Employee Profiles

AJ Petuya

“My family has been in garbage forever,” said AJ Petuya, a truck driver for Marin Sanitary Service (MSS) in San Anselmo.

Petuya’s grandfather, an Italian immigrant, came to New York in the 1930s.  His grandfather soon moved the family to San Francisco and began working with the Garbarinos as scavengers for Golden Gate Disposal.  “There were about thirty of us working side by side with the Garbarinos during that time,” Petuya said proudly.

“Anytime Senior [Joe Garbarino] introduces me he says, ‘I used to collect garbage with this guy’s grandfather.” Petuya mused. “He still tells stories about my grandfather.  It means a lot to me that my grandfather left such an impression.”

Petuya has worked for MSS for over seven years.  His brother has been at MSS for over eighteen years.

“I managed a restaurant in Fisherman’s Wharf for fifteen years before I made the choice to join the Marin Sanitary family.  I just got burnt out,” Petuya reflected. “I feel taken care of here.  The restaurant business just didn’t provide this kind of security.”

Now, Petuya is running routes in San Anselmo. “I love being out in the community.  You say, ‘hi’ and people respond with a smile and a wave. They know we’re trying to keep the streets clean.”

Petuya said that he was raised to be kind and say hello to anyone he met.  “You never know,” he said, “that person may come to your aid in the dead of night on the side of the road and it’ll be because you made a lasting impression with a simple gesture. I try and take that mentality into the community.” Petuya strives to instill those same values in his three children—18, 14 and 4.

“My wife asks me everyday how I liked work and I always respond, ‘I loved it.’ And it’s true.  After seven years, I still get up every day excited to go to work.”

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Margaret Zuvich

Considering Margaret’s girlish smile and infectious laugh, it’s hard to imagine she is the senior customer service representative at Marin Sanitary Service (MSS) with more than 17 years experience.

For eleven years before landing at MSS, Margaret worked for the Fireman’s Fund insurance company. She mused, “It’s very different working for a family-owned business.  They are really good to you.”

Since coming to work for MSS, Margaret has learned the importance of customer service and how each interaction with the customer is a chance to make a lasting impression.

When Margaret isn’t fielding calls at the office, she spends time with her best friend and coworker, Vicky.  But, she continued, “I love working with everyone in the office.  I’ve been working with some of these women for a very long time.”

Margaret has seen many changes come to MSS over the years: the move to computers, the addition of the shredding department, institution of the dual-sort system and many others.  She added, “After 17 years it still amazes me how much we do here.”

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David Garbarino

David is a Garbarino and that means recycling is in his blood.  He started working part-time for Marin Sanitary Service (MSS) in 1995 and moved to full time in 2000.

Now, Garbarino heads one of MSS’s fastest growing programs, MSS Confidential Shredding (CS). “We are going above and beyond to offer confidential, convenient and responsible paper shredding to our customers whether you’re a stay at home parent or the Bank of Marin,” said Garbarino, son of Vice President Dave Garbarino, grandson of Joe Garbarino Sr.

“This kind of service is not an everyday thing for a garbage company,” remarked an enthusiastic Garbarino. “And we are just scratching the surface!”

Shredding is an important and necessary service that has the potential, when managed properly, to dramatically increase recycling rates. And MSS guarantees that every shredded piece of paper gets recycled.

Garbarino was careful to point out that this service is especially important to businesses. “Businesses have the most to lose and the most to gain when it comes to paper shredding,” said Garbarino. (It’s actually illegal for employers, no matter how small, to throw away any sensitive materials about employees or clients.)

Garbarino wants the MSS CS program to grow because it is redefining what a garbage company is supposed to do.

“The great thing about refuse recycling service is that there is always something that can be innovated and improved,” commented Garbarino. “In a family company like this one we get the chance to push the envelope even further.”

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Manuel Magdaleno

For eleven years, Manuel Magdaleno has worked at Marin Sanitary Service (MSS), improving efficiency and effectiveness in every position he’s held.

He started out as a sorter on the conveyor belt at the Resource and Recovery Center meticulously separating recyclables from trash.  His hard work and organizational skills were quickly recognized, and he was tapped for a newly created position as MSS’s recycling guru at AutoDesk.  There, he helped to integrate systems to reuse and recycle within the software company’s everyday routine, and he learned a lot about corporate needs.  With this unique perspective from inside the corporate world, Manual returned to help MSS launch its Confidential Shredding (CS) department.

