FAIRFAX TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
STAFF REPORT
AGENDA ITEM 8.f
MEETING DATE July 16, 2025
PREPARED FOR Mayor and Town Council
PREPARED BY Bridget Wipfler, Climate Action Coordinator SUBJECT Receive 2024 Marin Sanitary Services Report for the Town of Fairfax
RECOMMENDATION
Accept informational Marin Sanitary Report for Services in the Town of Fairfax.
BACKGROUND
The Town of Fairfax maintains a franchise agreement with Marin Sanitary Service (MSS) for the exclusive collection of solid waste. Under this agreement, MSS is required to submit an annual report detailing their collection activities, recycling efforts, and overall service performance. The report ensures transparency and helps the Town monitor progress towards state-mandated waste reduction and diversion goals.
DISCUSSION
This report summarizes the 2024 Annual Report from Marin Sanitary Service (MSS). The report highlights the progress made in waste collection, recycling, and composting services within the Town of Fairfax. For the full detailed report see Attachment 1.
Key updates include:
1. Status of New Technologies and Industry Practices Enhancing Progress Toward Zero Waste: In 2024, MSS implemented several innovative technologies to improve recycling and waste diversion, including a second optical sorter funded by a CalRecycle grant, AIpowered 3rd Eye camera systems for contamination detection, and the TIGER depackager to expand food waste processing. The company also advanced its collection fleet with a new split-body recycling truck designed for narrow streets, ensuring highquality recyclables and increased efficiency.
2. Zero Waste and Recycling Implementation: MSS supports the implementation of the new law mandating recycling and composting in California (SB 1383). Based on MSS tracking, 100% of Multi Family Dwellings and Commercial Facilities in Fairfax are in compliance.
MSS also continues its dual-stream recycling program to preserve the quality of materials, though contamination from non-recyclable plastics remains an issue. In Fairfax, all customers either receive organics service or are exempt due to low waste generation, and United Market actively participates in the Food2Energy (F2E) program, which helps divert packaged food waste from landfills. In 2024, the POWER program expanded, increasing food waste volume by 8% across the service area, and MSS continues targeted outreach in Fairfax to promote compliance with SB 1383 and grow organics participation.
3. Green House Gas Mitigation: Since 2006, MSS has tracked emissions and, since 2009, has averaged 18 times the offset of its direct emissions—far exceeding Net-Zero. Most emissions come from vehicle use, which was significantly reduced by switching to renewable diesel in 2020.
Public Education Activities Undertaken During the Year:
- 7,973 bill inserts were sent to Fairfax customers covering topics like rate changes, recycling, and cleanup events.
- MSS took 149 actions to address contamination, including driver identification, followup by customer service and outreach teams, applying charges when necessary, and removing carts for persistent issues, with education available for all multi-family and commercial accounts.
- 185 posts on Instagram and Facebook that reached 18,469 users. - Inspected 367 individual containers to regulate SB 1383. - 88% of waste was diverted from the Fairfax Festival
- There were 2,034 Fairfax visitors to the www.marinsanitaryservice.com website in 2024. This is up from 1455 visitors in 2023.
Recycling and Landfill Rates:
- Fairfax residents diverted 63% of their waste in 2024. - The average resident produced 1.68 pounds per day.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY
This report is consistent with the following measures of the adopted General Plan:
1. Objective CON‐7.1: Employ “zero waste” principles to reduce the amount of waste generated in Fairfax by 80 percent before 2015 and 100 percent by 2025.
2. Program CON-7.1.1.2: Work with the contracted waste disposal service to provide appropriate containers to all Fairfax households and businesses for different types of recyclable material, including plastics, metals, yard waste, and compostables.
CEQA AND CLIMATE ACTION PLAN CONSISTENCY
The Council’s acceptance of the 2024 MSS Annual Report is not a “project” under the California Environmental Quality Act, because it does not involve an activity which has the potential to cause a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment (Cal. Pub. Res. Code § 21065). This report is consistent with the following measures of the adopted CAP:
ATTACHMENT
2024 Town of Fairfax Annual Report
2024 TOWN OF FAIRFAX
ANNUAL REPORT
Marin Sanitary Service
1050 Andersen Drive, San Rafael CA, 94901
Tel 415-456-2601
www.marinsanitaryservice.com
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Table of Contents
Status of New Technologies and Industry Practices Enhancing Progress Toward Zero Waste ________ 3 Progress of Programs or Services Implemented in the Past Two Years _________________________ 5 Description and Progress of Zero Waste Programs_________________________________________ 6 Green House Gas Mitigation_________________________________________________________ 10 Public Education Activities Undertaken During the Year ___________________________________ 11 Recycling and Organics Program Participation “Set Outs” __________________________________ 29 Year-Over-Year Change in Customer Account Data________________________________________ 33 Recycling Rates ___________________________________________________________________ 34 Other Information (Quarterly Report Data) _____________________________________________ 37 Contact Information _______________________________________________________________ 39
PROGRESS OF PROGRAMS IMPLEMENTED IN
THE PAST TWO YEARS
Status of New Technologies and Industry Practices Enhancing Progress Toward Zero Waste
OPTICAL SORTER
In 2024 Marin Sanitary applied for and was awarded a beverage container quality infrastructure grant from CalRecycle. This grant will help to fund the purchase of a second optical sorter to add to our container recycling processing line. This will help to ensure that we are capturing all recoverable packages and keep out any contamination, bringing a higher value to the materials we collect and bale.
3RD EYE CAMERA TECHNOLOGY
In 2024, Marin Sanitary installed a demonstration AI camera system on one of the company’s route collection trucks. This technology, 3rd Eye’s Pur-If-Eye, uses AI technology to detect contamination as a load is dumped into the truck’s hopper. This method of contamination detection could replace the inperson SB 1383 required inspections currently being done by the route auditor and outreach team.
TIGER DEPACKAGER
The TIGER depackager has led to modifications to the F2E program allowing customers to put materials in clear plastic bags boosting participation. The TIGER also led the company to implement the POWER program for packaged food waste that previously was going to the landfill. The company also receives occasional loads of spoiled food from food manufacturers and distributors. This new technology has been successful at expanding the amount and type of food waste that the company is able to receive and divert from the landfill (Exhibit 1).
PROGRESS OF PROGRAMS IMPLEMENTED IN
THE PAST TWO YEARS
SPLIT BODY RECYCLING TRUCKS
Marin Sanitary Service continues to invest in the best recycling collection vehicle technology. The company’s trucks are designed to ensure that materials are kept separated (paper from bottles and cans) to ensure the highest quality bales. Marin Sanitary has always had a reputation for clean recyclables and this helps to ensure that the company receives the highest value for these materials.
This is in turn shared with the rate payers. In 2024, the company was able to procure a small profile split recycling truck. The first of its kind in the industry, this truck allows for safer collection of dualstream recyclables in the community’s narrowest streets. 0 20
40 60
80 100
120
140
160
F2E Tons in 2024
Tons Processed by the TIGER
Exhibit 1
PROGRESS OF PROGRAMS IMPLEMENTED IN
THE PAST TWO YEARS
Progress of Programs or Services Implemented in the Past Two Years
SB 1383 IMPLEMENTATION
Exhibit 2 shows the number of commercial businesses and multi-family dwellings that are participating in MSS organic waste collection. Customers who self-haul or do not produce enough waste will be visited and this alternative compliance will be documented. Those not producing sufficient volume or with insufficient room to store additional containers will be issued a waiver. Noncompliant customers who refuse to add services will require enforcement actions by the jurisdiction or Zero Waste Marin.
Commercial Multi Family Dwellings 5 units +
Town of
Fairfax
Town of
Fairfax
Subject to Compliance
Review 56 Subject to Compliance Review 22
Compliant 62 Compliant 22
Waivers 7 Waivers
Not Compliant
-
Not Compliant
-
% Compliance 100% % Compliance 100%
Exhibit 2: SB 1383 Compliance
ZERO WASTE PROGRAMS
Description and Progress of Zero Waste Programs
RECYCLING PROGRAMS
Marin Sanitary Service continues to provide dual-stream recycling. Separating paper and cardboard on one side from glass, metal, plastic bottles, and cans on the other side ensures materials stay clean and maintain their value.
The company continues to see non-recyclable plastics end up in the container side of the cart. Efforts to clean up the recyclables are detailed through this report. Exhibit 3 shows the rise of contamination since 2014. This trend has leveled out since 2018 and has been rangebound around 13-15% with a slight drop in 2024 over last year’s levels.
