Marin County, CA Trash & Recycling: Mandatory Organics Recycling (2026)
Key Facts
- Core mandate
- Subscribe to county organics collection
- Applies to
- All residential and commercial generators
- Self-haul exemption
- Qualified self-haulers under §7.00.090
- De minimis waiver threshold
- Under 20 gal/week organics
- Waiver renewal
- Every 5 years
- Escalating fines
- $100 / $200 / $500
Summary
Marin County Code § 7.00.060 requires every residential household in the unincorporated area to subscribe to the county's organic waste collection service and sort food scraps and yard trimmings into a designated organics cart, implementing the state's organic-waste diversion mandate. Only qualified self-haulers under § 7.00.090 are exempt from the subscription requirement.
Each residential generator shall comply with the following requirements: A.Shall subscribe to the county's organic waste collection services for all organic materials generated as described in this section, except generators that meet the self-hauler requirements set forth in section 7.00.090. ... C.Shall place source separated organic materials, including food waste, in the organic materials collection container; place source separated recyclable materials in the recyclable material collection container; and place garbage in the approved solid waste collection container. Generators shall not place prohibited container contaminants into the garbage collection container, organic materials collection container or recyclable material collection container.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 2026 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
090. 010(34) to include food waste, green material, landscape and pruning waste, organic textiles, lumber, wood and paper products, so the mandate covers both kitchen scraps and yard trimmings in one program. 060(C). 150. 080(B) for premises that cannot fit the required containers; both must be renewed with the county every five years. 060(G) also allows on-site or community composting as an alternative to cart subscription.
Violations & Fines
Failing to subscribe to organics collection or contaminating the organics or garbage stream in violation of § 7.00.060 is enforced under § 7.00.160: a written warning for a first violation, a notice of violation with sixty days to correct for a second, and administrative fines of $100, $200 and $500 for a third or later violation, with the right to an administrative appeal hearing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to subscribe to organics collection in unincorporated Marin?
Does the organics requirement cover yard trimmings or just food scraps?
Can I compost at home instead of subscribing to the organics cart?
Is there a waiver for small businesses that generate little food waste?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Marin County
California rules heatmap·Compare Marin County to another location·View the California trash & recycling overview
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