Magdaleno, with colleague David Garbarino, has made CS the fastest growing department at MSS. They’ve gone above and beyond curbside recycling to make sure the department meets all the needs of businesses as well as the individual.

“We’ll come right to the doorstep and talk with you, “ says Magdaleno.  “That’s partly why I love this job.  Now people recognize my face wherever I go.”

And Magdaleno is on the go all the time. In charge of regular commercial routes as well as individual calls, Magdaleno takes the shredding truck as far south as Sausalito and as far north as Petaluma. “When he’s on vacation we have a hard time compensating for his absence,” said Steve Rosa, manager of operations at MSS.

“This position allows me to see new people and places,” said Magdaleno. But what pleases him the most about working for MSS is that he’s, “helping to save the world,” one truckload of shredded paper at a time.

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Herbert Robinson

“Here, you have a job for life,” was the first thing Herbert (Herb) Robinson heard when he started at Marin Sanitary (MSS) in 1956.  And now he is living proof.

Though Herb doesn’t look a day over 40, he is now 70 years old.  And as he has matured, so has the company.  When he started MSS had only 9 open bed trucks and only 2,500 accounts.  Now, MSS has over 34,000 accounts and over 120 vehicles. “They’ve done a whole lot of growin’ since I first started,” laughed Herb. 

Herb moved to California from Florida when he was just 18.  He came with a big West Coast dream - to become a San Francisco Giants baseball player.  But soon after arriving Herb met his wife and started a family and the dream of becoming a professional baseball player was put on hold.

Instead, Herb joined a new team and a new family at MSS.

“I’ve held many a Garbarino offspring in my arms,” recalled Herb.  And describing the big family-style meals MSS throws for all employees, where everyone from truck drivers to the founding fathers sit together he said, “You’ll never go hungry working at MSS - those Garbarino’s are always ready to eat.” 

Having 11 children, Herb appreciates the importance of family.

Even though Herb loves his work at MSS he loves baseball a little bit more.  While the opportunity to be drafted to the majors has passed, Herb gets his baseball fix as an umpire for local high school games, college games, softball and even games at San Quentin Prison.  He is known throughout the Marin community for his keen eye and decisive calls.

“Everybody knows my name,” remarked Herb.  “They always see me comin’.”

Having been at MSS for a lifetime, Herb has more stories than can be told in a single article. Herb has seen people come and only a few go reluctantly. And Herb doesn’t have plans for leaving anytime soon.

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Raul Comacho

Raul’s eyes squint slightly as a bright smile flashes across his face.  His manners and kindness instantly make you feel comfortable, like you are talking to an old friend.  And to many people at Marin Sanitary (MSS) Raul is an old friend.  Having worked at MSS for 18 years Raul has gotten to share smiles with just about everyone he’s met, especially in San Anselmo.

 “San Anselmo is the best place to work in Marin. I’ve been there so long everyone waves to me and says hello, ” said Raul.

Indeed. Everyone knows Raul and Raul knows not just every customer but every road, alley, nook and cranny in the town.   That’s why MSS relies on Raul to fill in when anyone is out sick because he knows every single route in San Anselmo by heart. 

And he loves the community.  So much so  that he joined the MSS Drill Team, a fun, highly choreographed dance team that dips and swirls with trash cans, and marches in the San Anselmo parade every year, as well as in community events throughout Marin.

But don’t get things confused.  Raul takes his work very seriously. “You know,” he pressed, “we recycle 72% of everything we bring in and we are going to do even more.”
The Garbarinos are a hardworking people,” said Raul.

Raul walks through the MSS grounds with his chest out and head held high knowing the company he works for is striving to make a difference in the world.  But for Raul, there is nothing more rewarding than bringing a smile to someone’s face.

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Rich Garbarino

“The conversations were always about garbage,” But that’s what family dinner was like as a Garbarino kid.  As the grandson of Joe Sr., Rich knows what it means to be a Garbarino.

“I was raised with it.  Since 1984 if I wasn’t in school I was working here.”  Rich has had his hands in garbage since before he can remember.  With an international business degree from Chico State Rich became an official contract employee for Marin Sanitary in 1992 and has worked a front-end loader in San Anselmo since 2002.

