Marin Sanitary Service

Marin Sanitary Service is the authorized collector for businesses, residences, and government agencies providing garbage service for those in the Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District.  Marin Sanitary Service also serves the City of San Rafael and where jurisdictions overlap with the District, or co-exist, the city has the authority and responsibilities for regulating solid waste, recyclable, and organic material.

• Contact Marin Sanitary Service directly for questions on garbage service for your home or business.
• https://marinsanitaryservice.com/ |  (415) 456-2601

Ordinance 196 - Amending Chapter 1, Title 4 

Effective January 1, 2025

Changes to rates and customer owned carts filled with compostable material.

Please see the attached Ordinance.

 Short-lived Climate Pollutants Law (SB 1383)

Residents and businesses are required to follow statewide organic waste recycling and surplus food recovery laws beginning January 1, 2022.  For more information, please visit the Marin Sanitary Service web page at https://marinsanitaryservice.com/laws/

Commercial and Multi-Family Residential Dwellings may qualify for a waiver from the organic composting requirements of SB 1383.  Click here to complete a fillable waiver form from Marin Sanitary Service.

Zero Waste Marin also has information on how businesses must comply with California’s Mandatory Commercial Recycling & Composting Laws, including:

• SB 1383 Short-Lived Climate Pollutants Food Donation
• AB 341 Mandatory Commercial Recycling (MCR)
• AB 827 Mandatory Front of House Organics and Recycling Containers
• AB 1826 Mandatory Commercial Organics (MORe)

Need to submit a complaint about an entity that is not compliant with SB 1383? Please click on the link below to fill out the form:

https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=LnFy0u5UhEWFs5NMGU7rbT5f0C6NyIFBts3tchHA8N1UMEFDMUo4RDhBVEtRWU5MWDcwUFRMU0pRTy4u&route=shorturl

Zero Waste Marin Events

Zero Waste Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a time to express gratitude, gather with loved ones, and enjoy delicious food. However, it’s also a day that generates more than 300 million pounds of food waste. In addition to food scraps, single-use packaging and decorations often end up in landfills, adding to the environmental impact of the holiday. This year, consider hosting a zero-waste Thanksgiving to show gratitude to our planet.

Here are some simple tips for making your holiday more sustainable:

·        Plan ahead to prevent food waste. Thoughtful planning can go a long way in reducing food waste. Use Save The Food’s “Guest-imator” tool to more accurately plan for how much food you need to buy.

·        Use reusable containers for any leftovers. Instead of relying on disposable bags or containers, store leftovers in reusable containers. You can also encourage guests to bring their own reusable containers to take home any extra food, ensuring nothing goes to waste.

·        Skip disposable tableware and décor. Where possible, prioritize reusable tableware and natural décor like pumpkins, squash, and candles that can double as compostable items after the holiday. If reusable tableware isn’t an option, opt for compostable alternatives like wooden utensils and unlined paper plates.

·        Give new life to food scraps. Not all food waste is avoidable, but composting is an excellent way to ensure that food scraps don’t end up in the landfill. Not only does composting food scraps prevent the generation of methane gas in landfills, it also contributes to healthy soils.

o   An alternative way to take care of food scraps is to save them for another cooking project. Veggie scraps and turkey bones can be used to create a delicious broth – check out an example recipe!

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Food Recovery Organizations (FROs) and Food Recovery Services (FRSs)

As of September 25, 2025, there are no FROs/FRSs available in the Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District jurisdiction.  LGVSD will update and create a list of FROs/FRSs in the event one becomes available in our jurisdiction in compliance with 14 CCR § 18985.2(a)(1).

Composting

Composting is one of the easiest ways to make a big impact on the environment and your garden! By composting your food scraps, yard trimmings, and soiled paper, you can help reduce landfill waste and methane emissions. At home, adding finished compost into your garden can improve soil health, increased water retention, and reduce the need for synthetic!

Here are some tips to get started with at-home composting:

1)      Ensure you have compost service at your residence. All homes and apartment complexes are required to have compost service. If you do not, consider reaching out to your local waste hauler or apartment management team to get this service added to your residence.

2)      Get a kitchen countertop container. Having a small green pail or container on the counter makes composting simple – just toss in food scraps while cooking. You can also keep a small container in the freezer to avoid any “ick factor”, and then empty directly into your curbside green bin.

3)      Consider setting up a backyard composting system. If you have extra outdoor space, backyard composting is a rewarding way to produce your own compost at home. Explore the different methods, from low-maintenance compost bins to hands-on systems, to find the one that suits your needs. Learn more here: https://zerowastemarin.org/composting-in-marin/

Don’t Trash it, Marin!  What to Do with Hazardous Items

Are cans of unused paint, household cleaners and old electronics taking up space in your garage? It’s good to clean out the clutter, but not everything can go in the curbside carts. Some materials, known as Household Hazardous Waste (HHW), are toxic to you and/or to the environment and need to be dropped off at special facilities. HHW materials include Electronics, Paint, Batteries, Light Bulbs, Household Chemicals, Personal Care Products, Gardening Products and Auto Care Products. 

• For details about HHW and how to get rid of it, visit ZeroWasteMarin.org/HHW
• Visit Zero Waste Marin for more information.