Material recovery facility for central Marin curbside recyclables that also runs confidential document shredding and junk car dismantling. Bring the title or junked slip from the DMV, and staff remove hazardous materials before recycling the car.
auto dismantlingshreddingmrf
Listed hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Accepts: Junk cars with title or junked slip, Confidential documents
Services: Junk car dismantling · Document shredding · Material recovery facility
The Marin Resource Recovery Center is an indoor site where non-hazardous materials are sorted for recycling and recovery. Located in San Rafael, CA, it provides a clean space for residents to dispose of solid waste while maximizing material recovery.
PaperCardboardPlastic bottles, tubs, and jugsGlass bottles and jarsMattresses and box springsFurniture+9 more
Listed hours: Mon-Sat 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM · Sun 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Accepts: Paper, Cardboard, Plastic bottles, tubs, and jugs, Glass bottles and jars, Mattresses and box springs, Furniture, Non-commercial tires, Clean yard trimmings, Logs, Construction debris, Appliances, Dirt and rock
Services: Sorting and recycling of non-hazardous waste · Firewood delivery and pickup · Waste audits for contractors and landscapers
What are the operating hours?
The public dump operates Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The office is open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Are there any materials that are not accepted?
Treated wood waste is not accepted at the Marin Resource Recovery Center.
Renew Computers takes electronics for free at its San Rafael shop on DuBois Street, on the corner of Andersen Drive next to a Sherwin Williams store. Accepted items include computers, laptops, monitors, CRT and flat-screen TVs, phones, networking gear, audio and video equipment, small kitchen appliances, cables, and sealed ink cartridges. Printers, microwaves, and larger office machines carry small fees, and an employee must receive every drop-off. Dumping is not allowed.
Scrap metal, refrigerators, washers and dryers, light bulbs, alkaline batteries, solar panels, e-bikes, furniture, and TV stands are turned away. The shop also offers hard drive destruction, computer repair, and a store and showroom. Weekday hours run 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the building is wheelchair accessible.
Accepts: Computers and laptops, Monitors, CRT and flat-screen TVs, Phones and tablets, Networking equipment, Audio and video equipment, Small kitchen appliances, Cables and wire, Sealed ink and toner cartridges
Services: Free electronics drop-off · Hard drive destruction · Computer repair and service · Store and showroom
Does Renew Computers accept TVs?
Yes. The shop takes CRT and flat-screen TVs for free, but not broken CRTs, stands, cabinets, or wall mounts.
Can I leave electronics at Renew Computers after hours?
No. A Renew employee must receive every drop-off, and leaving items at any time is not allowed.
Renew Computers has operated in San Rafael since 1988 and calls itself the largest independent electronics recycling company in Marin County. Its warehouse and service center at 446 DuBois Street, next to the Sherwin Williams store, collects, sorts, repairs, and reuses electronics, with a retail store, parts warehouse, and service department alongside the drop-off. It is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Computers, laptops, monitors, TVs, audio and video gear, phones, networking equipment, small appliances, and cables come in free, while household printers, fax machines, and microwaves carry a per-item fee. A staff member must receive every drop-off, and the team helps unload heavy loads. Light bulbs, alkaline batteries, mini-fridges, large appliances, and scrap metal are refused. Renew is a CalRecycle-authorized e-waste collector and offers hard drive destruction.
E-WasteComputersElectronicsTelevisionsData DestructionFree Drop-off+1 more
Listed hours: Monday to Friday 9:00 to 5:00; Saturday 10:00 to 3:00
Accepts: Computers and laptops, Monitors, TVs, Audio and video equipment, Phones and tablets, Networking equipment, Small appliances, Cables, Laptop, lithium-ion, and lead-acid batteries
Services: Staffed electronics drop-off · Help unloading heavy items · Hard drive destruction · Computer repair and service · Retail store and discount parts warehouse
Does Renew Computers in San Rafael take TVs?
Yes. CRT, plasma, LCD, LED, and rear-projection TVs are accepted free, without stands, cabinets, or wall mounts.
Can I leave e-waste at Renew Computers after hours?
No. A Renew employee must receive every drop-off, and leaving items unattended is not allowed. Hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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Materials Accepted in San Rafael
Based on the listings above, materials commonly handled in San Rafael include E-Waste, Computers, Electronics, Data Destruction, Free Drop-off. Browse the guides below for preparation tips, scrap values, and what's recyclable.
Marin Sanitary Service collects garbage, recycling and compostables weekly from San Rafael households and bills quarterly. Recycling goes in a split cart: paper on the blue side, bottles and cans on the light brown side. Both the Marin Resource Recovery Center (the public dump) and the Marin Household Hazardous Waste Facility sit at 565 Jacoby Street in San Rafael.
Frequently Asked Questions
What goes in the San Rafael recycling cart?
San Rafael recycling uses a split cart from Marin Sanitary Service. The blue side takes clean paper and flattened cardboard. The light brown side takes clean glass bottles and jars, aluminum cans and foil, tin cans, empty aerosol cans, plastic bottles, jugs and tubs, and #1 plastic clamshells like berry boxes. Plastic bags, paper and plastic cups, milk cartons and Styrofoam stay out of both sides.
Can I recycle glass in San Rafael?
Yes. Put clean glass bottles and jars on the light brown side of your split cart, with the cans and plastic containers. Plate glass, windows, mirrors, light bulbs, and ceramics or Pyrex stay out of the cart. Keep paper on the blue side so broken glass does not ruin it.
Where do I take a mattress or old furniture in San Rafael?
Take mattresses, box springs, futons and furniture to the Marin Resource Recovery Center at 565 Jacoby Street, San Rafael, CA 94901. The public dump is open Monday to Saturday 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM and Sunday 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and fees apply. It also takes non-commercial car and truck tires up to 41 inches in diameter. Call (415) 456-2601.
Where do I drop off hazardous waste and electronics in San Rafael?
Use the Marin Household Hazardous Waste Facility at 565 Jacoby Street. It takes household hazardous waste free from Marin residents (Novato excluded), with no appointment, Tuesday to Saturday 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM. It also takes computers, TVs, phones and tablets. Toasters, blenders, hair dryers and other small electric appliances are not accepted there.
What do I do with extra recycling in San Rafael?
Put extra recycling in a paper bag or small box next to your cart, no larger than 2 feet in any direction. Keep paper apart from glass, plastic and aluminum. Pack cardboard too big for the cart into bundles of 2 by 2 by 2 feet or smaller, tied with twine or string, not plastic tape.
Can I put compostable plastic in the San Rafael recycling cart?
No. Marin Sanitary Service refuses "compostable" and biodegradable plastics in the recycling cart. Food scraps, yard waste and food-soiled paper go in your compostables cart, part of the bundled weekly service. Juice, soup and milk cartons and waxed or plastic-coated cardboard also stay out of recycling.
Recycling tips for San Rafael
•Never bag your recyclables: plastic bags are refused on both sides of the split cart.
•Do not compact material in the cart.
•Full or partly full aerosol cans, propane tanks and metal paint cans go to the HHW Facility on Jacoby Street, not the cart.
•The HHW Facility is closed Sunday and Monday, while the public dump next door is open 7 days a week.
•Leaving furniture or junk on streets, sidewalks, parks or empty lots is illegal in San Rafael.
Recycling centers near San Rafael
The closest recycling centers in neighboring areas: