Joseph John Garbarino, owner of Marin Sanitary Service and Marin Recycling and Resource Recovery Association, died December 19 in his home in San Rafael, CA. He was 91 years old. Driven by a lifelong passion to recycle, conserve resources and divert waste from going into landfills, Garbarino was a maverick in the waste industry. In 1980, he started the nation鈥檚 first county-wide curbside recycling program, picking up over 2,000,000 pounds of bottles, cans and newspaper and achieving a national record by recycling over 74% of all waste.
Garbarino went on to grow and expand Marin Sanitary Service, founding Marin Recycling and Resource Recovery Association, to address every facet of waste management and recycling including:
- Building Marin Resource and Recovery Building, an indoor dump the size of three football fields that recycles waste that would otherwise go to landfill.聽 It was the first of its kind in the nation. It now diverts over 65% of dumped materials.
- Launching a curbside food and yard waste recycling service a decade before the State put in its mandatory recycling ordinances. This program collects over 32,000 tons of organic waste annually preventing the release of harmful greenhouse gases.
- Opening the Environmental Classroom where students learn about the importance of recycling and other approaches to waste reduction. Over 200 people visit the classroom and tour the facility every week.
鈥淛oe Garbarino was one of those rare leaders who was not just professionally but personally committed to driving change for good,鈥� said Marin County Assemblymember Katie Rice. 鈥淗is innovations in waste management have been a model for our state, nation and the world.鈥� This influence helped impact regulation including the landmark recycling legislation AB 939, passed in 1989, which Assemblymember Byron Sher stated was modeled after Joe鈥檚 recycling operations.
Joe鈥檚 early success in developing these programs was possible because of his unique relationship with conservationists Gloria Duncan and Ted Wellman. This unlikely alliance went to Sacramento and secured the funding and support Joe needed to build his curbside recycling program and indoor recovery facility.
Joe鈥檚 influence was also aimed at bringing truth to the recycling industry, in particular, around plastic recycling. From his early days of recycling, Joe fought the idea that all plastics are recyclable. Long before SB 54, the recently signed recycling legislation that requires truly recyclable packaging, Joe would say that we should not produce something if it could not be reused or recycled.
Garbarino received local, state and national accolades for his leadership:
- Named Citizen of the Year by the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce in 1987
- Given the John Moscone award in 1994 by the California Refuse Removal Council for his innovations in waste management.
- Recognized twice in National Geographic for his work in resource recovery.
- Inducted into the National Waste and Recycling Association鈥檚 Hall of Fame in 2014.
- His company was voted 鈥淏est Curbside Recycling Program in California鈥� and 鈥淥utstanding Solid Waste Recovery Program in California鈥� by the California Resource Recovery Association.
Garbarino transferred his role as President of Marin Sanitary Service and Marin Recycling and Resource Recovery Association to his daughter Patty in 2000 but was actively involved in the company as Chairman of the Board and rarely spent a day away from the office.
Garbarino was also devoted to serving his community.聽 For over four decades, he raised money to purchase gifts, then dressed up as Santa Claus to distribute those gifts to children with disabilities. He served on the boards of Marin General Hospital and San Rafael Planning Commission, and as President of Marin Civic Center鈥檚 Lion Club, San Rafael Chamber of Commerce and Marin County鈥檚 Solid Waste Management Association.
In addition to his service in the community, Joe was known in Marin County for his support of veterans. As an 8-year-old Joe watched the deployment of fleets to the Pacific Theater. This early impression led to a lifetime of interest in the brave men and women who fought in World War II. For over 40 years, Joe collected WWII memorabilia including over 100 military vehicles including a 1943 M4 Sherman and M60 Patton. These vehicles reside in Joe鈥檚 military museum and are enjoyed by many at 4th of July parades and events for Memorial Day and Veteran鈥檚 Day in Marin County.
Joe Garbarino was the proud father, grandfather and great-grandfather of a large family, many of whom worked side by side with him at the company.聽