[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 26 (Friday, February 7, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E108]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING THE LIFE OF JOSEPH JOHN GARBARINO

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JARED HUFFMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, February 7, 2025

  Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Joseph (Joe) 
Garbarino who passed away at the age of 91 on December 19, 2024. Mr. 
Garbarino was an iconic public figure, one of the Nation's foremost 
leaders in recycling, and a beloved family member.
  Born in 1933 to Italian immigrants, Mr. Garbarino grew up in San 
Francisco where his father and uncle ran the Scavengers Protective 
Association. They instilled in him the value of reusing materials, and 
this became a guiding principle throughout his life. Mr. Garbarino 
joined Marin Sanitary Service in 1955 and spent the next five decades 
establishing the company as a national leader in recycling.
  Mr. Garbarino set the bar for leadership in the waste reduction 
industry. Many credit him with establishing modern recycling standards 
and practices. In 1980, Mr. Garbarino created the first county-wide 
curbside recycling program in the United States, reaching a national 
record by recycling over 74 percent of the two million pounds of waste 
collected. He founded Marin Recycling and Resource Recovery Association 
and built the Nation's first indoor dump, recycling 65 percent of 
materials that would otherwise be diverted to landfills. A decade 
before recycling ordinances were mandated by the State of California, 
he introduced a curbside food and yard waste program that reduced 
greenhouse gas emissions by collecting over 32,000 tons of organic 
waste. Applying his mantra, ``an item should never be made that cannot 
be reused or recycled,'' Mr. Garbarino developed the Environmental 
Classroom to educate more than 200 students weekly about waste 
reduction.
  A staunch advocate for recycling legislation and funding, Mr. 
Garbarino was well respected throughout the industry and by local and 
state elected officials. In 2000, Mr. Garbarino's eldest daughter 
Patricia (Patty) became President and CEO of Marin Sanitary Service, 
Marin Recycling Center, and Marin Resource Recovery Center, but he 
remained active as Chair of the Board until his passing, stopping by 
the facility every day to check in with his employees whom he 
considered his extended family.
  Beyond his professional work, Mr. Garbarino was revered for the joy 
and goodwill he brought to the community. This included dressing up as 
Santa Claus and delivering gifts to children with disabilities during 
the holidays. He also served on the boards of Marin General Hospital 
and San Rafael Planning Commission, and was President of Marin Civic 
Center's Lions Club, San Rafael Chamber of Commerce and Marin County's 
Solid Waste Management Association. He also served on the boards of 
Marin General Hospital and the San Rafael Planning Commission, and was 
President of Marin Civic Center's Lions Club, San Rafael Chamber of 
Commerce and Marin County's Solid Waste Management Association. Perhaps 
most notably, Mr. Garbarino was a lifelong, avid supporter of veterans. 
Over four decades, Mr. Garbarino collected World War II memorabilia, 
building a fleet of more than 100 vehicles, which he shared with the 
public at his military museum, displayed outside funerals of veterans, 
and in parades throughout the country. Countless veterans speak to how 
Mr. Garbarino made them feel valued and important.
  For his decades of leadership, Mr. Garbarino received numerous 
accolades, including San Rafael Chamber of Commerce's 1987 Citizen of 
the Year, California Refuse Removal Council's coveted John Moscone 
Award in 1994, and he was inducted into the National Waste and 
Recycling Association's Hall of Fame in 2014. His company was voted 
Best Curbside Recycling Program in California and Outstanding Solid 
Waste Recovery Program in California by the California Resource 
Recovery Association.
  Mr. Garbarino was married to the love of his life, Sally Safholm for 
64 years before she passed. He is the proud father, grandfather and 
great grandfather of a large family, many of whom work beside him in 
the multi-generational family business he created. He is survived by 
his daughters and their families: Patty Garbarino, Judy and Steve Rosa, 
Joanne and Mike Pelfini, Suzi and John Oranje; his grandchildren, 
Joseph and John Rosa, Joseph, Gwen and James Pelfini, Jenna Oranje 
Erlich and Jonathan Oranje; and his great grandchildren, George, 
Giovanna, Rico, Dominic, Justin and Natalie; and his many cousins in 
Oregon and Italy whom he considered his brothers and sisters.
  Mr. Garbarino was known for his larger-than-life personality and 
unwavering drive to serve his community. It was my privilege and honor 
to work with him, and witness firsthand his innovative approach to 
waste conservation. Mr. Speaker, Joe Garbarino's depth of character is 
surpassed only by the legacy of his good deeds in Marin County and 
beyond. I respectfully ask that you join me in expressing my sincere 
appreciation for his many decades of good work and expressing my deep 
condolences to his friends and family.