OXNARD : Curbside Recycling Program Is Delayed

The curbside recycling program that was scheduled to begin in Oxnard in January has been postponed until February because of a delay in the purchase of 3,000 containers, city officials announced recently.

Oxnard officials also announced that a trial run for a refuse truck that had been modified to collect recyclables was successfully completed during November in Ventura.

The Oxnard City Council voted in August to start a curbside recycling program for 3,000 residents, joining the recycling efforts of six other cities in the county.

After six months, the program will be evaluated for expansion to the rest of the city, officials said.

Under the program, residents will be asked to separate aluminum cans, newspaper, glass and plastic beverage bottles from other waste and place the recyclables in containers provided by the city.

Recyclables will be picked up weekly on the same day as residential trash collection.

The city will use the money from the sale of recyclables to offset the cost of the program.

According to an Oxnard city report, a refuse truck was modified with a manual side loader at a cost of $2,000.

The truck collected 2.3 tons of recyclables from 107 Ventura residents in 2 1/2 hours during a trial run on Nov. 29, the report said.

Public Works Director James Frandsen said he does not know the reason for the delay in ordering the 15-gallon containers that will be issued to each resident participating in the program.

The containers should be delivered to residents in early February, he said.