Trash & Recycling in Mountain View, CA (2026)
8 verified trash & recycling rules for Mountain View, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
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.
Trash Pickup Rules in Mountain View
Some RestrictionsCal. Pub. Resources Code § 42652.5 (SB 1383, Short-Lived Climate Pollutants)
The state board is also required to complete a comprehensive strategy to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants, as defined, in the state. This bill would require the state board, no later than January 1, 2018, to approve and begin implementing that comprehensive strategy to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants to achieve a reduction in methane by 40%, hydrofluorocarbo...
Bin Placement Rules
Mountain View requires garbage, waste, and recycling containers to be pulled to the street sidewalk line no more than 24 hours before your scheduled collection and pulled back within 24 hours after, under Section 16.21 of the City Code. Containers must then sit somewhere on the property where they are screened from street view, and any violation of the chapter is a misdemeanor.
Mountain View Trash Bin Placement Rules
Some RestrictionsMountain View, CA, City Code Sec. 16.21
The collection station for garbage, waste, or recyclable material for one (1) to four (4) dwelling units on a single parcel of real property shall be the street sidewalk line adjacent to such premises, and standard containers for garbage and waste, and approved recycling containers shall be placed in that location not more than twenty-four (24) hours preceding the scheduled collection time, by ...
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.
Recycling Requirements in Mountain View
Some RestrictionsCalifornia SB 1383 (2016) - Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy
California's Organic Waste Reduction SB 1383 Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy Landfilled food and other organic waste rotting in landfills emits methane climate pollution contributing to California's hotter summers, more frequent droughts, and more wildfires. To reduce methane pollution and other short-lived climate pollutants, California passed SB 1383 (Lara, 2016). The law set...
Mandatory Organics Recycling
Every single-family household in Mountain View must subscribe to the city's organic waste collection service and sort food scraps and yard waste into the green cart, recyclables into the blue cart, and trash into the gray cart under Section 16.102 of the City Code. The rule implements California's SB 1383, and noncompliance can draw administrative citations and civil penalties starting January 1, 2024.
Mountain View Mandatory Organics Rules
Significant RestrictionsMountain View, CA, City Code Sec. 16.102(a)-(b)
Single-family generators shall: a. Subscribe to the city's organic waste collection services for all organic waste generated. The city enforcement official shall have the right to review the number and size of a generator's containers to evaluate adequacy of capacity provided for each type of collection service for proper separation and containment of materials. Single-family generators shall a...
Illegal Dumping
Dumping, throwing or depositing refuse on any public right-of-way, waterway or private property other than an approved disposal area is a misdemeanor under City Code Sec. 16.5, and it's separately unlawful to let waste scatter onto a street or neighboring lot by wind or runoff.
Mountain View Illegal Dumping Ban
Heavy RestrictionsMountain View, CA, City Code Sec. 16.5 (Unlawful Deposits Generally)
It shall be unlawful for any person to throw, deposit, or cause to be thrown or deposited, any refuse, or allow any collection of same to remain in or upon any public right of way, watercourse, waterway, levees or banks of watercourses or waterways, or upon any premises whatsoever except an approved disposal area. It shall be unlawful for any person to throw, cast, place, sweep, or deposit anyw...
Dumpster Rules
Property owners can't keep a dumpster, box, or container sitting out for more than 72 straight hours under City Code Sec. 25.4(h), unless it's tied to ongoing construction or otherwise permitted. Standard garbage receptacles must also stay under 75 pounds when full and be fully enclosed, per Sec. 16.9.
Mountain View 72-Hour Dumpster Limit
Some RestrictionsMountain View, CA, City Code Sec. 25.4(h) (Unlawful Property Conditions and Activities)
It shall be unlawful for any owner to engage in activities upon such property or to maintain or to allow such property to be maintained in such a manner that any of the following conditions or activities are found to exist: ... h.Storing or keeping boxes, containers or dumpsters, in excess of seventy-two (72) consecutive hours, except as otherwise permitted by this code, or when engaged in ongo...
Collection Schedule
Every property in Mountain View must have garbage and waste removed at least once a week, per City Code Sec. 16.4, with more frequent pickup required if waste accumulates faster. Recyclables follow whatever periodic schedule the finance director sets, and letting refuse pile up into a nuisance is separately unlawful.
Mountain View Weekly Trash Removal Rule
Some RestrictionsMountain View, CA, City Code Sec. 16.4 (Removal Generally)
a.All garbage or waste created, produced, or accumulated in or about any place or premises situated anywhere in the city shall be disposed of or removed from such premises at least once each week, or more often if necessary.b.All recyclable material created, produced, or accumulated in or about any place or premises anywhere in the city shall be disposed of or removed from such premises on a pe...
Recycling Rules
Mountain View's City Code makes curbside recyclables the property of the city or its licensed hauler the moment they're set out, and Section 16.22 bans anyone else from picking through, scattering, or hauling them off without the owner's consent. Violating Chapter 16 is a misdemeanor under Section 16.0, and only the resident, the city, its licensed operator, or a permitted nonprofit may touch an approved recycling container at the curb.
Mountain View Curbside Recycling Rules
Some RestrictionsMountain View, CA, City Code Sec. 16.22
It shall be unlawful for any person to burn, break, destroy, scatter, scavenge, collect or take any recyclable materials without the consent of the owner of such materials. Consent to collection of such materials may be either oral or written, or may be manifested by a practice or arrangement between the owner and a donor or donors, whereby recyclable materials are placed in a particular place,...
Looking for Santa Clara County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Mountain View city rules.
Trash & Recycling in Santa Clara County →