Marin Sanitary Service Educational Tours for Schools and Community Groups

We invite you to schedule on-site Marin Sanitary Service tours for your school, community, or business group at our San Rafael facility. During these educational tours, you’ll see first-hand what happens to your garbage, recycling, and compostables after we pick them up from your house. Our recycling tours allow you to discover how recyclables are sorted, while our waste management tours provide insight into what happens to garbage before it is transferred to the landfill. Additionally, you can learn about sustainable practices and visit our famous peacocks and pigs.

We also offer virtual video tours so you can explore our operations from the comfort of your own home. Marin County recycling has never been more accessible, whether through school tours, community group tours, or other educational experiences. Join us for an informative and engaging environmental education experience.

ON-SITE TOURS

Please see our General Tour Guidelines for important information on our dress codes, age requirements for students, and safety measures.

When are tours available?

We offer tours Monday through Friday, 10am-4pm by appointment.

How long is the tour?

A typical tour lasts 1.5-2 hours including time in the classroom and walking around the facilities.

What's included?

Your tour starts in our Educational Classroom where you’ll learn about the 4R’s (reduce, reuse, recycle and rot) and have the opportunity to ask all of your recycling/composting questions!

Then we’ll visit the Marin Recycling Center where you can see how your paper, plastic, glass and aluminum are sorted and baled for recycling.
We’ll take you step-by-step through the recovery process and highlight the machinery that makes it happen.

At the Transfer Station you’ll see where the garbage trucks roll in and learn what happens to your garbage before it is sent to the landfill.

And finally, we’ll visit the famous Flying Can Ranch where you’ll meet our pigs, chickens and peacocks and learn how they contribute to our commitment to sustainability.

Where does the tour start?

We will meet outside of the Marin Recycling Center, located at 535 Jacoby Street in San Rafael.

Please make sure to use this specific address, as typing “Marin Sanitary Service” into your phone/computer will take you to the incorrect location for the tour.

Our tour coordinator will be waiting outside of the Marin Recycling Center in a bright orange vest to help you with parking.

Parking is extremely limited, please see our General Tour Guidelines (pdf).

What does it cost?

All our tours are free!

Are there any restrictions?

Our tours are appropriate for ages 6 and up, beginning with Kindergarteners. For safety purposes, we require that all tour participants come wearing closed-toed shoes.

Additionally, due to the fact that the majority of the tour is located outside, please come wearing weather-appropriate attire. In the event that heavy rain is expected on the morning of the tour, we can do a “virtual” tour in the classroom or watch a recycling video of our facility. If these options do not work, your group would have the option to reschedule.

For a full overview of our tour guidelines, please see our MSS General Tour Guidelines.

How do I schedule a tour?

Contact a Tour Coordinator or call us at (415) 526-6622 and we’ll be happy to schedule a time for you to visit our facility.

For a full overview of our tour guidelines, please see our MSS General Tour Guidelines (pdf).

Marin Sanitary Service Educational Tours for Schools and Community Groups

ON-SITE TOURS

Tour Guidelines

Tour Flyer

Schedule a Tour

MARIN RECYCLING CENTER VIRTUAL VIDEO TOUR

PRE-TOUR LESSONS

MARIN SANITARY SERVICE VIRTUAL PRE-TOUR LESSON – ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

MARIN SANITARY SERVICE VIRTUAL PRE-TOUR LESSON – HIGH SCHOOL