“There is more to it than just pick up and dump,” remarks Rich who takes pride in the fact that Marin leads the nation as one of the best recycling businesses around. But the biggest benefit of working at Marin Sanitary is being able to be a part of his family’s legacy.

“What’s really rewarding,” he continues, “is I’m 38 years old and I get to work with my grand dad 6 days a week. I look around and I see my dad, my brothers, and my uncles working together. That is what sets Marin Sanitary apart from every other service.” Rich is aware that most people don’t get an opportunity like that.

But Rich is making that opportunity available for another; “I brought my son to work with me recently.  I put him in one of our khaki Marin Sanitary shirts with the orange stripes and we rode around in the truck all day.  It brought me great joy to see the fourth generation Garbarino ride in this truck and understand what it means to be a part of this family.”

The family is here to stay according to Rich, “The Garbarino’s never really leave this place.  Even when you think it’s time for one to retire they don’t ever really let it go.  I’m proud to be a part of it.”

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Mike Brunner

If Mike Brunner isn’t behind the wheel of a Marin Sanitary (MS) commercial front-end loader collecting commercial and apartment accounts for San Rafael and Terra Linda he’s on the golf course tearing up some green.

One of the few employees qualified to perform all driving jobs at MS including big rigs he’s never in the same place twice.  The changing routes and physical labor make the days go quickly.  And as a Novato native Mike knows all the best golf spots and when he gets off work, soon after most people are just starting, that’s where he’s headed.

Before he worked for MS Mike was a mechanic.  The union he belonged to struggled constantly with the industry.  The incessant squabbling kept him from ever being settled and satisfied.  “I was on strike all the time, asking for more money,” recalled Mike, “The problem with being on strike is you don’t make any money.” (And, It wasn’t good for his golf game either.)

It was then that an acquaintance approached Joe Garbarino Jr. on his behalf.  Joe opened up an opportunity for him at Marin Sanitary. Now Mike enjoys the stability that a job at Marin Sanitary provides. And over the years Mike has become very close to the Garbarino family. He gins, “I’m like their adopted son.”

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Mike Long

Mike Long is a dead ringer for Chuck Norris, but he makes his living cleaning up havoc not wreaking it.  Mike has been hauling away storm debris and yard waste for over 16 years at Marin Sanitary.  If you haven’t seen him on the route, perhaps you’ve seen Chuck Norris’ double on his big yellow motorcycle --- the one with his Chihuahuas painted on the side.

As the owner of his own family business – Bellam Produce in San Rafael – Mike understands the value of the Marin Sanitary family.  “Once you work here it is hard to leave,” commented Mike.  But he did leave, once.  Mike started out at Marin Sanitary but left to work for neighboring garbage companies.  That didn’t last long.  “Marin Sanitary has safer trucks, better conditions. And it’s more like family,” Mike said.

When Mike finishes work for the day at Marin Sanitary, he motorcycles across town to start his day at Bellam Produce, where his wife Julie runs the shop, and leaves the heavy hauling for her very own movie star.

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Andy Alvarez

Andy remembers the day, many years ago, when a mother in distress raced out as he was collecting her garbage.  “She had locked herself out and her one year old in – with something cooking on the stove.”  As smoke filled her kitchen, Andy sprang into action -- breaking a window, lifting her son to safety and turning the stove off.  “I drove that route just the other day and she remembered me.  Her boy is taller than I am now,” Andy said.

Responding to urgent needs is Andy’s business.   For much of his career at Marin Sanitary, he has been a “floater” driver, filling in for absent drivers or meeting other last minute needs.  Andy says he never knows what’s in store from one day to the next, but that is the best part of his job.  His boss, Joe Garbarino Sr. says Andy is the only person at Marin Sanitary who can recite all the garbage routes without checking a map.  Andy loves the mental challenge; his nimble mind can quickly recall individual streets, homes and people he’s met on the road.

After 31 years at Marin Sanitary, Andy will retire this year.  Joe Sr. says he can’t think of anyone or anything he will miss more “except maybe my right leg.”  As for Andy, he will miss the quiet hour just before dawn, when everyone is asleep, as he drives a route up in the hills, watching the sunrise.  

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