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Board approves 3.95% increase to Marin Sanitary Service rates, plus contract change to company-provided carts
Summary
After independent review, the Board approved a 3.95% rate increase for Marin Sanitary Service to take effect Jan. 1, 2026, and approved an amendment requiring the company's carts (ending routine pickup of customer-owned bags/cans) with a phased-in outreach plan and extra organics containers provided at no rate impact.
The Marin County Board of Supervisors approved a 3.95% adjustment to Marin Sanitary Service (MSS) rates for 2026 and a contract amendment that will require MSS to provide and collect company carts rather than routinely emptying residential customer-owned cans or bags.
Julie Bridal, program manager for the Department of Public Works' Waste Management Division, explained that MSS's application followed the county's franchise methodology and that the rate adjustment equates to about $2.21 per month for a typical 32-gallon residential account. An independent third-party reviewer retained by the Marin Franchisers Group, R3 Consulting Group, presented the underlying cost drivers — collection operations, vehicle costs, processing and disposal, state compliance costs and an 8% profit allowance — and noted MSS rates compare closely with the countywide average.
As a separate contract change, MSS requested permission to cease routinely lifting customer-owned bags or containers incompatible with MSS collection equipment. County staff recommended approving that amendment because it would improve worker safety and operational efficiency; MSS committed to a phased outreach and transition for the few customers (staff estimated about 200) who use their own containers, and to supply an additional organics cart to all customers to avoid shifting rate costs to ratepayers.
MSS representatives highlighted safety benefits for collection crews and community outreach plans; the Board discussed collection exceptions such as scheduled bulky-item collection and staff confirmed MSS will continue to collect yard bags and bulky items under established rules. The Board voted to approve the rate adjustment and the contract amendment. Staff said MSS will implement outreach materials, door hangers, mailers and a phased roll-out to support the change.
The action will be implemented for unincorporated Marin franchise areas served by MSS and will be memorialized in an amendment to the franchise agreement.
