Services Required by Law

• SB 1383 requires all generators of waste (businesses, public entities, and single/multifamily residents) to properly sort their waste, by either placing food scraps, food/beverage soiled paper products, and yard trimmings in the compost cart or self-hauling compostable material to a composting facility or program.
• Residents must also place recyclables such as paper and cardboard, (and cans and bottles) in the recycling cart.

Jurisdictions (cities, counties and special districts) have the authority to assess a fine for non-compliance.

Good news! We’ve made compliance easy for you.

Compost, recycling, and garbage service are all part of your normal service package with Mill Valley Refuse. All you need to do is properly sort and utilize the carts we’ve provided for collection. 

• All generators of waste (businesses, public entities, and single/multifamily residents) must properly sort their waste, by either placing food scraps, food/beverage soiled paper products, and yard trimmings in the compost, or self-hauling compostable material to a composting facility or program.
  • Generators must also place recyclables including unsoiled paper and cardboard (and cans and bottles) in their recycling cart.
  • The garbage cart should not be contaminated with organic materials or recyclables. Contamination occurs when anything that doesn’t belong in that particular cart (compost, recycling, or garbage) is placed in the cart for collection.
  • Jurisdictions (cities, counties and special districts) have the authority to assess a fine for non-compliance.
• Multifamily building owners or their designee shall annually educate employees and tenants on proper sorting of materials.
• Multifamily building owners or their designee shall provide information to new tenants before or within 14 days of occupation of the premises.

• Compost, recycling, and garbage service are all part of your normal service package with Mill Valley Refuse.
• Print our recycling posters for educational purposes and put them up at your waste stations to encourage proper sorting.
• Our customer support team can help you understand and take proper steps to be in compliance. Please email us at customer@millvalleyrefuse.com or call our office at (415) 457-9760, Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.

• All generators of waste (businesses, public entities, and single/multifamily residents) must properly sort their waste, by either placing food scraps, food/beverage soiled paper products, and yard trimmings in the compost, or self-hauling compostable material to a composting facility or program.
  • Generators must also place recyclables including unsoiled paper and cardboard (and cans and bottles) in their recycling cart.
  • The garbage cart should not be contaminated with organic materials or recyclables. Contamination occurs when anything that doesn’t belong in that particular cart (compost, recycling, or garbage) is placed in the cart for collection.
  • Jurisdictions (cities, counties and special districts) have the authority to assess a fine for non-compliance.

• Commercial businesses must also provide or arrange for organic waste collection services for employees, contractors, tenants and customers and provide information to tenants within 14 days of occupation of the premises.
• Commercial businesses must annually provide information about organic and recycling separation requirements to employees, contractors, tenants and customers.
• Commercial businesses must provide color coded or labeled containers for the collection of organic waste and non-organic recyclable in all areas where disposal containers are provided for customers, except for restrooms. See the Commercial Organics and Recycling Bins AB 827 tab for rules on bin markings and locations.

Good news! We’ve made compliance easy for you.

• Compost, recycling, and garbage service are all part of your normal service package with Mill Valley Refuse.
• Print our recycling posters for educational purposes and put them up at your waste stations to encourage proper sorting.
• Our customer support team can help you understand and take proper steps to be in compliance. Please email us at customer@millvalleyrefuse.com or call our office at (415) 457-9760, Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.

California has a 2025 goal to redirect 20% of edible food currently thrown away to help feed the almost 1 in 4 Californians without enough to eat.

The second portion of SB 1383, the recovery of edible food waste, applies only to commercial food generators and implementation is split into two tiers:

To comply with SB 1383 regulations, businesses in these tiers must contract with a food recovery organization or service such as the Marin Food Bank or ExtraFood.

For more information about SB 1383 edible food recovery visit the CalRecycle website or Zero Waste Marin.

Certain commercial businesses and multifamily dwellings with five or more units may qualify for waivers from organic waste requirements if the business:

1. Generates a small amount of organic waste (low-generator “de minimis” waiver).
2. Has organics recycling handled by a third party, like a landscaper.
3. Lacks space for additional green or food waste containers (space-constraint waiver).