Approved SB1383-Compliant Solid Waste Ordinance 

First Public Hearing: November 16, 2021 at 10:30 AM
Second Public Hearing: December 7, 2021 at 10:30 AM 

Click here for the following documents: 

Board Letter
Exhibit 1: Ordinance
Exhibit 2: Ordinance (Legislative Version)  

About the Ordinance 

The ordinance repeals and reenacts Division 4, Chapter 7, Article 3 of the Ventura County Ordinance Code Pertaining to Solid Waste Collection and Disposal, Waste Reduction and Waste Diversion Programs for Unincorporated Areas. The ordinance becomes operative on January 1, 2022. 

In accordance with SB1383 mandates, the ordinance includes requirements for residents, businesses, institutions, solid waste companies and food recovery organizations relating to edible food recovery, outreach and education, inspection and enforcement, and reporting. Fines may be levied by the state against the County of Ventura for failing to enforce the SB 1383-compliant ordinance.  

Capacity Studies 

Capacity planning is vital to help the County of Ventura meet SB 1383 mandates, Infrastructure takes time to develop. SB 1383 requires the County to work in partnership with the cities and special districts to prepare two studies, an Edible Food Waste Capacity Study and an Organic Waste Recycling Capacity Study.

The County of Ventura has contracted with Abound Food Care/One OC to prepare the County’s Edible Food Waste Capacity Study. The study is expected to be complete in April 2022. Click here to view the Powerpoint from the Kick-Off Meeting with city and special district representatives on November 3, 2021

Green Procurement Policy (coming soon!) 

Beginning January 1, 2022, SB 1383 requires cities and counties to procure annually a quantity of recovered organic waste products. These procurement requirements are intended to strengthen California’s green, self-sustaining economy. Demand for these products will drive infrastructure investment and create new green collar jobs in the state.  

The County of Ventura General Services Agency is working with the County CEO’s Office to develop an Administrative Policy focusing on using recycled organic products that would comply with SB1383. This policy will be submitted to the Board of Supervisors on December 14, 2021 for review and approval. 

If your business has not been contacted yet by your County contracted solid waste collector, please reach out to them, to see what steps your business needs to take to be in compliance. Click here for collector names and contact information.

Free Containers Available to Assist in Your Business Recycling Efforts.
Click here for Free Business Recycling Container Options.

Free Printable Signs 
Click here for Free Business Recycling and Organics Printable Resources.
Contact Lisa McCullough for more information at lisa.mccullough@ventura.org

Commercial Generator Waivers

Commercial businesses, multi-family dwellings with 5+ units, and parcels of land specific County zoning designations (Agricultural Exclusive, Coastal Agricultural, Rural Agricultural, Coastal Rural, Rural Exclusive, Coastal Rural Exclusive, Open Space or Coastal Open Space and contains either zero, one or multiple Single-Family Dwellings) may be eligible for one of two organic waste and recycling collection service waivers.

Physical Space Constraints Waiver

Eligibility Criteria:

• Business or property is located in unincorporated Ventura County
• Business or property is a current subscriber to solid waste collection service
• Business or property has no physical space for additional Contract Collector-issued carts and/or bins for recycling and/or organic waste. New construction is not eligible.
• Photo documentation must include both interior and exterior images of all waste enclosures/areas on the property.

De Minimus Generation Waiver

Eligibility Criteria:

• Business or property is located in unincorporated Ventura County
• Business or property is a current subscriber to solid waste collection service
• Business or property’s total solid waste collection service (inclusive of trash, recycling, and organic waste) is more than two (2) cubic yards or more per week and organic waste subject to collection is less than twenty (2) gallons per week OR
• Total solid waste collection service (inclusive of trash, recycling, and organic waste) is less than two (2) cubic yards or more per week and organic waste subject to collection is less than ten (10) gallons per week OR
• Business or property’s total green waste generated is being managed by a landscaper who removes AND recycles all green waste
• Photo documentation must include the contents of all trash containers on site each day over a 5-day work week

Click here for the Organic Waste & Recycling Collection Service Waiver Application

Self Hauler Registration

Registration is required for all businesses in Unincorporated Ventura County who intend to self haul organic waste (i.e. green materials, yard waste, and food scraps). Businesses currently subscribing to service from a Contract Collector or a business who has received an approved Organic Waste & Recycling Collection Service Waiver do not need to register.

Eligibility Criteria and Requirements:

• Business or property is located in unincorporated Ventura County.
• New state regulations effective January 1, 2022 require commercial organic waste generators, including landscapers, to maintain certain records if they comply with the organic waste collection service requirement by self-hauling their generated organic waste. (CCR Title 14, Chapter 12, Article 3, Section 18984.9)
• The records commercial businesses that self-haul must keep are delivery receipts and weight tickets from each entity receiving organic materials, including the amount of organic material in cubic yards or tons.  Records must be available upon request from the County.
• If the organic waste is transported to a site that does not have scales or that employs scales incapable of weighing the waste received, the self-hauler is not required to record the weight of material. However, the self-hauler must maintain a record of the entity that received the organic waste.  Click here for the Organic Waste Self Hauler Registration Form.

Edible Food Recovery 

SB 1383 places mandated food donors into two tiers. This tier system allows businesses and jurisdictions more time to prepare to expand or build new food recovery infrastructure and capacity to donate foods that are harder to safely store and distribute.  

Image Source: CalRecycle 

Resources for County of Ventura Commercial Edible Food Generators

• Ventura County Pantry List – 2022 The Pantry List
  These pantries and food recovery organizations were identified in Abound Food Care’s Edible Food Recovery Capacity Report prepared for the County of Ventura in May 2022.
• Tier 1 Notification Letter Tier 1 Notification
• State Resources for Edible Food Donors
  https://calrecycle.ca.gov/organics/slcp/foodrecovery/donors/