Marin Sanitary Service appoints chairperson, announces new board member

Marin Sanitary Service (MSS), a San Rafael, California-based recycler and waste solutions provider, has appointed MSS Vice President of Operations Dave Garbarino as chairperson of the MSS board and Allen Garbarino, his brother, as a board member.

Dave Garbarino has served on the MSS board since 2006 and reportedly began working with the family business at around five years old.

“I grew up in the business,” he says.

His two sons, Rich Garbarino and David Garbarino, work at MSS as a route manager and fleet manager, respectively.

“I am deeply proud of the positive environmental impact our family has had in Marin, Napa and Sonoma Counties,” he says. “I am so pleased that our sons continue to carry on the family heritage and the commitment to keeping MSS a family-owned and operated company for generations to come.”

New board member Allen Garbarino also grew up in the business and has served as a driver at MSS for 20 years.

“When I was about 10 years old, I would ride along with my dad on his route in downtown San Rafael,” he says. “I usually only made it a few hours before I fell asleep. I loved to go to work with my dad. He was a hard worker.

“I am honored and excited to be a member of the board of directors and keep an incredible family heritage going for future generations serving our community.”

MSS serves the Marin County, California cities of San Rafael, Larkspur, San Anselmo, Ross and Fairfax, as well as unincorporated areas of Marin County and the Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District. The company also provides street sweeping services in Novato, California. Through partnerships, MSS covers the cities of Windsor, Sebastopol, Napa and the lower half of Napa County, California.

The company was founded in 1948 and was granted a franchise in Marin County for additional unincorporated areas in 1994, currently servicing more than 33,000 residential and commercial accounts. The business has expanded to include three separate divisions to manage waste and recycling.

MSS also has announced that the company’s owner, Joseph Garbarino, died Dec. 19, 2024, at the age of 91.

“Known for his passion for conservation and innovation, Garbarino transformed waste management practices nationwide and on the world plain,” the company says. “We deeply feel the loss of Joe and assure our customers and community that the values and commitment he instilled remain at the heart of our company.

“Under the combined leadership of his daughter, Patty Garbarino, as president and her cousin, Dave Garbarino, as vice president of operations, Marin Sanitary Service will continue its tradition of innovation, excellence and environmental stewardship. We remain dedicated to serving our community and advancing Joe’s mission of creating a sustainable future.”