Let's Talk Trash

At Mill Valley Refuse, we share our community's commitment to sustainable and responsible stewardship of Marin. On this page you'll find the latest information about waste management and recycling. Got a news item or question for us? Send us an email and tell us about it.

News You Can Use

New Eco-Friendly Search Engine to Trade/Swap Items | Dec. 13, 2011
In the market to trade or give away books, sports equipment, antiques, automobiles, bicycles, motorcycles, CDs/DVDs, computers and more? Check out www.ecofreek.com, a search engine for free and 'for swap/trade' items people no longer need or want.
Visit ecofreek.com

Governor Signs Ambitious California Recycling Bill | Oct. 6, 2011
Today, Governor Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 341 that sets a 75 percent recycling goal for California by 2020; the most ambitious in the nation. Additionally, the measure requires every commercial business, institution and apartment building to implement recycling programs.
Learn more about AB 341 on the Californians Against Waste website

California Supreme Rules for Local Bag Ban | July 18, 2011
On July 14, the California Supreme Court ruled that the City of Manhattan Beach can enforce a local ordinance banning plastic bags in that city. The ruling ends a challenge funded by plastic bag manufacturers and paves the way for local governments throughout California to move to adopt ordinances banning plastic bags.
Learn more on the Californians Against Waste website

Free Waste Tire Recycling | May 9, 2011
Marin residents can dispose of unwanted tires for free at two locations between May 14 and May 27. You may bring up to nine (9) tires per trip, limited to passenger car and pickup truck tires only, with or without rims to two disposal locations: 1) Marin Resource Recovery Center, located at 565 Jacoby Street in San Rafael (open Monday - Saturday from 8am–4pm or 2) Nicasio Corp Yard, located at 5600 Nicasio Valley Road, open Monday-Saturday from 9am–3pm.
Read more

Trash charges need to change | March 29, 2011
Jim Iavarone, one of the managing directors of Mill Valley Refuse Service, penned an op-ed column for the Marin IJ about rate increases as a result of "migration," which occurs when customers reduce service (or migrate) from larger to smaller trash cans as they recycle and compost more.
Read the article (pdf)

Compost service update: 173 tons of waste diverted so far | December 9, 2010
Between August and the end of October, we collected 1,897.71 tons of yard/food waste and 3,884.84 tons of trash. During the same time period in 2009 (before food scrap composting), we collected 1,273.29 tons of yard waste and 4,057.83 tons of trash. That means we have diverted from the landfill approximately 173 tons of waste so far this year thanks to your participation in food scrap composting.
Learn more about our food scrap composting service

Winter Let's Talk Trash newsletter available now | December 9, 2010
Read our winter newsletter for information about Christmas tree and wrapping paper recycling, our holiday schedule, and more.
Download the Winter 2010 Let's Talk Trash newsletter (pdf)

Watch videos of Tiburon & Mill Valley Curbside Composting Seminars | Oct. 12, 2010
Thank you to everyone who attended our September curbside composting seminars. Both events were recorded, and are now available on the Mill Valley Refuse website.
Watch the composting seminars here

Compost now available to the public from Redwood Landfill | Oct. 1, 2010
Redwood Landfill has been selling its compost wholesale for over a decade, but as of October 1, they are offering retail sales to the public at the Redwood Landfill facility. Available by the yard (with your own pickup) or by the container (with your own bag or bucket), this is an inexpensive way for you to use some of the compost you produce from your food scrap waste.
Contact the Redwood Landfill and Recycling Center

California Commercial Recycling Bill | Sept. 15, 2010
AB 737, a bill by Assembly Member Wesley Chesbro, will create a commercial recycling program by expanding recycling to every multi-family (apartment) dwelling and commercial business in California. These sectors make up two-thirds of our waste stream, and have been largely passed over in our state's waste reduction efforts thus far. The bill passed the legislature and is now headed to the Governor.
Learn more about AB 737

California Plastic Bag Ban Bill Fails to Pass Senate | Sept. 1, 2010
A bill that would have banned plastic bags at grocery stores, pharmacies and convenience stores in California failed passage in the senate ending with a 14-21 vote on August 31. Californians use 19 billion plastic bags every year. That's 600 bags per second! You can help remedy this situation by making it a habit to use cloth reusable bags instead of plastic every time you shop.

Mill Valley photographer makes statement about our throwaway society with his ocean of garbage photographs | July 27, 2010
One man's trash is another man's... art? Check out these pictorial commentary pieces by local photographer John Lund. With titles like, "A Waterless Tidal Wave of Garbage Surging Under Stormy Skies" you'll see garbage in a whole new light.
Visit John Lund's site

You'll find previous posts on our news archive page.