Exhibit 3
ZERO WASTE PROGRAMS
ORGANICS COLLECTION
Organic waste is collected through three different programs, including curbside green waste, commercial organics, and Food 2 Energy (F2E). In 2023 the company implemented the Packaged Organic Waste Energy Recovery (POWER) program. This program is set up to capture packaged organic waste from grocery stores. This waste was previously destined for the landfill.
Curbside Green Waste
Residential customers may continue to place their yard clippings along with household food waste into their green carts. The company continues to promote SB 1383 and the requirement of residential customers to separate their food waste and put it in the green cart.
Commercial Organics
All Fairfax customers are receiving organics service or are exempt from the requirement due to the small amount of solid waste they produce. The MSS outreach team continues to work with commercial customers to ensure organics containers are not contaminated with garbage or recyclables. In addition, following SB 1383 requirements, the company has emphasized keeping organics out of the landfill streams.
Food2Energy (F2E)
F2E service is offered to grocery stores and restaurants to capture their back-of-house organic waste.
Companies can place their food scraps in clear plastic bags to help keep cans clean and keep critters out. Grocery stores and restaurants are now able to include packaged food waste in their green cart that was historically bound for the landfill. United Market in Fairfax participates in this program and the company continues to look for opportunities to expand this service. MSS collection trucks pick up the packaged and unpackaged organic waste in dumpsters and bring them to the TIGER depackager for processing. In 2024 the expanded Packaged Organic Waste Energy Recovery ((POWER) Program resulted in an increase in volume of 8% YOY across the full service area.
It is expected to see continued growth in the program as SB 1383 is enforced at the local level with the help of Zero Waste Marin. MSS’s F2E route is expanding to include more participants with bin service, and the company expects to see an increase in volume as participants move from smaller carts into larger bins.
ZERO WASTE PROGRAMS
To assist with outreach efforts, MSS is producing a training video for participants and continuing to evangelize simplified messaging such as “FOOD IS NOT TRASH”. This service continues to prove to be a positive addition to the processing capabilities at Marin Sanitary. With this new program the company is recovering over 500 tons of food waste per year from the service area that previously went to the landfill.
In 2024, Central Marin Sanitation Agency (CMSA) received an increase of 19% in wet tons of food waste from MSS, producing about 727,000 kWh of electricity. With this material provided by commercial and residential customers within the MSS jurisdiction along with occasional deliveries from external sources, the CMSA wastewater facility was fully powered by bioenenergy for about 50 days of the year in 2024.
ZERO WASTE PROGRAMS
Food 2 Energy
BAREFOOT CAFE 7-ELEVEN 15957 WAY STATION
CAFE LOTUS BAREFOOT CAFE WU WEI TEA TEMPLE
CARE MERIDIAN LLC. BOLINAS PARTNERS LLC BENNETT HOUSE
FAIR-ANSELM PLAZA CANON SWIM & TENNIS KALANIA PLACE LLC FAIRFAX MARKET # 44 CORP YARD MANOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
FRADELIZIO'S CREEKWOOD RUDDEN
LA GASTRONOMIA DEER PARK VILLA VICTORY VILLAGE
MY THAI FAIRFAX CONGREGATION
OF WHITE HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL
RBL REAL ESTATE FAIRFAX INN CHILDRENS CENTER
FAIRFAX/SA
SORELLA CAFE FAIRFAX LUMBER DAYCARING PRESCHOOL INC
THE LODGE FAIRFAX SCOOP LLC FIRST FRIENDS MONTESSORI
PRE S
FAIRFAX THEATER KINDERBLAST PRESCHOOL
FAIRFAX WOMEN'S CLUB MANOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
FIRST FEDERAL SAVINGS &
LOAN
ROSS VALLEY CHARTER
SCHOOL
FITZPATRICK'S HEATING WHITE HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL
FRANCIS DRAKE
PROPERTIES LLC 1822 SIR FRANCIS DRK APTS
GESTALT HAUS BENNETT HOUSE
GOODS CANON VILLAGE H.O.A
M & G BURGERS CAPISTRANO APARTMENTS
