An audit of trash, recycling and compost thrown into downtown Point Reyes Station receptacles during a 24-hour period last month found that commingling and contamination remain significant problems. The audit, conducted by the Environmental Action Committee of West Marin, shines a light on the waste generated by tourists and residents. Volunteers found that recycling and garbage were commingled, and that a large amount of compost was making its way into both. Madeline Hope, a project coordinator for the E.A.C., said the audit provides a baseline for future audits and can inform local and state policies on sustainability and conservation. “The more support that we can give businesses, our schools and sector partners through guidance materials and sorting stations—I think that’s meaningful, active climate engagement,” she said. The audit focused on the 13 recycling bins and trash cans on Highway 1 as it passes through town. Those receptacles have a combined capacity of almost 600 gallons. Volunteers recovered 130 gallons from trash cans during two hours on Saturday, Aug. 4, the morning after Recology Sonoma Marin emptied the cans. After sorting the contents, they tallied 50 gallons of landfill waste, 23 gallons of recycling, and 57 gallons of compostables. Hazardous waste was limited, with only two AAA batteries found. From recycling bins, volunteers pulled 40 gallons of waste, of which 32 gallons were recyclables, four gallons were garbage and another four gallons were compostables. Ms. Hope attributes the contamination problems to receptacle accessibility, confusing packaging and the absence of composting bins, and only partially to apathetic consumers. Composting infrastructure, especially on the main street, would buoy local and state efforts to reduce landfill waste like Marin’s reusable foodware ordinance and S.B. 1383, California’s Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy. But confusion over packaging and the capabilities of waste haulers persists. “There’s not enough education for the consumer to know what materials are recyclable in Marin County,” Ms. Hope said. “Also, the mouth of the landfill [bin] is much bigger than that of the recycling. For the apathetic consumer, they’re gonna go for the larger mouth of the receptacle.” The audit provides insight into the refuse impacts of heavy visitation by day trippers, campers and other tourists. Last month, the National Park Service released its latest tourism report, which found that 2.3 million people visited the Point Reyes National Seashore in 2022. “We do see food that is from the 101 corridor,” Ms. Hope said. “Because we have a few distinct roads going through our communities, we have a lot of people coming from over the hill.” This month, the E.A.C. is hosting its twice-annual Litter Bugs Me event. The volunteer-led cleanup comes at the end of the tourist season and before the arrival of winter rains and county mowing. It culminates with Coastal Cleanup Day on Sept. 23. To learn about the various ways to volunteer, visit https://www.eacmarin.org/fall-litter-bugs-me.