Marin County residents produce about 2.7 pounds of solid waste per person per day (the state average is 2.1 pounds per person per day). Marin County, however, diverts more than 75% of its waste from disposal, which is the highest rate of any county in the state.

Marin County produces about 223,000 tons of solid waste each year. The safe disposal of waste is an important environmental and economic issue, impacting residents and businesses throughout the region. Although Marin County disposes approximately 80% of its non-hazardous solid waste locally, Marin County also depends on neighboring communities to manage a significant part of its solid waste stream, all of its hazardous waste, and most industrial wastes. Recyclables such as tires, plastic, aluminum, waste oil, and scrap metal are also processed at facilities located outside of the county.

Today's landfills are technically sophisticated, engineered structures, designed to protect the surrounding natural environment. California requires landfills to have systems to collect and safely manage liquids (called leachate) and landfill gas, to routinely monitor and analyze groundwater samples, and to manage storm water. California also has the most stringent regulations in the nation to keep hazardous materials out of solid waste landfills.

The Redwood Landfill & Recycling Center is a 450-acre site of which 222.5 acres is waste disposal area. The remaining property includes a green and wood waste processing and composting area, leachate impoundment, biosolids processing impoundments, landfill gas flare compound, storm water lagoon, scale house and entrance facility, maintenance shop, and administrative offices.