MAD HANK MUSIC CENTER BLVD APARTMENTS
MANA BOWLS DRAKE MANOR APARTMENTS
MARIN COUNTY LIBRARY FAIR OAKS APARTMENTS
MARIN MUSEUM OF
BICYCLING FAIRFAX WOODS
MARIN STABLES FRADELIZIO
MARIN TOWN AND COUNTRY
CLUB GLANTZ
MUNI CONTAINERS J & E PROPERTY
MANAGEMENT INC
PERI'S TAVERN KALANIA PLACE LLC
PERUVA AUTO SERVICES KOURDRAVTSVA
POOL & CLUBHOUSE LANAI APARTMENTS
ROSS VALLEY
CHIROPRACTIC MCM FAIRFAX LP
SAINT RITA CATHOLIC
CHURCH OLEMA APARTMENTS
SALT & PEPPER O'SULLIVAN
SCHWAN PIPER COURT APARTMENTS
SLAYEN RUDDEN
SPLIT ROCK TAP & WHEEL SHADY BROOK APARTMENTS
STILLWATER SHERWOOD OAKS
THE COFFEE ROASTERY SIMBULAN
THE DESIGN TABLE TAYLOR
THE HUMMINGBIRD VICTORY VILLAGE
U.S. POST OFFICE YUDICE
Commercial Organics
Exhibit 4: Organics Customers- add Packaged food waste participants
GREEN HOUSE GAS MITIGATION
Green House Gas Mitigation
GREEN HOUSE GAS MITIGATION
MSS has tracked operational emissions annually since 2006 and avoided emissions since 2009. This report shows MSS has fully offset its direct emissions on average 18 times. This is well beyond NetZero. Most emissions originate from direct mobile combustions including on and off-road vehicles. MSS switched the fleet to renewable diesel in 2020, lowering overall emissions impacts.
Exhibit 5: Emissions Reporting
PUBLIC EDUCATION ACTIVITIES
Public Education Activities Undertaken During the Year
Bill Inserts
Fairfax
Rate Increase Notification
2,059
Spring Clean up
1,998
Fall Clean up
1,958
Recycle Right
1,958
Grand Total
7,973
Exhibit 6: Bill Inserts Sent in 2024
: Bill Inserts Sent in 2023
PUBLIC EDUCATION ACTIVITIES
PUBLIC EDUCATION ACTIVITIES
PUBLIC EDUCATION ACTIVITIES
PUBLIC EDUCATION ACTIVITIES
CUSTOMERS DIRECTLY CONTACTED REGARDING DIVERSION SERVICES Contamination Program
Drivers identify contaminated containers, and our customer service representatives and outreach team follow up daily with customers on the contamination list to follow up on the notification and provide education. When necessary, contamination charges are applied. For multi-family and commercial customers, recycling or organics carts may be removed if ongoing contamination persists despite outreach efforts. Education and training are available to all multi-family and commercial participants. In 2024, a total of 149 actions were taken to reduce contamination. 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200
Customers Charged Contamination Fee
Customer Follow-up Calls
Driver Reported Contaminations
Cart Hangers
Contamination Prevention Efforts
2024 2023
Exhibit 7: Contamination Prevention
PUBLIC EDUCATION ACTIVITIES
Social Media
The company has focused on digital methods for communicating with customers. This includes using social media channels to provide information, reminders, and tips to divert waste from the landfill.
Facebook Instagram Linkedin
Fairfax Followers 32 35 N/A
Posts 24 161
Engagement 705 661
Reach 6074 12395
Exhibit 8: Social Media Activity
PUBLIC EDUCATION ACTIVITIES
PUBLIC EDUCATION ACTIVITIES
WASTE AUDITS AND RESULTS
SB 1383 regulations require that jurisdictions conduct mandated SB 1383 route reviews by random selection. SB 1383 route reviews are defined as a visual inspection of containers along a route for the purpose of determining container contamination and proper sorting of material or both. If contaminants are found, the route auditor takes a picture of the material and mails a letter to the customer for educational purposes. During 2024 MSS route auditors inspected 367 individual containers. Results are shown in Exhibit 9.
Properly Sorted Prohibited Contaminants
Material: Total Total
Cardboard Recycling 23 0
Containers Recycling 14 9
Food Waste 3 0
Landfill 108 3
Mixed Organics 98 5
Mixed Recycling 80 9
Paper Recycling 14 1
Total 340 27
In addition to SB 1383 route audits, MSS auditors ride along with drivers to verify current services within the MSS billing system match the service the customer is receiving. Exhibit 10 shows the results of these efforts. Customers are sent notices of the discrepancy and given an opportunity to modify their service or pay the correct amount for the services received.
