Image ©Emily Hagopian
Zero Waste Marin is the informal name for the Marin Hazardous and Solid Waste Joint Powers Authority (JPA), which is comprised of representatives from Marin’s 11 cities and towns and the County of Marin. Our mission is to protect natural resources by promoting source reduction of waste through reuse, repair, and more mindful purchasing.
We provide information on household hazardous waste collection, recycling, composting and waste disposal. We also ensure our county’s compliance with state recycling mandates – all while educating the citizens and businesses of Marin.
Zero Waste Marin is comprised of city and town representatives of: Belvedere, Corte Madera, Fairfax, Larkspur, Mill Valley, Novato, Ross, San Anselmo, San Rafael, Sausalito, Tiburon and the County of Marin. The Marin County Department of Public Works Waste Management Division administers Zero Waste Marin.
In 1989 the Integrated Waste Management Act was signed into law.
Under the Act, all cities and counties were required to develop Integrated Waste Management Plans to outline how they planned to meet the mandates. Realizing that it would be mutually beneficial to jointly prepare for the Integrated Waste Management Plan, Marin’s cities and towns, along with the County of Marin, entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 1990.
Since then, Marin’s public agencies and waste haulers and facility operators have worked together to develop Marin’s Integrated Waste Management Plan and to implement the programs necessary to meet the mandates. In 1996, the partnership forged with the MOU led Marin’s cities and the County to form the Marin Hazardous and Solid Waste Joint Powers Authority (JPA).