Marin Sanitary Service offers weekly collection of residential compostable items such as plant materials, food-soiled paper and food scraps.
Removing organic material from the landfill is a top priority for us. Not only does proper disposal of organic materials produce a soil amendment for California farmers, the removal also has an impact on reducing greenhouse gases. When organic material like food waste is landfilled, it breaks down anaerobically, creating methane and other greenhouse gases that leak from landfills and contribute to climate change.
The size and number of compostable carts a complex uses varies, but what goes in these compostable receptacles remains the same: only yard and food waste. MSS provides up to four (4) 64 gallon carts per building in the bundled service rate. Additional carts beyond four may be rented for a nominal monthly fee per cart. Your compostable receptacles should be clearly marked and easy to identify. Please remember that we do not sort through the materials placed in landfill carts, so it is imperative to always place all of your yard waste and food scraps in the green compostables cart.
Visit our Multifamily Services page to review the size and container options for commercial customers.
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.
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Below we’ve listed some general guidelines about what can and cannot go into your compostables cart, but the list isn’t comprehensive. When in doubt, please use the Where Does It Go, Joe tool above to look up a what cart a specific item should go into.
If you can eat it, it can go in the green cart!
 | Meat & poultry |  | |
| Dairy products | ||
| Cooking grease & oils (in small amounts mixed with dry materials) | ||
| Fats | ||
| Fruit | ||
| Vegetables | ||
| Fish & shellfish | ||
| Egg shells | ||
| Coffee grounds | ||
| Tea bags |
| Soiled pizza boxes (greasy) | |
| Paper plates | |
| Napkins & paper towels |
| Grass clippings | |
| Leaves | |
| Weeds | |
| Flowers | |
| Straw | |
| Shrub & tree clippings | |
| Branches under 4 feet long & 3 inches in diameter |
 | – | Compostable plastics of any kind |
| Waxed paper | |
| Waxed cardboard | |
| Cartons | |
| Palm fronds | |
| Yucca | |
| Poison oak | |
| Bamboo |
Take a look at how your compostables are turned into organic compost at Redwood Landfill.
Missed collections must be reported within 48 hours of the service day. MSS will make every effort to return that same if the miss is reported by noon or the following day if the miss is reported after noon. 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 Monday-Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at (415) 456-2601.
Please 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. Do not overfill your compostables cart, please!
All residential customers may place up to two additional bags or cans (limit of 32 gallons per container) of yard/food waste out at the curb the night before collection at no charge. Note that bags must be unlined paper, or they will be charged the garbage rate.
Additional bags or cans after the first two are subject to a nominal charge unless it is included in the franchise agreement for your city or town. Contact our customer support team to find out what is covered and how much the service will cost.