Route Audit Discovered Service Discrepancies
Total
Service Discrepancy-Less Service than pays for- smaller cart size 3 Service Discrepancy-More Service than covered for in service-larger cart size 2 Total 5
Exhibit 9: SB 1383 Tracking Totals 2024
Exhibit 10: Service Discrepancies
PUBLIC EDUCATION ACTIVITIES
COLLECTION NOTIFICATION TAGS
Collection notification tags are placed for customers whose service is not completed on collection day as a means of educating customers on proper container set out, contamination, or other reasons.
Exhibit 11 shows the cart tags left with customers in 2024.
Number of Tags
Left
Notification Reason:
CART CONTAMINATED 3
Grand Total 3
COMMUNITY INFORMATION AND EVENTS
Fairfax Festival
Fairfax Festival 2024 - Diversion Weights
Material Quantity
(Tons)
Quantity
(lbs)
CARDBOARD 0.28 560
*RECYCLING (Bottles & Cans) .38 755
COMPOST .49 980
COMMERCIAL SORT BIN (100% Garbage) 0.78 1,560
Total 1.93 3,860
Total Diverted 1.07 3,400
Diversion Percentage 88% 88%
*CCNB Collected this material
Exhibit 11: Collection Notification Tags
Exhibit 12: Fairfax Festival Diversion
PUBLIC EDUCATION ACTIVITIES
Marin Sanitary Service Drill Team Peforming in the Fairfax Festival Parade
PUBLIC EDUCATION ACTIVITIES
Take Back Day
The event was well attended in 2024 with 60 plus participants attending, this was an increase of 50 people from 2023. MSS staff hosted a welcome table; distributed educational flyers and provided shredding services.
Customer Appreciation Day
Over 526 customers from our full service area participated in our annual Customer Appreciation Day. Over 150 people attended the facility tours including the compost/recycling trainings that were presented in English and Spanish. Compost was provided to 382 customers. A new addition to this annual event included shredding services; 207 customers delivered paper for shredding.
PUBLIC EDUCATION ACTIVITIES
PUBLIC EDUCATION ACTIVITIES
WEBSITE
There were 2,034 Fairfax visitors to the www.marinsanitaryservice.com website in 2024. This is up from 1455 visitors in 2023. After the homepage, visitor’s Waste Management Solutions in Marin County page followed by Pay My Bill.
“Where Does It Go Joe?” is an online resource and mobile application designed for MSS customers.
This tool allows customers to search materials to determine if they are recyclable, compostable or belong in the landfill. This app is available to anyone in the MSS service area. In 2024 the top searched items are listed in Exhibit 13:
In addition to the material search tool, the app provides residential customers with the option to get service day information, pay their bill and to set up weekly reminders by email, text or phone call. As of the end of 2024, 1,523 Fairfax customers receive weekly reminders.
Exhibit 13: Top Items Search, Where Does It Go Joe?
PUBLIC EDUCATION ACTIVITIES
NEWSLETTERS
Newsletters are sent to all MSS residential customers in the spring and fall. Below are the newsletters sent in 2024:
PUBLIC EDUCATION ACTIVITIES
PUBLIC EDUCATION ACTIVITIES
PUBLIC EDUCATION ACTIVITIES
PUBLIC EDUCATION ACTIVITIES
LOCAL EVENTS AND TOURS
Fairfax Climate Action Earthday: Staff hosted a welcome table and distributed educational flyers to 30 local participants.
Facility tours were presented to students and adults from * Manor Elementary School Green Team, Ross Valley Charter and Zero Waste Climate Coordinator Fellows. *Email received post tour by Renee:
“Hi Renee! Thank you SOOOOO MUCH for two incredible tours! You are such a natural and made this experience incredible for our students. Many parents asked upon our return if you could come and give an abbreviated version of your presentation at one of our Wednesday welcomes.”
OTHER ACTIVITIES RELATED TO COLLECTION SERVICES
Number of Activities
Town of Fairfax
Activity Type:
Email 308
Issue SB 1383 Waiver 9
Letter 4
Phone Call 97
Revoke SB 1383 Waiver 1
Site Visit 60
Training 11
Verify SB 1383 Waiver 4
Voicemail 29
Grand Total 215
Exhibit 14: Outreach Activities
YOY CHANGE IN CUSTOMER ACCOUNTS
Recycling and Organics Program Participation “Set Outs”
RESIDENTIAL
All Fairfax residents in single-family homes are offered three services as part of the bundled rate. These include a gray (landfill or garbage) cart, a dual-sort split body recycling cart and a green organics cart.
