Athens Services To Expand Operations in Ventura County

VENTURA COUNTY, Calif.. – Athens Services, an industry leader in waste collection and recycling, will soon serve thousands of additional households in Ventura County following today’s decision by the Board of Supervisors to award it an exclusive residential solid waste collection contract in one of four service areas in unincorporated Ventura County.

Starting Jan. 1, 2024, Athens will serve approximately 6,700 residential customers in the Southeast Residential Service Area, a swath of the County that includes Oak Park and other communities outside the cities of Moorpark, Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks. Athens will provide waste collection and extensive recycling services, including recycling food scraps and other organics as required by SB 1383, the State’s landmark sustainability law.

Family-owned, Southern California-based Athens Services was awarded the Southeast franchise following a rigorous competitive bidding process involving numerous waste haulers. Decisionmakers recommended Athens due to its superior qualifications in areas such as experience, service performance, sustainability, rates, customer service and outreach, and community partnerships. The agreement will last for 10 years, with two 5-year extensions.

The new contract award will deepen Athens’ relationship with Ventura County, which it has served since 2017, when it began serving the City of Santa Paula. Last year, Athens also became the exclusive service provider in the City of Thousand Oaks, the County’s second-largest city. Thousand Oaks and Santa Paula are the first two cities in the County to offer citywide organics recycling services as required by SB 1383. Athens also serves the Conejo Valley Unified School District.

“We are excited to expand our partnership with Ventura County and introduce even more households and communities to the Athens Way – our commitment to excellent service, a stellar team, and a safe and healthy environment,” said Athens Executive Vice President Cesar Torres. “We commend the Board of Supervisors and County staff for leading an efficient and professional bidding process that will deliver immediate benefits for County residents.”

“Athens is a natural partner for Ventura County because we share many of the same values: delivering stellar service and exceptional value, reducing environmental impacts, creating job opportunities, strengthening local economies, and giving back to communities,” said Athens Executive Vice President Gary Clifford. “Our team is eager to lead a seamless transition and help set a new standard of service in Ventura County.”

Through advanced processing facilities and state-of-the-art technology, Athens helps communities divert waste away from landfills, reduce their environmental footprint, and pursue a zero-waste future. In addition to Athens’ leadership in organics recycling, 100% of Athens’ fleet of collection vehicles will be powered by carbon negative renewable natural gas, a sustainable and renewable fuel sourced from dairy farms. Athens will also operate a Ventura County Sustainability Center to serve as a hub for environmental outreach and education programs, as well as a destination for in-person customer support.

Athens is eager to strengthen its support for Ventura County communities in the form of financial contributions, employee volunteering, business development opportunities, and other assistance. Athens has already engaged with more than 40 nonprofits and other organizations dedicated to improving quality of life in Ventura County. Athens has also donated 100,000 pounds of nutrient-rich compost to community gardens in Thousand Oaks alone, demonstrating its “closed-loop” approach to long-term, environmentally responsible operations.

About Athens Services

Athens Services is a fourth-generation, family-owned and -operated waste collection and recycling company that has served Southern California since 1957. Athens Services provides industry-leading service at low rates with a commitment to landfill avoidance and superior environmental sustainability. Founded with just two trucks, Athens Services has grown to be the largest privately held environmental services company in Southern California, serving more than 50 communities. More information is available at www.athensservices.com