Trash & Recycling in Mountain View, CA: What Residents Actually Need to Know
If you live in Mountain View or are thinking about moving there, trash & recycling are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Mountain View has 4 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of trash & recycling, and some of them might surprise you.
Bulk Item Disposal
Recology offers free on-call bulky item pickup for Mountain View residents, typically two collections per year per household. Items include mattresses, furniture, and large appliances.
Key details: Free pickups per year: 2 per household. Items per pickup: Up to 5. Acceptable items: Furniture, mattresses, appliances, e-waste. Not accepted: Construction debris, hazmat. Scheduling: 48+ hours advance.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
The rules around bulk item disposal in Mountain View lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Recology is Mountain View's exclusive hauler for garbage, recycling, and organics. Containers go out no earlier than the evening before collection and must be removed by the end of service day.
Key details: Hauler: Recology Mountain View. Service frequency: Weekly. Carts provided: Gray trash, blue recycling, green organics. Set-out time: After 5 p.m. day before pickup. Removal: By end of collection day.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Bin Placement Rules
Carts must sit at the curb with handles facing the house, 3 feet clear on all sides, and away from parked cars, mailboxes, and fire hydrants so Recology's automated trucks can service them.
Key details: Clearance needed: 3 feet on all sides. Handle direction: Facing the house. Keep away from: Mailboxes, cars, hydrants. Lid must: Close fully. Do not block: Sidewalk or driveway.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Recycling Requirements
Mountain View residents and businesses must separate recyclables and organics from trash under California AB 341, AB 1826, and SB 1383. Recology provides three-cart service for compliance.
Key details: State mandates: AB 341, AB 1826, SB 1383. Blue cart: Paper, metals, glass, rigid plastic. Green cart: Food scraps, yard trimmings. Not accepted: Plastic bags, foam, batteries, e-waste. Commercial: Required for 5+ unit buildings.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Mountain View actively enforces its recycling requirements requirements.
The Bottom Line
Mountain View's trash & recycling rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Mountain View is broadly strict or permissive.
These rules come from Mountain View's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.