The bundled rate is based on the size of the landfill cart. Exhibits 15, 16 and 17 detail the total number of carts by material and size subscribed to by current MSS residential customers in Fairfax.
Residential Weekly Landfill Service (# of Carts)
2022 2023 2024 24 vs 23 (%) 2024 % of Total Carts
Cart Size:
20 Gallon 667 672 679 1% 27%
32 Gallon 1,612 1,599 1,592 0% 63%
64 Gallon 252 241 248 3% 10%
96 Gallon 15 18 17 -6% 1%
Total 2,546 2,530 2,536 0% 100%
Exhibit 15: Residential Landfill Cart Service Subscription
YOY CHANGE IN CUSTOMER ACCOUNTS
Residential Weekly Dual Sort Recycling Service (# of Carts) 2022 2023 2024 24 vs 23 (%) 2024 % of Total Carts
Cart Size:
5 Gallon 27 23 23 0% 1%
32 Gallon 1 - - - 0%
64 Gallon 2,238 2,195 2,178 -1% 86%
96 Gallon 290 325 327 1% 13%
Total 2,556 2,543 2,528 -1% 100%
Residential Weekly Organic Service (# of Carts)
2022 2023 2024 24 vs 23 (%) 2024 % of Total Carts
Cart Size:
32 Gallon 227 261 266 2% 8%
64 Gallon 3,219 3,208 3,213 0% 92%
96 Gallon 27 26 28 8% 1%
Total 3,473 3,495 3,507 0% 100%
Scheduled Curbside Clean-up Program and Bulky Item Collection This program offers all residential customers the opportunity to set out additional recycling, yard waste and landfill waste twice per year for the removal of excess materials.
Bulky items like mattresses, appliances, and furniture are not collected during curbside clean-ups. These collections must be scheduled separately. Residential customers are allowed two (2) scheduled bulky item collections of up to two (2) items each time at no extra charge.
Exhibit 16: Residential Recycling Cart Service Subscription Exhibit 17: Residential Organic Cart Service Subscription
YOY CHANGE IN CUSTOMER ACCOUNTS
Annual Dedicated Program Stats (Tons)
2022 2023 2024
Program Type:
Scheduled Clean-Ups 23 19 22
Bulky Items 17 19 21
Illegal Dumping - - -
Total Tons Recycled 24 23 22
Bulky Item Work Orders 257 303 259
COMMERCIAL
Commercial businesses in Fairfax are offered recycling services as part of a bundled rate. One of the two organics programs is offered to all commercial customers. Food 2 Energy (F2E) for businesses with pre-consumer food waste and commercial organics for all others. Exhibit 19 compares the total volume of material collected from commercial customers over the past three years.
Commercial Weekly Service (yd3)
2022 2023 2024 24 vs 23 (%)
Service Type:
Landfill 213 207 208 0.5%
Recycling 264 268 269 0.4%
Organic 59 60 60 0.0%
Total 535 535 537 0.4%
*Snapshot of Service Levels
MULTI-FAMILY DWELLING
Multi-family Dwellings (MFDs) are offered recycling and organics services as part of a bundled rate.
Each property may have up to 4 organics carts at no additional charge. If more carts are needed, they are available for a monthly rental charge. In addition, after attending a workshop, MFD tenants receive kitchen pails for the collection of compostable materials inside their homes. Exhibit 20 Exhibit 18: Curbside Collection and Bulky Item Participation Exhibit 19: Commercial Weekly Service by Type*
YOY CHANGE IN CUSTOMER ACCOUNTS
compares the total volume of material collected from MFD customers in Fairfax over the past three years.
Multifamily Weekly Service (yd3)
2022 2023 2024 24 vs 23 (%)
Service Type:
Landfill 105 105 107 2%
Recycling 95 94 94 0%
Organic 22 22 22 0%
Total 221 221 223 1%
*Snapshot of Service Levels
*Year-End Snapshot of Service Levels
Exhibit 20: Multi-family Weekly Service by Type*
YOY CHANGE IN CUSTOMER ACCOUNTS
Year-Over-Year Change in Customer Account Data
OVERALL CUSTOMER ACCOUNT DATA
Customer account information for Fairfax is stated below. Customer numbers have remained consistent year-over-year.
