Multifamily Garbage Service
Marin Sanitary Service provides a variety of cart and/or bins for the collection of multifamily unit garbage, or non-recyclable and non-compostable items. All items placed in designated garbage carts or bins will go directly to the landfill.
The size and number of garbage carts and/or bins a complex uses varies, but what goes in these garbage receptacles remains the same: garbage only. Your garbage receptacle should be clearly marked and easy to identify.
Please help us in reaching Marin’s zero waste goals by making sure that what you put into your garbage belongs there and not in the recycling or compostables receptacles.
Visit our Multifamily Services page to review the size and container options for commercial customers.
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.
Please keep in mind that not every single material will be listed here, that would be impossible! The tool will be most useful to you if you think in broad terms when you enter your material. For instance, if you’re wondering where your empty, plastic yogurt container should go, rather than searching for the brand name of your yogurt, try searching for “plastic food tub” instead.
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!
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!
Below we’ve listed some general guidelines about what can and cannot go into your garbage, 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.
WHAT CAN GO IN YOUR GARBAGE CART OR BIN
 | – | Plastic bags and plastic film wrap |
| Ceramic dishware | |
| Diapers | |
| Foil/plastic lined paper or paperboard | |
| Glass mirrors or windows | |
| Light bulbs (not CFLs) | |
| All Styrofoam products | |
| Juice, soup, soy, milk boxes & cartons | |
| Cat litter & animal waste | |
| Non-recyclable plastics & rubber | |
| All compostable plastics including cups, utensils and food containers. Clean plastic bags may be returned to your local grocery store for recycling. |
WHAT CANNOT GO IN YOUR GARBAGE CART OR BIN
 |
– | Accepted recyclable materials |
|
Hazardous waste: fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) or tubes, batteries, paint, pesticides, cleaning products or electronics. All of these items must be delivered to the Marin Household Hazardous Waste Facility. | |
|
Household appliances or furniture | |
|
Construction materials or debris such as dirt, rock or concrete | |
|
Yard waste or food waste |
EXTRA MATERIAL
- 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. See our Compostables page for more information.
- For information about bulky item pick-up, please see the Multifamily Services page.
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.
DEBRIS BOXES
Need a debris box (dumpster) for a construction or remodeling project? We’ve got them!
HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE
Batteries, paint, and household cleaners should be dropped off at the Household Hazardous Waste Facility.
NO FOOD IN THE GARBAGE
If you can eat it, it goes in your compostables cart, not your garbage.
WHAT’S IN MARIN’S GARBAGE?
Would it surprise you that only 46% of what you put in the trash belongs there? That’s what we found when we conducted a waste characterization study to find out what was being collected in residential carts.
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