustainability Division at: sustainability@cityofventura.ca.gov

Learn More About the City of Ventura's Food Waste Recycling Program

Environmental Sustainability

Program Updates

New School Year, New Waste!

Free Fall Waste Sorting Education Assemblies 🍎

It’s the beginning of the new school year, and Green Schools is heading out to local schools for our free What Goes Where? K-5 Waste Sorting Education assemblies.

It can be confusing knowing what goes into recycling, compost and trash bins, but with a bit of extra help students can become sorting superheroes.

Our interactive assemblies help educate incoming classes and provide a friendly refresher for returning students on proper waste sorting and why it’s important for our planet.

Educating students on how to sort their waste helps instill eco-friendly habits for our next generation and comply with State law SB 1383 to divert 75% food waste from the landfill by 2025.

If you are a local educator in Ventura and would like to schedule a free 30-minute Waste Sorting Education Assembly for your students, please contact Logan Babcock at lbabcock@cityofventura.ca.gov or 805-652-4587.

Bringing Back the Green School Award 🏆

The City of Ventura’s Environmental Sustainability Division will offer the Green School Award for the 2024-2025 school year in recognition of Earth Day. All public and private schools within the Ventura City limits that demonstrate exemplary environmental practices are encouraged to apply! The Green School Award winner will receive City recognition.

The award is given to the school demonstrates the most effective environmental stewardship in all the below categories:

🌏 Recycling and Waste Diversion

🌏 Water Conservation

🌏 Energy Conservation

🌏 Environmental Science Education

The application period starts from the beginning of the school year to Spring Break. A winner will be selected after Spring Break. This is an excellent opportunity to turn your school into a beacon of sustainability or showcase ongoing efforts in environmental stewardship!

Learn More About the Green School Award

Upcoming Events

California Coastal Cleanup Day

Marina Park, Harbor Cove Beach, & Ventura Beach

Saturday, September 21

Learn More & Sign Up

*Families in Nature

Big Rock Preserve

Ventura Land Trust

Friday, September 20

Learn More & Sign Up

Container Gardening with Native Plants

Cornucopia Community Garden

Saturday, October 12

Learn More & Sign Up

National Drive Electric Week

Ventura County EV Showcase

Ventura Harbor

Sunday, October 6

Learn More & Sign Up

Building Electrification Webinar

3C-REN

Tri-County Regional Energy Network

Tuesday, September 24

Learn More & Sign Up

Household Hazardous Waste Events

Saturday, September 21

Saturday, October 19

Learn More & Sign Up

Surfrider Foundation - Beach Clean-Ups

Ventura Promenade

Saturday, September 28

Saturday, October 26

Learn More & Sign Up

*Ticket purchase required

Help Keep Ventura Styrofoam Free!

A friendly reminder to City of Ventura residents that you can help us educate local businesses on the environmental impacts of using Styrofoam (also known as EPS - expanded polystyrene).

If you recently visited a local business providing Styrofoam containers, please email: epsban@cityofventura.ca.gov so we can help them find sustainable alternatives.

As of July 1, 2021 the City of Ventura prohibits businesses selling food and beverages from using Styrofoam containers such as cups, plates, bowls, meat trays, clamshells and coolers. Styrofoam is a prevalent form of litter found in storm drains, creeks, rivers, beaches, parks, and open spaces. For more information and resources, please visit: EPS Ban

You can help support our community's efforts to preserve the health and beauty of Ventura's open spaces for the enjoyment of all!

Here's What We're Reading...📰

In the U.S., landfills are the 3^rd largest emitters of methane, a greenhouse gas and climate super pollutant. A recent study shows that U.S. landfills emit methane at levels at least 40% higher than previously reported.

Methane's heat-trapping capability is 84 times more potent than CO2 over a 20-year period.
Food decaying in landfills is a significant source of methane emissions – join the City’s food waste recycling program by composting your food instead of sending it to the landfill!