2023 2024
Residential Commercial Multi-Family Residential Commercial Multi-Family Fairfax 2,512 83 27 2,505 85 27
New Starts Closures
Total Total
Customer Type: Customer Type:
Residential 117 Residential 143
Commercial Business 7 Commercial Business 9
Multifamily Dwellings 1 Multifamily Dwellings 1
Total 125 153
Exhibit 21: YOY Customer Account Data
Exhibit 22: New Starts and Account Closures by Customer Type
RECYCLING RATES
Recycling Rates
RECYCLING RATES BY WEIGHT AND BY VOLUME
Exhibit 23 lists the tonnage information for the combined service area including Fairfax.
Exhibit 24 breaks down the tonnage by jurisdiction. The tons and diversion presented are only estimates. Company routes go through multiple jurisdictions, the tonnage is calculated by jurisdiction based on an allocation tied to the amount of service by customer.
In addition, the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF or the indoor dump) tons are estimated by location specifically for unincorporated Marin County, San Anselmo, San Rafael, and the Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District as it is often not possible for Marin Resource Recovery booth staff to determine which customers in San Anselmo and San Rafael are in unincorporated County or Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District boundaries. MRF or indoor dump diversion is calculated at 72% based on the Q4 2024 diversion calculation reported on our website at https://marinresourcerecoverycenter.com/mobius_cms/wpcontent/uploads/2025/01/Q4-2024-Recycling-Certification.pdf Weight Based Recycling Rates by Sector (Tons)
Residential Commercial/MF Total
2022 2023 2024 2022 2023 2024 2022 2023 2024
Tons Collected:
Curbside Organics (Food & Yard waste)* 22,574 24,456 25,699 1,287 1,287 1,353 23,861 25,744 27,051 Curbside Containers Recycling 4,980 4,825 4,527 1,785 1,785 1,674 6,765 6,610 6,201 Curbside Fiber Recycling 5,162 5,158 5,037 1,908 1,908 1,863 7,070 7,066 6,900 Curbside Cardboard Recycling *N/A *N/A *N/A 4,117 3,928 3,902 4,117 3,928 3,902 Transfer Station 24,588 24,463 24,571 21,813 21,879 22,158 46,401 46,342 46,729 Commercial Food Waste (F2E) *N/A *N/A *N/A 2,385 2,608 2,923 2,385 2,608 2,923 Commercial processed at MRRC *N/A *N/A *N/A 5,008 4,595 4,602 5,008 4,595 4,602 Total Tons Collected 57,304 58,903 59,833 38,303 37,990 38,476 95,607 96,893 98,309 Total Tons Diverted 32,716 34,440 35,262 15,107 14,842 14,995 47,824 49,282 50,257 * Commercial yard waste is co-collected with
residential yard waste. Tonnage is included with
Residential.
Recycling Rate 57% 58% 59% 39% 39% 39% 50% 51% 51%
Exhibit 23: 2024 MSS Service Area Disposal and Recycling Rates (Tons)
RECYCLING RATES
Weight Based Sector Rates by Jurisdiction (Tons)
Organic Recycling Landfill
Indoor
Dump Total Diversion (%)
Tons Collected:
Fairfax 2,090 1,505 2,271 1,389 7,255 63%
Larkspur 2,677 2,321 5,575 2,060 12,633 51%
Las Gallinas Valley
Sanitary District 2,974 1,473 3,097 32,690 40,235 69%
Marin -
Unincorporated 4,646 2,001 4,304 37,540 48,491 69%
Ross 959 409 696 1,671 3,735 69%
San Anselmo 4,332 1,956 3,787
39,850 49,924 69%
San Rafael 12,298 10,617 28,331 127,187 178,433 64%
Totals 29,974 20,282 48,061 242,387 340,706 65%
Exhibit 25 shows the landfill pounds per person per day for Fairfax residents. Based on the total tons and population estimates generation remains consistent with last year. 2022 2023 2024
Population* 7,425 7,341
7,417
Landfilled (Tons) 2,232 2,253
2,271
Tons disposed per Capita 0.44 0.42
0.31 Pounds per person per day disposal (PPD) 1.65 1.68
1.68 *Estimate based on available Census Data
Exhibit 24: 2024 MSS Service Area Disposal and Recycling Rates by Jurisdiction (Tons) Exhibit 25: Landfill Pounds Per Person Per Day
: Landfill Pounds per Person per Day (PPD)
RECYCLING RATES
Exhibit 26 details the commodity pricing for 2024. Commodity pricing had mixed results across fiber products, aluminum cans, glass, and plastic materials. Commodity markets continue to remain highly volatile, predominantly driven by supply and demand market forces, therefore price fluctuations are expected to continue into the foreseeable future.
