Appliance Removal in San Rafael, CA

San Rafael does not run residential sanitation directly — Marin Sanitary Service (MSS) is the contracted curbside hauler for the bulk of the city ( M–F 8a–5p), with the north edge (Hamilton, Bel Marin Keys, Ignacio) routed to Recology Sonoma Marin online. MSS runs a three-cart system: weekly garbage, recycling, and a single green compostables cart that combines yard waste, food scraps, and food-soiled paper under California SB 1383 (effective January 1, 2022). The green cart accepts grass clippings, leaves, weeds, flowers, straw, shrub and tree clippings, and branches under 4 feet long and 3 inches in diameter. "Compostable" or "biodegradable" plastics, bag liners, coated paper cups and cartons, and waxed cardboard are banned because the downstream WM EarthCare windrow at Redwood Landfill is OMRI-certified for organic compost. Palm fronds, yucca, bamboo, and poison oak are also explicitly banned from the cart, along with dirt, soil, rocks, and pet/human waste. Curbside extras cap at 14 bags or cans the night before service day, max 32 gallons each. Over-cart yard waste requires a phone call to MSS online prior to service day. Two MSS Curbside Cleanup weeks each year (fall and spring) are the only windows when residents can set out 14 bags of extra material at no extra cost on the regular service day. The single-family Curbside Cleanup is separate from the monthly Canal Neighborhood multifamily bulky-item event (last Saturday, 8a–2p; multifamily-only; mattresses, fridges, dishwashers, microwaves, washers, construction debris, toilets, tires, and propane grills NOT allowed) — single-family residents are pushed to the twice-yearly Cleanups instead. Free curbside Christmas tree pickup runs January 5–16, 2026 (trees over 6 ft must be cut in half; flocked, decorated, and stand-attached trees not collected; $5 fee for late set-out; up to 2 unflocked trees free at MRRC during all of January). The Public Works overflow line online handles fridges, microwaves, or large bulky/yard items beyond cart capacity (City Hall: 1400 Fifth Ave). Self-haul yard waste runs through the Marin Resource Recovery Center (MRRC) at 565 Jacoby Street (inside San Rafael city limits;; M–Sat 8a–4p, Sun 9a–4p) or Redwood Landfill / WM EarthCare in Novato (~16 mi north on US-101). MRRC yard-waste tipping rates are not published online — check the provider website for an estimate.

Dropcurb picks up appliances same-day in San Rafael for $109 — no waitlist, no annual limit.