Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Mountain View
Trash Day
Varies by neighborhood zone
Recycling
Every other week on your designated collection day
Yard Waste
Weekly on your designated collection day
Set Out Time
By 7:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
City of Mountain View utility bills are issued every other month and consolidate water, sewer, and Recology trash and recycling services into a single bill.
Billing Cycle
Bi-monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail, Drop Box, In Person
Grey or Black Bin (Trash)
Trash must fit completely inside the cart with the lid closed. If you occasionally have extra trash, you must purchase a $6 extra garbage sticker from local Safeway stores or the City Finance Department and attach it to a 32-gallon bag.
Accepted Items
- ✓Regular household garbage
- ✓Bagged pet waste and kitty litter
- ✓Styrofoam (must be bagged, including packing peanuts)
- ✓Diapers
- ✓Treated or painted wood
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
Blue (Split-Cart) Bin (Recycling)
You must sort materials into the correct side of the split-cart (paper on one side, containers on the other). Do not bag recyclables; place them loosely in the cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard (paper side)
- ✓Junk mail, magazines, and office paper (paper side)
- ✓Glass bottles and jars (container side)
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans (container side)
- ✓Clean plastics #1-7 (container side)
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags or film
- ✕Food waste or liquids
- ✕Holiday string lights
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Electronic waste
Yard Waste Bin
Keep compost clean from plastics, glass, and metals. Do not place dirt, rocks, concrete, or palm fronds in the green compost cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Food scraps (meat, dairy, bones, vegetables)
- ✓Food-soiled paper (pizza boxes, paper napkins)
- ✓Coffee grounds and filters
- ✓Grass clippings and leaves
- ✓Tree and shrub prunings
- ✓Weeds
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Up to 2 free 'On Call Plus' cleanups per calendar year
Placement
Items must be set out in the gutter or planter strip no later than 7:00 a.m. on your scheduled On Call Plus appointment day. Group items by material type (trash, recycling, bulky goods) for the different collection trucks.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (couches, desks, chairs)
- ✓ Large appliances (refrigerators, washers)
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ E-waste
- ✓ Bagged household trash and extra recycling
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Dirt, rocks, and concrete
- ✕ Automotive parts
Free for houses, townhomes, and mobile homes (1-8 units). Appointments are non-transferable and expire in mid-December. Apartment complexes (9+ units) must coordinate through property managers and fees apply.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your regular collection day falls on or after an observed holiday, your service will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week (e.g., Thursday pickup moves to Friday).
Yard Waste Exception
Compost (yard/food waste) and recycling collections follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as standard garbage.
Recology Mountain View operates on a normal schedule for all other holidays, including Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labor Day.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Winter
December - JanuaryRecology collects holiday trees curbside at no charge on your regular compost service day from December 26th until mid-January. Trees over 5 feet must be cut in half. Remove all decorations, tinsel, and stands.
Year-Round
January - DecemberMountain View residents can pick up free compost and mulch year-round at the SMaRT Station (301 Carl Road). There is a limit of 200 gallons per week; be sure to bring your own containers and shovels.
Local Tips & Community Info
An Overview of Mountain View's Partnership with Recology
Residents of Mountain View enjoy a streamlined, comprehensive waste diversion program administered through an exclusive partnership with Recology. This collaboration focuses heavily on minimizing landfill contributions and achieving stringent California sustainability benchmarks. By utilizing a standardized three-cart system for landfill trash, mixed recyclables, and compostable organics, the community works together to maintain pristine neighborhood streets. Proper adherence to Recology’s sorting guidelines not only supports the local environment but also helps prevent unsightly overflowing bins along the curb.
Essential Cart Placement and Spacing Guidelines
For automated collection trucks to operate safely and effectively, residents must follow specific set-out rules. All color-coded carts need to be placed at the edge of the street no later than 7:00 a.m. on your designated collection day. Ensure the wheels are resting squarely against the gutter with the front handles facing the sidewalk. Recology requires a mandatory 18-inch clearance between each container to allow the mechanical arm adequate gripping space. Keep bins safely distanced from overhanging tree branches, street signs, and parked vehicles. Per city ordinance, all containers must be removed from the public right-of-way no later than the day following collection and stored out of street view.
Dealing with Extra Household Garbage
Occasionally, household projects or family gatherings generate more refuse than your standard landfill cart can accommodate. Instead of overstuffing the bin and preventing the lid from closing, Mountain View offers a convenient extra trash tag system. Residents can purchase special prepaid garbage tags for just $6 each at the Finance Department on the second floor of City Hall, or at local retail partners like Safeway and Nob Hill stores. Simply stick one prepaid tag onto a 32-gallon plastic garbage bag and place it right next to your black cart on the morning of service.
Composting Organics and Holiday Tree Disposal
In strict alignment with state mandate SB 1383, the green compost cart is the mandatory destination for all yard trimmings and kitchen food scraps. Residents must toss meat bones, dairy products, coffee grounds, and soiled paper items directly into the green bin alongside grass clippings. To manage post-holiday yard waste, Recology offers free curbside collection of bare holiday trees from December 26th through the middle of January. Trees must be cut into sections smaller than five feet, and all tinsel, ornaments, and stands must be completely removed.
On-Call Bulky Item Services and Station Vouchers
When upgrading large appliances or purging old furniture, you can take advantage of Recology's On-Call Plus Services. Eligible residential accounts can schedule a dedicated pickup for oversized goods by calling the customer service center at (650) 967-3034. Because wait times for bulky item collection can range from five to ten business days, scheduling in advance is highly recommended. Alternatively, if you own a truck and prefer to handle the disposal yourself, you can request a disposal voucher to drop off large items at the SMaRT Station located at 301 Carl Road in neighboring Sunnyvale.
How Recognized Holidays Alter the Schedule
Recology's operations run consistently throughout the year, taking a pause on only three major national holidays: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. If your standard collection day falls on or immediately after one of these three specific dates, your service will be delayed by precisely 24 hours for the remainder of that week. For example, Thursday pickups disrupted by Thanksgiving will happen on Friday, and Friday routes will shift to Saturday. On all other federal holidays, trucks will follow their normal neighborhood routes.
Drop-off Facilities
SMaRT Station (Sunnyvale Materials Recovery and Transfer Station)
301 Carl Road, Sunnyvale, CA 94089
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Mountain View's split recycling cart work?
The blue recycling cart is divided into two sections. You must place clean paper and flattened cardboard on one side, and empty glass, plastic, and metal containers on the other. This prevents liquids from ruining recyclable paper.
How do I schedule a bulky item pickup in Mountain View?
Eligible residents (1-8 unit properties) can call Recology at (650) 967-3034 to schedule an 'On Call Plus' cleanup. You get two free appointments per year, which cover up to three bulky items and a 4x4x8 foot pile of bagged extra trash.
What should I do if my trash cart is full?
If you occasionally have extra trash that won't fit with the lid closed, you must purchase a $6 'Extra Garbage Sticker' from a local Safeway or the City Finance Department. Attach the sticker to a 32-gallon bag and place it next to your cart.
Can I recycle used cooking oil or batteries at the curb?
Yes. Mountain View residents can place household batteries in a clear zip-top bag on top of the blue recycling cart. Securely sealed used cooking oil, used motor oil, and cell phones can also be placed next to your carts on collection day.