Annual Average Commodity Price ($)
2022 2023 2024 24 vs 23 (%)
Commodity Type:
Cardboard $ 142.33 $ 137.34 $ 176.94 29%
Newspaper $ 167.87 $ 106.01 $ 148.80 40%
Office Paper $ 278.58 $ 239.31 $ 201.88 -16%
Mixed Paper $ 109.23 $ 57.58 $ 100.41 74%
Aluminum Cans $ 1,628.48 $ 1,307.23 $ 359.32 -73%
Glass $ 40.00 $ 41.94 $ 45.00 7%
HDPE # 2 Natural (Jugs) $ 937.65 $ 855.03 $ 135.92 -84% HDPE # 2 Colors (Jugs) $ 288.52 $ 235.25 $ 87.61 -63%
PET # 1 (Bottles) $ 383.98 $ 173.48 $ 69.78 -60%
Mixed Rigid Plastics (#3-7) $ 50.00 $ 50.00 $ 50.00 0%
Exhibit 26: Commodity Price Changes 2022-2024 Average Price Per Ton
OTHER INFORMATION
Other Information (Quarterly Report Data)
RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL/MULTI-FAMILY CUSTOMER CALLS
In 2024, MSS received 70,832 calls for the entire service area compared to 77,123 in 2022. The following list presents the most common types of calls; start/stop service, cart exchanges, change of service, billing inquiries, or general education questions about collection and program information.
The total number of complaint calls for Fairfax are detailed in Exhibit 27. Missed collections and broken containers are the primary reasons for complaints. In the majority of cases, the drivers were able to empty the missed containers on the same service day or the next business day. All broken containers were either repaired or replaced. A detailed complaint log is available for review upon request.
Missed Collections
2022 2023 2024
306 297 301
Misc. Service Issues
2022 2023 2024
18 14 17
Broken Containers
2022 2023 2024
306 351 327
Compliments
2022 2023 2024
26 16 7
Exhibit 27: Compliments and Complaints by Type
OTHER INFORMATION
REPORTS OF INJURIES AND DAMAGE TO PROPERTY
The company has put a renewed emphasis on safety and is seeing a benefit to these efforts. In 2024 the number of preventable accidents dropped again with only two incidents occurring in 2024 (Exhibit 28).
2022 2023 2024
Preventable Damage/Accident
7 5
2 Non-preventable Damage/Accident
5 1
0 Work Comp Injuries
0 3 0
HHW FACILITY PARTICIPATION NUMBERS
Usage of the county’s HHW facility is a part of the service offerings available to all county residents.
Below is a list of the total number of participants by jurisdiction at the facility. Unincorporated Marin County includes all of the county and not just MSS service area. Fairfax residents represented 7% of total program participants in 2024.
HHW PARTICIPANTS BY CITY
City:
Fairfax 1,264
Larkspur 1,280
Ross 620
San Anselmo 2,530
San Rafael 10,800
Unincorporated Marin County* 3,058
Total Participants 19,552
*Includes all unincorporated Marin County, not just MSS service area Exhibit 29: HHW Facility usage in 2024
Exhibit 28: Injuries and Accidents in 2024
CONTACT INFORMATION
Contact Information
JUSTIN WILCOCK
DIRECTOR OF GENERAL
OPERATIONS
JASON RALEIGH
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
PATTY GARBARINO
PRESIDENT
Tel 415-755-9528
[email protected]
Tel 415-456-2601
[email protected]
Tel 415-485-5648
[email protected]
Thank you to the following contributors:
Ryan Devera
Steve Rosa
Shelby Tiegen
Jennifer Grenier-Selvig
Peggy Clark
Vanessa Hernandez
Madga Loczi
Joe Suarez
Jan Lee