Avoid fines up to $3,000 with these responsible disposal options below.
– Any unauthorized large deposit of waste that is illegally dumped on a public road right-of-way, such as paint, motor oil, cooking oil, tires, mattresses, yard waste, construction debris, or furniture, is considered illegal dumping.
If you witness illegal dumping in progress, please report it today!
Over the course of a six-month period in 2021, the VCPWA collected 120 tons of trash from the Oxnard Plains, as well as 60 tons that were collected in other parts of the county. Waste is not only an eyesore on the Ventura County Landscape, but it pollutes the local environment and poses a threat to humans and wildlife.
These are some of the ways illegal dumping can harm our communities.
A large percentage of people who dump illegally just do not have the proper information on disposal options! Illegal dumping often occurs because people want to avoid extra collection and disposal fees or the hassle of proper disposal. Hiring a “Trash Hauler” is not always the best answer to removing your excess trash, bulky items, E-waste or hazardous household items. Your items may not make it to the proper disposal sites and even worse, may even end up dumped on the side of the road or blown into fields and roadways if not properly tarped when transported. Here are convenient ways to dispose or recycle instead of illegally dumping: First, Determine the type of waste. There are materials typically generated in our homes and businesses that cannot be placed in either the trash or recycle bin such as:
Best Option: California mattress retailers delivering a new mattress are required (under AB 187 of 2019) to offer pickup old mattress free of charge. This applies even to online sales with mattresses delivered by common carriers, with rare exceptions. Retailers not following this law in Ventura County should be reported to the Integrated Waste Management Division, at (805) 658-4312. Outside Ventura County, report to info@mattressrecyclingcouncil.org or call 1-855-229-1691.
Curbside pickup: You may be able to schedule free collection from your curbside. Most customers of residential hauling services in Ventura county are allowed a limited number of free bulky item collections from their curbside each year. Others pay a small fee for this service. Call your hauler to check and schedule. Those who live in multi-family housing with shared bins should contact their property manager.
Free drop off: There are currently four free drop-off sites in Ventura County and additional free sites nearby. A location finder at https://byebyemattress.com can help you find the one most convenient for you.
Donation options for used mattresses are limited as thrift stores generally do not accept mattresses. However, if you have a particularly good mattress, and if it is barely used, you may be able to list it with an online marketplace. Even gently used mattresses sometimes sell for low prices or are hauled away as a free item. Alternatively, you might find a relative or friend who wants your used mattress.
Best Option: Many bulky items in good condition can be reused. Few thrift stores have space for bulky items, so call before donating, but Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore (locations in Oxnard and Simi Valley) specializes in this type of reuse for high quality bulky items such as solid wood and non-upholstered furniture. The ReStore prefers drop-off at their locations, but they might not consider your donation to be in good enough condition to accept, so be prepared to drive to a disposal location if your load is rejected. Also, the ReStore offers collection for qualified items. Alternatively, you might also be able to sell your bulky item through an online marketplace.
Recycling Option: Items made entirely of wood or almost entirely out of metal can be recycled.
Curbside pickup: You may be able to get free collection from your curbside. Most customers of residential hauling services in Ventura County are allowed a limited number of free bulky item collections from their curbside each year. Others pay a small fee for this service. Call your hauler to check and schedule. Those who live in multi-family hosing with shared bins should contact their property manager.
Drop-off: There are currently four drop-off sites for waste in Ventura County. Del Norte Regional Recycling and Transfer in Oxnard (111 N. Del Norte Rd., Oxnard); Gold Coast Recycling and Transfer (5275 Colt Street, Ventura), and the Simi Valley Landfill (2801 Madera Road, Simi Valley) to the general public. Also, the Toland Road Landfill (2500 Toland Road, Santa Paula) is available for use by residents and businesses located in a limited geographic area. Minimum fees apply for small loads.
Electronic waste is electronic products that are unwanted, not working, and nearing or at the end of their “useful life”. These products can contain heavy metals like cadmium, lead, copper, and chromium that can contaminate the environment. DO NOT dispose of these items in the trash or your recycling bins.
Examples of electronic waste include, but are not limited to:
Where can I dispose or recycle my E- waste?
E-waste can be recycled at numerous facilities throughout Ventura County. Find a list of recycling facilities and other information about e-waste by visiting,
City and County HHW collection programs and local transfer stations are listed in this brochure.
• Trade-in or recycling may be offered at Best Buy stores: www.bestbuy.com.
Household hazardous waste is waste that is generated by you, as a resident and household, while performing household activities and maintenance in and around your home. You may not realize that many common household products are, in fact, hazardous and if these products are handled or disposed of incorrectly, they can pose a threat to the health of humans, animals, and the environment.
Common household hazardous wastes include but are not limited to:
Where can I dispose or recycle my household hazardous waste?
The County of Ventura holds approximately nine monthly events, during the year, for the collection of hazardous waste on an appointment basis at the Pollution Prevention Center. Additionally, they have developed the Clean Up! Brochure which covers recycling a myriad of products and materials countywide. Click here to access the brochure.
Most litter is accidental. Human error can lead to trash falling from vehicles or blowing out of curbside carts during collection. Read this article for more information on tarping loads and tips to reduce accidental littering. https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/2019/09/07/eco-tip-heres-how-you-can-avoid-accidental-litter/2248558001/
For periodic updates and special announcements regarding key items such as solid waste collection agreements or organics waste programs, please add your name to our stakeholder notification list! Click here.
Integrated Waste Management Division
(805) 658-4321
VCRecycles@ventura.org