Commercial Compostables Service

(Yard Waste and Food Scraps)

Marin Sanitary Commercial CompostRemoving organic material from the landfill is a top priority for all of California. Composting produces a soil amendment for farmers and helps reduce greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.

When organic material like food waste is landfilled, it breaks down and creates Methane – a greenhouse gas 80x more powerful than Carbon Dioxide. More methane means more global warming, droughts and wildfires. Do your part to stop climate change by placing organic waste in your green cart!

Marin Sanitary Service offers two compost programs for our business customers:

The first program is our regular compostables service for plant materials, food-soiled paper, and food scraps composting (see information below). The second program is our Food 2 Energy program which is aimed at large food waste generators (restaurants, delis, grocery stores) and diverts organic food waste from the landfill by turning it into energy. 

*Some businesses may be required to donate their edible food. For more information please go to zerowastemarin.org/businesses/commercial-recycling/#fdon

A recycling coordinator will review these options with you upon starting service to assure you’re using the right program.

The size and number of compostables carts a business uses varies, but what goes in these compostable receptacles remains the same: only yard and food waste.

Your compostable receptacles should be clearly marked and easy to identify. Please remember that we do not sort through the materials placed in garbage carts, so it is imperative to always place all of your yard waste and food scraps in a compostables cart.

Visit our Commercial Services page to review the size and container options for commercial customers.

Need help? Contact a Compostables Coordinator.

California’s New Composting Law Affects Everyone

As of January 2022, every home, apartment complex, and business in California is required by law to collect their food waste, yard waste, and paper separately from all other waste. The law (SB 1383) aims to reduce harmful methane emissions from landfills that contribute to climate change and global warming. Learn more about SB 1383 and other recycling laws here.

Marin Sanitary Service offers all of our customers green containers with weekly curbside collection to compost your food scraps, yard trimmings, napkins, and pizza boxes. See below for more information about what can and cannot go in your green compostables cart.

If you don’t have a green compostables cart, please call our office at (415) 456-2601 and we’ll get you set up!

Where Does It Go, Joe?

It can be difficult to know what material goes into what container, but it’s very important that we avoid contaminating our recycling or compostable streams.

When in doubt, use our handy “Where Does It Go, Joe?” online tool to find out what material goes where.

JOE ON THE GO.

You’ll always have Joe’s sorting advice at your fingertips with the Marin Sanitary Service mobile app.

Download it now for free!

 

App on Google PlayApp on Apple Store

WHAT CAN GO IN YOUR GREEN COMPOSTABLES CART

What Goes In Your Compost Cart

FOOD SCRAPS

If you can eat it, it can go in the green cart!

FOOD-SOILED PAPER

YARD WASTE

Marin Residential Compostables Cart
Compostables Cart

WHAT CANNOT GO IN YOUR COMPOSTABLES CART

Please DO NOT put any of the following items in your green cart for compost:

Compostable Cart Nos
Examples of Bio-Plastics

No Compostable or Bio-Degradable Plastics

We CANNOT accept any plastics labeled as compostable or bio-degradable. If we did, the quality compost WM EarthCare™ produces would lose its organic farming certification. Their compost is certified by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI). OMRI doesn’t allow compostable or bio-degradable plastics as many are actually petroleum based and just break down into micro plastics. Others don’t break down rapidly enough and it is hard to differentiate between compostable and non-compostable plastics.

Please put your compostable plastics or bio-degradable items in your garbage cart.

WE’RE HERE TO HELP!

We provide compost and recycling opportunity assessments, diversion planning, training and posters to help your business compost successfully.  Learn more by contacting a compostables coordinator at (415) 456-2601.

IT’S THE LAW

Businesses are required to subscribe to and participate in an organics curbside collection program and certain businesses must donate their edible food surplus to food recovery organizations.

CURBSIDE AUDITS

Occasionally, trained staff will be flipping lids & checking inside your containers. If we find material that doesn’t belong, we’ll let you know. Don’t be alarmed, we’re just doing our job! 

WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR COMPOSTABLES

Take a look at how your compostables are turned into organic compost at Redwood Landfill.

MISSED COLLECTION

Missed collections must be reported within 48 hours of the service day. MSS will make every effort to return that same day if the miss is reported by noon on the service day or the following day if the miss is reported after noon on the day of service. Any misses reported after 48 hours will be subject to a fee for collection.

Contact us to report a missed collection. You may also call our office at (415) 456-2601.

Green Waste Vase

EXTRA COMPOSTABLES

Business owners or account holders may contact customer service at (415) 456-2601 prior to your service day if you find that your total amount of compostables (yard/food waste) exceeds the capacity of your container.

Please do not overload your compostable cart!

EXTRA FOOD

Got extra food? Contact ExtraFood.org for more information about their county-wide extra food recovery program.

BUY COMPOST & MULCH

Sustainable landscape products made locally from 100% recycled, Bay Area-sourced yard trimmings, food scraps and clean lumber debris.

FOOD 2 ENERGY

Large quantity food generators may qualify for our unique Food 2 Energy program that turns food scraps into energy.

Copyright © 2024 Marin Sanitary Service. All Rights Reserved.

Translate »
Skip to content