Gray Bin (Trash)
Place all non-hazardous, non-recyclable items into the gray cart. If you have extra garbage, it must be placed in tightly tied 32-gallon black or gray plastic bags next to the cart for a potential fee.
Accepted Items
- ✓Foam packing peanuts and Styrofoam cups
- ✓Diapers and pet waste
- ✓Treated, painted, or stained wood
- ✓Palm fronds, poison oak, and ice plant
- ✓Multi-layered snack bags and foil pouches
- ✓Broken ceramics and Pyrex
Blue Bin (Recycling)
Items must be empty, clean, and dry. Do not bag recyclables; keep them loose in the cart. Extra cardboard can be tied in secure bundles no larger than 3'x3' and placed next to the blue cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics #1, #2, and #5
- ✓Empty metal food and beverage cans
- ✓Clean aluminum foil and trays
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (metal lids removed)
- ✓Clean cardboard and paper products
- ✓Pizza boxes with little to no grease
Do NOT Include
- ✕Polystyrene (Styrofoam) foam
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Hoses, wires, and tanglers
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Batteries (inside the cart)
Yard Waste Bin
Do not use plastic bags, even if they are labeled 'compostable' or 'biodegradable.' Keep specific invasive or hazardous plants like poison oak, ice plant, and palm fronds out of the green cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Fruit and vegetable scraps
- ✓Meat, poultry, bones, and dairy
- ✓Coffee grounds, filters, and tea bags
- ✓Food-soiled paper (napkins, paper plates)
- ✓Grass clippings, leaves, and weeds
- ✓Branches (under 6 inches in diameter and 3 feet in length)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Up to three times per calendar year
Placement
You must call GreenWaste Customer Service at 831-920-6707 in advance to schedule. Items must be placed at the curb by 6:00 AM on your scheduled pickup day.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, mattresses, tables)
- ✓ Refrigerators and freezers (counts as 2 items)
- ✓ Washers, dryers, and water heaters
- ✓ Electronic waste (TVs, monitors, laptops)
- ✓ Boxed or bagged reusable household items
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste and chemicals
- ✕ Automotive parts
- ✕ Construction and demolition materials
- ✕ Commercial business waste
- ✕ Dirt, concrete, and rocks
The three annual pickups are free for single-family residential accounts. Additional collections or items exceeding the limit can be scheduled for a fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your regular collection day falls on or after Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, or New Year's Day, service will be delayed by one day for the remainder of the week.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste and organics follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as trash and recycling.
Service is completely unaffected by other major holidays, including Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Keep Invasive Plants Out of the Green Cart
Unlike standard yard waste, Marina prohibits putting poison oak, ice plant, yucca, and palm fronds into the organics container because they disrupt the commercial composting process. These specific plants must go into the gray landfill cart.
Pizza Boxes: Blue or Green?
If your pizza box is relatively clean with just a few crumbs, it belongs in the blue recycling cart. However, if the cardboard is heavily saturated with grease and cheese, tear it up and put it in your green organics cart.
Curbside Batteries Have Limits
While you can leave standard alkaline batteries in a clear bag on top of your blue cart, button-cell coin batteries (like those found in watches and hearing aids) are strictly prohibited from curbside collection. They must be taken to ReGen Monterey’s HHW facility.
Seasonal Information
Spring
April - MayDuring April's Earth Day celebrations, local events in Marina often feature sustainability showcases. It's a great time to ensure your SB 1383 organics sorting is up to par to support local composting efforts.
Winter
November - JanuaryBe aware of schedule delays during the winter holidays. Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day are the only holidays that will push your collection back by one day for the remainder of the week.
About Marina Waste Management
Meeting California's SB 1383 Mandate in Marina
To comply with California's aggressive climate pollutant laws, the City of Marina and GreenWaste Recovery have expanded the residential curbside organics program. All single-family households are required to separate food scraps—including meat, dairy, bones, and food-soiled paper—into their green organics cart along with traditional yard trimmings. These materials are processed at ReGen Monterey to create nutrient-rich compost, rather than rotting in a landfill and producing methane.
The Bulky Item Reuse Program
A standout feature of Marina's residential service is the robust Bulky Item Reuse Program. Every household is entitled to three free bulky item collections per calendar year. Instead of just picking up large trash, this program encourages recycling and reuse by allowing residents to include up to two cubic yards of bagged or boxed reusable materials, five electronic waste items, and two large appliances per scheduled pickup.
Convenient Curbside Battery and Oil Collection
Unlike many municipalities that require a trip to a hazardous waste facility for all batteries and auto fluids, Marina residents can recycle these items directly at the curb. Standard household batteries (AA, AAA, C, D) can be placed in a clear ziplock bag on top of the blue recycling cart. Additionally, residents can request free used oil recovery kits to safely recycle motor oil, filters, and even cooking oil right from their home.
Physical Limitations Assistance Program
GreenWaste Recovery offers a specialized Physical Limitations Program for residents who cannot maneuver their heavy 32-, 65-, or 95-gallon carts to the curb due to medical or physical constraints. By submitting an application along with a current physician's statement, eligible customers can have their carts collected from an alternate accessible location on their property at no extra cost.
Drop-off Facilities
ReGen Monterey (Monterey Regional Waste Management District)
14201 Del Monte Blvd, Marina, CA 93933
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put compostable plastic bags in my green cart in Marina?
No. GreenWaste Recovery and the local processing facility cannot process 'compostable' or 'biodegradable' plastics. All food waste must be placed loosely in the green cart or wrapped in paper (like newspaper or a paper bag).
How do I dispose of old motor oil and car batteries?
Marina offers a fantastic curbside solution! You can request a free Used Oil Recovery Kit to place beside your recycling cart. You can also schedule the curbside collection of up to one car battery per week by calling 831-920-6707.
Are trash services delayed for Memorial Day or Labor Day in Marina?
No. GreenWaste Recovery only delays service by one day for Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. For all other holidays, including Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Independence Day, your carts will be collected on their normal schedule.
What is the Marina Bulky Item Reuse Program?
Residents receive three free bulky item collections per year. Instead of just trash, you can set out 2 cubic yards of reusable boxed items, 5 e-waste items, and 2 large appliances or furniture pieces per pickup. Call 831-920-6707 to schedule.