Trash and recycling bins are emptied early Monday morning, shortly after 6:00 am. Bins should be put out on the curb the night before.
The automated recycling trucks use an hydraulic gripping claw to grab the bins. It is important that they are set out correctly:
- Please place your bins so the wheels are against the curb and the handles are away from street.
- Keep bins at least 2 feet away from each other and also from cars, mailboxes, or anything else that my hinder the automated arm from accessing them.
- The lids should be closed completely.
Bin Contents
Split Cart Blue/Brown Recycling Bin
Blue Section
- Paper (not contaminated or coated)
- Newspapers
- Shredded paper in a paper bag
- Books
- Magazines
- Cardboard — Tie cardboard that does not fit in the blue section into 2 feet x 2 feet x 2 feet packages and place on the ground.
Brown Section
- Glass bottles and jars
- Plastic bottles and jugs (labeled 1-7 in the small triangles on the bottom of the plastic)
- Aluminum and tin cans
Green (also Brown) Bin
- Yard waste
- Food leftovers
- Food soiled paper
Please do not put food scraps or yard debris in plastic bags even if they say they are biodegradable. Normal plastic bags will break down into small pieces which contaminate the finished compost. Because sorters cannot distinguish between biodegradable and regular bags, please refrain from putting organic material in any plastic looking bags. Paper bags and boxes are still okay.
Black Bin
- Containers with food
- Styrofoam
- Compostable plastics
- Waxed paper
- Waxed cardboard
- Cartons
- Palm fronds
- Yucca
- Poison Oak
- Bamboo
- Plastic bags
- Coffee cups
- Cartons
- Everything else
Questions? Marin Sanitary Service has additional information on their website.