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POSTPONED- First Compost Delivery of the Year!

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FREE COMPOST FOR FAIRFAX RESIDENTS.  The compost delivery will be postponed due to concern about invasive bermuda grass that is growing and may contaminate the compost, as well as concern for keeping appropriate social distancing in response to the COVID-19 rules. Sign up for our newsletter on our home page to be sure you get notifications. This compost is made from the food and yard waste collected in our green curbside carts.

This compost is for Fairfax residents only and is not for commercial use.

To ensure there is enough to go around, please do not take more than five 5-gallon buckets (which provides a one inch cover for a 40 square foot garden).  Bring your own containers and shovels for collection.

Use of Compost: Compost is a soil amendment that improves the water-holding capacity and structure of your soil, but too much of it can harm your plants. It is recommended that you use no more than 1-2 inches on your annuals & perennials.

Let us know if you have any questions at info@sustainablefairfax.org.

Sustainable Fairfax Board Meeting – All Welcome

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The  Board is a group of hard-working, community-minded individuals who have committed their time and energy to making life in Fairfax and beyond healthier, stronger, and more sustainable.  Sustainable Fairfax welcomes new energy and talent.

Board Meetings are on the the 2nd Friday of even months (2-Feb, 4-April and so on) at 9:30-11 AM; and the 2nd Monday of odd months at 6:30-8 PM.

Feel free to connect with a Board member if you have any questions.

Marin Sanitary – Curbside Clean-Ups

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CURBSIDE CLEAN-UP IN FAIRFAX - WEEK OF APRIL 29 - MAY 3

Marin Sanitary Service offers residential curbside clean-ups twice per year (fall and spring). These preset dates are determined by the town you live in.

During your clean-up week, you can put out up to 14 bags of extra material at no extra cost on your normal service day.

WHAT YOU CAN PUT AT THE CURB FOR CURBSIDE CLEAN-UP

  • Up to 14 extra bags or cans (2 cubic yards) of garbage, recycling, and compostables (yard/food waste)
  • Extra cans/bags can’t weigh more than 60 pounds
  • Extra cans/bags can’t be larger than 32 gallons in size
  • No bulky items like mattresses, appliances, and furniture (see Bulky Items pickup)

CURBSIDE CLEAN-UP DATES

Material will be collected on your normal service day during your areas’ scheduled clean-up week.

Curbside clean-up weeks are listed in the table below. If you do not see your area listed, you can use the cycle and tax body codes from your bill to determine what week we’ll be servicing your area.

Billing Cycle Tax body Area Scheduled Week
R1 MASA San Anselmo March 4-8, 2019
R1 MARN Unincorporated Ross Valley North March 4-8, 2019
R1 MAGS & MASR San Rafael March 11-15, 2019
R2 MAGS & MASR San Rafael April 1-5, 2019
R2 MARS/MACO Unincorporated Ross Valley South April 8-12, 2019
R3 MAGS & MASR San Rafael April 15-19, 2019
R3 MALK Larkspur April 22-26, 2019
R3 MAFF Fairfax April 29-May 3, 2019
R3 MALG Unincorporated Las Gallinas May 6-10, 2019
R3 MARO Ross May 13-17, 2019

TOUR of Redwood Landfill and Recycling Center

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Please join us for a free tour of the Redwood Landfill & Recycling Center and compost facility. Learn how the food and yard waste placed in our green carts is turned into organic compost for our gardens. We will take a 30-45 minute driving tour of the property, stopping along the way to learn about the facilities. (We took a group on this tour last year and everyone found it extremely interesting!)

PLEASE BRING:
• Water Bottle
• Hat for sun
• Sturdy closed-toe shoes

Registration Required:  To reserve your spot, please email SustainFX@gmail.com or call 415-408-6008.  We will be arranging carpooling.

This event is part of Sustainable Fairfax’s NO-WASTE NOVEMBER campaign. You just might win a $100 gift certificate from Good Earth! Learn more here!

#NoWasteNovember #SustainFX

Fairfax: Learn About Your New Kitchen Compost Pail

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Marin Sanitary Service delivered kitchen compost pails to its Fairfax customers during the week of November 6th. The pail fits on a kitchen counter or under the sink, making it convenient for residents to collect their food waste. The program was created to encourage participation in a community effort to move Fairfax closer towards its ambitious zero waste goals.

Marin Sanitary initiated the green cart program for residential yard waste in the late 1980’s, and added food waste in 2010. The program has been successful in capturing yard waste, but only a small percentage of households use the green carts for food waste. According to the most recent Marin Sanitary Waste Characterization study in 2014, food still accounts for about 29% of Marin County’s Residential Waste Stream.

Why is this important?  Following in the footsteps of San Francisco and Alameda, the Fairfax Town Council approved the first step of an ordinance that will prohibit residents from placing food and yard waste in the landfill cart. These efforts are critically important, given that food and other organic matter rotting in the landfill produces a significant amount of methane. Methane is a greenhouse gas (GHG) 30x more potent than carbon dioxide. In the US, 40% of our food is wasted and most ends up in the landfill.

[quote]According to the United Nation Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) “If food waste were a country, it would be the third largest emitter of GHG after the US and China.”[/quote]

Your new kitchen pail makes it easier for you to capture food discards, and empty them into your curbside green cart! 

FAQs:

1. What do I do if I already have a kitchen pail for food scraps?

* You may return the pail to Town Hall for use by Sustainable Fairfax for education and giveaways.  

* They make excellent gifts!

2. Can I use a biodegradable/compostable plant-based plastic bag to line the pail?

*NO.  Plant-based plastic bags are not accepted at the Redwood Landfill compost facility. Why? The residential green cart contents are processed into EarthCare™ compost that is certified for organic farming. Compostable plastic bags, cups and cutlery do not fit the criteria required for organic compost. Paper and leaves may be used to line your pail (see #3 below).

3. How do I keep the pail from smelling up my kitchen?

*Many people do not notice a smell from the pail. However, if this is a problem,  line the pail with newspaper, other recyclable paper or a paper bag, then dump the contents of the pail into your curbside green cart. You may also mix in leaves or other yard waste in the pail to absorb liquids and reduce odor.

4. Can I put meat, bones and dairy products in my green curbside cart?

*Yes!  All food and soiled paper/cardboard can go in your green cart.  See the full Marin Sanitary list here.  

5. Should I put my kitchen pail on the curb for collection?

*No.  Please place the contents of your green pail inside the green curbside cart.

Please call or email Sustainable Fairfax with any questions or concerns you may have about using your kitchen pail or any information you would like regarding zero waste initiatives, reuse, recycling and composting

Sustainable Fairfax:  415-408-6008  /  sustainfx@gmail.com

Free Compost for Fairfax Residents

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For Fairfax Residents only.  NOT FOR COMMERCIAL USE!  

Marin Sanitary Service (MSS) is providing the last compost delivery of the year, available Saturday, October 15 at the Fairfax Pavilion parking lot (at the ball field fence).  The compost will be available as long as it lasts.

Bring a shovel, and a bag or container to transport the compost.

Sustainable Fairfax coordinates several compost deliveries from Marin Sanitary Service to Fairfax residents per year in accordance with a contract with the Town.

GIVE YOUR GARDEN A BOOST! This compost is certified organic and is made from the food and yard waste collected in the MSS Green curbside carts. Please note that compost is a soil amendment – it is recommended that you do not put more than 1-2 inches on perennials and annuals, 1/4 inch for lawns.

COME TO OUR FREE BACKYARD COMPOSTING WORKSHOP ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15!