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Commercial Recycling Service

Marin Sanitary Service operates a dual-stream recycling program, meaning paper is collected separately from glass, plastic, and metal containers. 

The size and number of recycling carts and/or bins a complex uses varies, but what goes in these recycling receptacles remains the same: recyclables only.

Your recycling receptacles should be clearly marked and easy to identify. 

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

A Marin Sanitary blue paper recycling cart

The blue cart is for clean paper recyclables.

A Marin Sanitary brown recycling cart

The light brown cart is for bottles, cans and containers (glass, plastic and aluminum).

Marin Sanitary Cardboard Recycling Bin

If your business has a cardboard bin, please use this bin for cardboard only. Paper and containers should go in their respective carts.

WHAT GOES IN RECYCLING

The blue cart is for clean paper and cardboard only.

Please keep all paper separate from other recyclables before placing in the cart to prevent contamination.

MSS Recycling Label - items accepted in the blue recycling cart such as paper, cardboard, magazines and paperboard
  • Office paper (any color)
  • Newspaper & magazines
  • Paperboard (like cereal & shoe boxes)
  • Junk mail and catalogs
  • Paper tubes
  • Paper egg cartons
  • Paperback books
  • Shredded paper in a paper bag
  • Flattened cardboard
  • Cardboard too large to fit easily in the cart must be packed in 2’x2’x2′ bundles or smaller and tied with twine or string (no plastic tape).
A 2ft x 2ft x 2ft cardboard bundle with twine around it

This list isn’t comprehensive. When in doubt, please use the Where Does It Go, Joe tool to look up a what cart a specific item should go into.

Examples of items that do not go in the MSS blue recycling cart such as food-soiled paper, glass, and paper coffee cups
  • Waxed or plastic-coated paper or cardboard
  • Paper towels or tissues
  • Wrapping paper
  • Plastic bags
  • Food-soiled paper
  • Blue print or carbon paper
  • Juice, soup, soy, milk boxes & cartons
  • Paper cups
  • Glass

This list isn’t comprehensive. When in doubt, please use the Where Does It Go, Joe tool to look up a what cart a specific item should go into.

The light brown cart is for clean bottles, cans, and containers only.

MSS Recycling Label - items accepted in the brown recycling cart such as glass bottles, plastic bottles and metal cans and trays
  • Glass bottles & jars (clean)
  • Aluminum cans & foil (clean)
  • Tin & bi-metal cans and food trays (clean)
  • Pressurized aerosol cans (empty)
  • Clean plastic bottles, tubs & tubs

This list isn’t comprehensive. When in doubt, please use the Where Does It Go, Joe tool to look up a what cart a specific item should go into.

Examples of items that do not go in the MSS brown recycling cart such as plastic bags, paper cups, and black plastic trays
  • Waxed or plastic-coated paper or cardboard
  • Paper towels or tissues
  • Wrapping paper
  • Plastic bags
  • Food-soiled paper
  • Blue print or carbon paper
  • Juice, soup, soy, milk boxes & cartons
  • Paper cups
  • Glass

This list isn’t comprehensive. When in doubt, please use the Where Does It Go, Joe tool to look up a what cart a specific item should go into.

Images of stacked cardboard accepted in the cardboard recycling bin
  • All cardboard – Flatten, but no need to bundle. Remove all tape, plastic packaging, and Styrofoam.
Images of items not accepted in the MSS Cardboard Recycle Bin
  • Plastic bags
  • Plastic packaging
  • Styrofoam
  • Waxed cardboard

Avoid these common recycling contaminants

These items are not recyclable. If you can’t reuse them, they go in garbage.

Where does it go, Joe?

Joe Garbarino, owner of Marin Sanitary Service

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 in what cart. 

GET JOE ON THE GO! You’ll always have Joe’s sorting advice at your fingertips with the Marin Sanitary Service mobile app. Download it for your Apple Device or Google Device now for free!

In this short video, we explain how contamination can ruin your best recycling efforts.

In this short video, we explain how the mantra “bottles, tubs, and jugs” will help ensure that you’re putting the right plastic in your recycling. Remember: keeping your film plastics out of your recycling may feel like a small contribution, but when it’s multiplied by the entire community, it makes an enormous difference!

Fees apply for any extra bags of garbage next to, on top of, or overflowing from designated containers. Extra bags must be less than 60 pounds and 32 gallons in volume.

Extra recycling carts and cardboard bins are available and no extra charge.

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.

Theft of recyclable materials is illegal and may even put you at risk for identify theft. The cities and towns we serve are partnering with Marin Sanitary Service to help prevent future theft. Please help us out. For your safety, if you see someone other than an employee of Marin Sanitary Service removing recyclables from your cart or bin, DO NOT confront the recycling thieves. You may report this information to the number for non-emergency crime reporting, which is 311, or go to your local police force’s website for their crime reporting procedures. If it is not an emergency do not call 911. Non-emergency phone numbers for:
  • San Rafael – (415) 485-3000
  • Larkspur – (415) 927-5150
  • San Anselmo – (415) 258-4610
  • Fairfax – (415) 453-5330
  • Ross – (415) 453-1453
When you call to report the theft, please try to have the following information:
  1. License Number
  2. Good description of the vehicle & person(s)
  3. Time of theft (this is helpful for those who are not in a vehicle: who visit the same street, week after week)
  4. Location/Address

RESOURCES FOR BUSINESSES

An office recycling station with MSS posters above each container
California Green Business Network Logo

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Debris Box Rentals 
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