Mill Valley Refuse Service began operation as the "Mill Valley Garbage Company" in 1906, and we have served Mill Valley and other southern Marin communities continuously since then. We are a private, family-owned and operated company, with three of the owners pictured below having taken over from their fathers, who operated the company since the 1960s. For many years, the company's trucks were located on a site that is now the location of the Mill Valley Middle School, and an office on Miller Ave. in Mill Valley. In 1972, we moved to a relatively undeveloped area (at the time) on East Francisco Blvd. in San Rafael near the entrance to the Richmond Bridge. Around 1975, when our friends from Marin Sanitary Service moved into their new headquarters on Anderson Dr., MVRS took over Marin Sanitary's old site on 112 Front St. in San Rafael, and have been there ever since. There are three levels of garbage services available for residential customers depending on whether you bring your cans to the street or if you want our drivers to come onto your property to pick up and return your cans.

• On-Premise Service is defined as cans visible from the street, no more than 25 feet from the street, and accessible to a wheeled cart (no steps allowed). The rate is an additional $5 per can, per month. The can will be left empty at the street unless you request it be returned for an additional $5 per can, per month.
• Curbside Service is defined as cans 1 to 5 feet from the street (or in an MVRS designated location). We will also pick up trash cans from inside a trash enclosure, provided it is within 5 feet from the street. This is the base rate for garbage service.
• On-Premise Plus Service is defined as cans not visible from the street, more than 25 feet from the street, up or down any number of stairs or in a location not accessible to our wheeled cart. The fee is an additional $15 per can, per month. The can will be left empty at the street unless you request it be returned for an additional $15 per can per month.

When you sign up for our garbage service, a representative will review these options with you and help you determine which one is right for you. If you have any questions, please call our office at 415-457-9760 during office hours Mon – Fri between 7:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Residential customers must supply their own 20, 32 or 45-gallon can. Each size has its own rate. NO 50-gallon cans are allowed. Many of our service areas are split into designated "Hill" or "Flat" areas, and rates vary depending on the area in which a residence is located. Multi-unit residences (defined as residential housing with four or more units) are charged a minimum of one 32-gallon can per unit. An exception to this rule may apply if the multi-unit residence is an Active Participant in food waste composting service. Details of this exception are on our Compost Services page and in your area's Terms and Conditions (click on appropriate link to your right).We believe the zero waste movement has many laudable goals, including promoting green jobs and educating society about the benefits of moving away from living in a throw away culture. We are glad to assist the zero waste movement and have created this page on our website to promote its goals.