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Holiday Schedule

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Holiday Schedule

Mill Valley Refuse operates normally on all holidays EXCEPT Christmas and New Year's Day. When either of these two holidays falls on a weekday, we will operate one day later through Saturday. For example, if Christmas and New Year's Day fall on a Monday, we will do the Monday routes on Tuesday, the Tuesday routes on Wednesday, and so on through the Friday routes being finished up on Saturday.

This year, Christmas and New Year's Day are both on Friday, so service days will change accordingly.

Don't Trash Those Trees!

Christmas trees should not end up in the landfill. Please put your trees out on the curb on any regular green can day, starting the week after New Year's. We will not pick up trees left by garbage cans.

Homestead Valley customers without green cans can leave their trees on the curb when they see their neighbors putting green cans out.

You MUST REMOVE all ornaments, tinsel and METAL STANDS from your tree (wooden stands are OK). Please note that metal stands can generally be removed by unscrewing them in a counterclockwise motion from the stump of your tree. Cut any tree over five feet tall in half so it can be easily handled (see note below). Flocked trees are OK to put out.

Back Injury Alert!

One of our green can drivers injured his back one year trying to lift an over-sized Christmas tree into his truck. To eliminate the risk of injury, ALL trees MUST be cut into five-foot lengths or they will not be taken. Thank you for your consideration.

 

Christmas Package Recycle Guide

We know you'll be tempted to throw every bit of Christmas wrap and packaging into your recycling cart, but some of it is just not recyclable.

Please don't try to recycle:

  • Metallic or plastic coated wrapping paper
  • Bows and ribbons
  • Plastic "blister" packaging
  • And especially no styrofoam blocks or peanuts

Holiday Tipping: Hints to Avoid Thefts

It has long been a tradition for some to tip the garbage, recycling and yard waste collectors during the Christmas and New Year's holidays. The drivers very much appreciate these gifts and are thankful for them.

However, gifts left on cans at the street have become targets for "early bird thieves" who are known to drive or walk along the streets snatching them before the collectors arrive. Unfortunate, but true.

The two best ways to give gifts are:

1) hand them directly to your collector(s)
2) send a gift card, check or package to our office

If you send a check, please do not make it payable to Mill Valley Refuse Service. Instead, call our office at 457-9760 extension 25 so we can provide you with the name of your collectors. Or simply specify on your envelope which driver (trash, recycle or yardwaste) you want your gift to go to, and include your address so our collectors can identify from whom the gift came. If you wish to tip more than one collector, please send separate gifts as it is very difficult to "split" gifts here in the office.

Please send gift cards or packages to:

Mill Valley Refuse Service
Attn. Holiday Gift
P.O. Box 3557
San Rafael, CA 94912