PICTURED:A truck full of bulky objects ready for disposal. Bulky item pickup is now possible with local waste collectors.
David Goldstein
Ventura County was a community-based place to dispose of waste until the 1950s. Neighbors hauled their own waste, caravanned, or met up at local dumps. Sometimes, they returned home with more material than they had taken.
Some of these sites, like the Ojai Valley burn heap, which is owned by the public, burned flammable materials at the end each day. Other sites, like Robert Walkers Seeers by the Sea (Ventura), charged for the right of scavenging. Walker, who recalled the glory days of his company, said that his company’s name was a pun on Sears. He joked about comparing his operation with the largest local retailer of the day, which was more than three decades ago.
Instead, efficient waste collection companies, or municipal fleets, serve our communities with professional collection. Collectors have exclusive rights to collect garbage and recyclables from residents. They also have the right to use uniform carts at our curbs. Collectors are required to include a provision that allows for the free disposal or recycling of large items that cannot be placed in curbside carts.
Local collectors can meet this obligation by offering residents curbside bulky item pickup. Residents living outside cities can request two items to be collected up to twice per calendar year. The limit in most cities is two items per year.
Ventura, Fillmore, Fillmore, and Camarillo have a contract with E. J. Harrison and Sons to provide bulky item pickup services for residents. Residents are allowed to place two couches, mattresses, or other items at their curb once a year for free collection. To avail this service, residents must first call 805-647-1414 to arrange pickup.
Local haulers are contractually required to fulfill bulky item collection obligations by helping local jurisdictions host community cleanups. Ventura County Public Works Agency will host ten free events for residents of unincorporated communities between April 23rd to Oct. 22.
Similar events are planned for cities. For example, Ventura residents will need to show their IDs or pay their utility bills by May 21. Online appointment slots are available in approximately 300 locations. https://form.jotform.com/220454392171148Call 805-652-4525. Participants must also answer a key question on the city’s appointment form. Are you looking for reuse or donation options for items in good shape?
Many of these events have a reuse zone, where the best items are left for others to take. However, these exchanges, which go back to the days when Seeers by the sea were popular, often fail to rescue all valuable items. Many cleanups end with items being disposed of in the reuse area.
Residents can drop off bulky items at their curbside pickup at no cost. Oxnard also offers free drop-off days at the Del Norte Recycling and Transfer Station as well as in their own neighborhoods. Each of the four city regions will have roll-off containers available at a central location to be recycled or disposed of at the next neighborhood event on Aug. 13. Residents will be able to dispose of bulky items and recycle electronic waste.
Residents of Simi Valley and Moorpark, Thousand Oaks and the surrounding unincorporated communities are eligible for a contract partnership between the county and Waste Managements Waste Managements Simi Valley Landfill and Recycling Center. Residents are entitled to free use of Simi Landfill on certain days each year. The Simi Landfill maximizes the recycling of these materials with separate areas for concrete/ asphalt, yard trimmings/wood, tires/wood, metal and appliances.
Thousand Oaks residents have access to Calabasas Landfill thanks to a new contract they have with Athens Services. Residents can dispose off up to two vehicle loads on three days each.
No scavenging is permitted at landfills due to the operation of landfills and heavy equipment. The days of community gatherings at the dumps have been replaced with safe and efficient disposal of waste. The new spring cleaning programs still have a place in the community, but they are essential to prevent illegal dumping and increase recycling.
More information can be found online at:
www.wm.com/location/california/ventura-county/landfill/free-days.jsp
David Goldstein is an Environmental Resource Analyst for the Ventura County Public Works Agency. You can reach him at 805-658-4113 or [email protected].