Getting to Zero Waste at Home

Posted on February 2, 2024
Green recycling symbol.

Achieving the least waste possible is an important goal at home and at work.

While recycling is important, there are additional elements to zero waste, including reuse and, most importantly, reducing the amount of stuff we buy in the first place.

Here are some resources on this website that can help:

Recycling Guide: Find out how to reuse, donate, recycle or safely dispose of just about anything.

Food Waste Prevention: When we make the most of our food, we ease the pressure on the food supply system, help the environment and save money!

What Is Zero Waste? How is Marin County working toward Zero Waste?

Going Zero Waste is an ongoing task for all Marin residents and businesses.
Thanks for your zero waste efforts.

Christmas Tree Recycling 2023-24

Posted on November 21, 2023
Green recycling symbol.

If you have a live tree and are looking to have it composted:

Click here for a list of 2023-24 curbside collection and drop-off options, or click the image below.

To prepare your tree for both curbside collection and drop-off:

• Remove all tree stands (metal, plastic, wood), ornaments, lights, tinsel, etc.

• Flocked trees will not be accepted.

• Apartment building tenants should contact their manager and request that they set up one day for holiday tree collection at the property.

click for christmas tree recycling info

 

Zero Waste Marin Unveils Two Videos for Students

Posted on October 7, 2021
Green recycling symbol.

The Zero Waste Marin Schools Program has produced two videos with accompanying student activity sheets to help teachers introduce concepts of recycling and zero waste in engaging, Marin-specific ways:

Recycling Is a Trip

Dave the Recycling Fairy takes the audience on a virtual field trip to a local Marin waste hauler to inspire kids to care about what goes where, and where it ends up!

View/download student activity sheet for Recycling Is a Trip! video.

Zero Waste Starts at Home

Dave the Recycling Fairy pops out of the recycling cart to point out that more stuff is not better…and that there are great ways to reduce the amount of stuff we use.

View/download student activity sheet for Zero Waste Starts at Home video.

See also the School Resources page

March 24 Webinar To Answer Zero Waste Questions

Posted on March 12, 2021
Green recycling symbol.

Environmental Forum of Marin is offering a webinar, Full Life, Empty Trash Bin” that will cover how and why to choose sustainable consumption over wasteful consumerism. The webinar will happen over Zoom on March 24, 2021 at 4:00pm. Cost is $25 for the general public, $15 for EFM members and free for full-time students and those who cannot afford the fees (request scholarship funds).

In this webinar you’ll learn from waste consultant Kim Scheibly about where garbage trucks take your trash, recycling, and green waste, what happens to it, and how it impacts our environment. We’ll also hear zero-waste lifestyle expert Lily Cameron talk about how you can stop waste where it starts: in the decisions you make even before you go to the store. Come and get inspired about sustainable consumption — defined as meeting our needs now without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Full Life, Empty Trash Bin Webinar
March 24, 2021 4:00 – 5:30pm
Learn more and register here to receive Zoom link.

 

In 2021, Re-Solve to Re-Home!

Posted on December 22, 2020
Green recycling symbol.

Swap. Donate. Share. Image of snow board being listed online.
You sort and recycle. You shun plastic bags. Food scraps in the compost? Check.

Fantastic! Moving to zero waste also means making sure that the stuff you no longer want gets used by someone else, and that we all buy less in the first place. 2021 is a good year to resolve to re-home – to find new homes for unwanted stuff and to find ways to reduce the amount of new stuff we buy. Whether you prefer to designate a box or area where you place items you no longer want or decide to re-home items one at a time, the result is the same – giving reusable items a second life.

Here are some ideas to get your items underway:

  • Done loving it? List it. Consider listing reusable items on services such as Craigslist, Nextdoor or Facebook Marketplace.
  • Pass it along! Join or start a “Buy Nothing group” in your neighborhood. The platform allows neighbors to post anything they’d like to give away, lend, or share, and ask for anything they’d like to receive for free or borrow. Learn more at BuyNothingProject.org.
  • Donate to charity. Donate gently used goods to support reuse outlets such as Make It Home, Goodwill or the Salvation Army.
  • Own it together! Does everyone on your block need to own their own circular saw? Probably not. Consider joining or setting up a “virtual tool-sharing library” in your neighborhood on Nextdoor.com so that those important but rarely used tools can be put to good use all year round.
  • Get your space back. No takers? For damaged or no longer usable items, Marin single-family home residents can request a free bulky waste pickup. Contact your hauler: