Recycling Services

• Brown can is for recycling only, no garbage, yard waste or hazardous wastes
• It's ok to mix your recylables (glass, cans, paper etc.) in the brown can
• Flatten and bundle all cardboard boxes (no larger than 4 foot x 4 foot)
• Place your cart out only when it is at least half full
• Collected weekly
• Place your can at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your designated pickup day
• Got too much? Pile extra recylables by your blue can on pick up day

What To Recycle

The list below will help you determine what you may put in your mixed recycling can. "Mixed" or "single-stream" recycling (as it is sometimes called) means that you can put all of your recycling in one can, so there's no need to sort items by type. For a printable version of our Recycling and Household Hazardous Wastes information, download our Recycling Guide (pdf). Items accepted in our curbside program are not the only ones Marin residents can recycle, visit Marin Recycles to learn more.

Mixed Paper and Cardboard

• Newspaper and inserts
• Mixed paper – Including junk mail, magazines, catalogs, paperback and phone books
• Office paper – Including white & colored, envelopes with or without windows
• Paperboard – Such as cereal boxes (remove liners) & shoe boxes
• Corrugated cardboard – Please flatten and bundle for easy disposal
• Do not include: soiled paper, wax or plastic coated paper, tissues, paper towels, photographs or hardcover books

Milk Cartons and Juice/Rice/Soy Containers

• Milk cartons
• Drink boxes – Including juice, soy and rice milk containers and other aseptic packaging
• Juice concentrate containers
• Please rinse and empty before recycling. Remove plastic pop tops and straws.

Glass Bottles and Jars

• Food and beverage glass – All clear and colored food and beverage bottles and jars
• Please rinse before recycling. No need to remove labels, but DO remove caps and corks
• Do not include: ceramics, Pyrex, stemware, light bulbs, window glass or mirrors.

Plastic Containers

• Food and beverage containers (such as plastic milk, soda and water bottles) with the plastic recycling symbol numbers 1 through 7
• Empty shampoo and detergent bottles are also ok
• Please rinse and empty before recycling. No need to remove labels, but DO remove caps.
• Do not include: Styrofoam, plastic bags or PVC pipe.

Metal Cans

• Aluminum Cans
• Steel Cans
• Tin and bi-metal cans – Aerosol & metal paint cans are accepted if completely empty and dry.
• Please rinse and empty before recycling. No need to remove labels.
• Do not include: scrap metal, propane tanks, hangers or containers with liquid.

We offer free curbside collections of latex paint, used motor oil, oil filters and common household batteries (not car batteries). Also some e-waste (computers, TV's). See our Hazardous Wastes page for more information.

Participate, Reduce and Save

MVRS offers a less expensive 20-gallon can rate for customers who recycle and compost so much that they do not fill larger-size cans with trash. You must purchase a new 20-gallon can from a local store if you wish to switch to the 20-gallon can rate. Reduce, reuse, recycle and compost as much as you are able to see if you can drop a can size and save money in the long run.