America Recycles Day and Thousand Oaks Recycling All Stars

Every year on November 15th, people across the country celebrate America Recycles Day (ARD), a nationally recognized day dedicated to promoting recycling and waste reduction. On this day, individuals take a pledge to waste less, recycle more, and inspire others to join in.

We invite you to celebrate ARD by embracing the three R’s: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.

Reduce

You can reduce waste by simply buying less, purchasing used goods, and choosing products with minimal or recyclable packaging. Be a conscious consumer and look for items with less packaging or made with recyclable materials. To reduce food waste, plan your meals before shopping and buy only what you need. Learn how to store fruits and vegetables so they stay fresh longer, and freeze or preserve extra produce instead of letting it spoil.

If you have food scraps, don’t toss them in the trash; put them in your organics (green) bin. The City’s waste hauler, Athens Services, collects and delivers this material to a commercial composting facility, where it’s turned into a nutrient-rich soil amendment instead of generating methane in a landfill.

Avoid products packaged or made with polystyrene or expanded polystyrene (also known as Styrofoam). The use and distribution of polystyrene (plastic #6, found in foam cups, plates, and takeout clamshells) is prohibited in Thousand Oaks. Polystyrene is harmful to the environment and cannot be recycled through regular programs.

Reuse

Reusing items conserves energy, natural resources, and landfill space. One of the simplest ways to make a difference is by using reusable bags when you shop. Disposable items like plastic utensils, coffee cups, and single-use containers create a lot of unnecessary waste. Instead, choose reusable mugs, water bottles, utensils, and lunch containers that you can wash and use again.

Before buying new clothes, furniture, or equipment, consider shopping for secondhand items. Shopping secondhand helps keep usable items out of landfills. Thrift and consignment stores offer great deals while supporting local charities and reducing waste.

Recycle

Once you’ve reduced and reused what you can, make sure what’s left goes into the right bin: the recycling bin. Proper sorting helps ensure recyclable materials like plastics, cardboard, paper, and aluminum containers actually get recycled, and that organics (food scraps and landscape trimmings) become compost instead of being disposed as trash.

Not sure what goes in the recycling bin? For quick answers about what’s recyclable, visit Athens Services’ “What Goes Where?” recycling search tool to find out exactly how to recycle and dispose of everyday items the right way.

2026 Recycling All Stars

In honor of America Recycles Day, the City of Thousand Oaks and Athens Services are proud to recognize our 2026 Recycling All Stars. These local businesses and organizations have gone above and beyond to promote recycling and sustainability.

These honorees have demonstrated leadership by:

1. Maintaining all three waste streams (trash, recycling, and organics) on-site and grouped together
2. Using clear, consistent signage on all containers
3. Providing annual staff or tenant training
4. Participating in waste assessments with Athens Services’ outreach and education team

Here are this year’s honorees:

Olive Garden

As a large chain restaurant, Olive Garden has been incredibly responsive and proactive in strengthening its organics efforts. Olive Garden has successfully implemented an internal organics system that works for their team. Their consistent effort, willingness to learn, and dedication to doing things right made them a standout candidate for this year’s Recycling All-Stars Award.

Gardens of the World

Gardens of the World was an excellent candidate this year, as the property consistently demonstrates strong diversion practices with little to no issues. Each year, they show strong commitment to proper sorting, whether managing large amounts of greenery from garden maintenance or ensuring visitors place recyclable materials in the correct bins.

Sycamore Canyon Elementary and Middle School

Sycamore Elementary has become a model school for effective waste diversion and proper sorting of trash, recycling, and organics. A walk through the campus clearly reflects the school's dedication to recycling and waste reduction.

Oaknoll Condominium Association (Oaknoll Villas) 

Oaknoll has earned a place on our list of StarRecyclers because of its strong commitment to maintaining a clean community and improving the quality of its waste streams. Oaknoll demonstrates what is possible when residents and management work together to support recycling and composting efforts.

These organizations are shining examples of what’s possible when our community works together to reduce waste, protect the environment, and meet sustainability goals.