Multi-family properties have shared compost carts or bins to collect food scraps, food-soiled paper, and plant debris. All properties are required to provide compost collection service for their residents as of January 1, 2022.

Visit our Food Scraps page for more information and check the What Goes Where guide to find out what items are accepted in Mountain View’s compost program. Remember, plastic, including “compostable” plastic foodware, should never be placed in the compost cart and instead go into the trash.

Are you ready to start collecting your kitchen scraps but you need help? Residents can request a free kitchen pail from Recology. The kitchen pails are dishwasher-safe and help make for mess-free food scrap storage, before placing your compostable material into the Recology cart or bin.

If you are unsure of the compost program status at your building, ask your property manager to contact Recology (650-967-3034 or ContactusRMV@Recology.com), or contact the City at Recycle@MountainView.gov to get started.

Multi-family buildings have separate carts or bins for recyclable paper and containers.

Paper and Cardboard Cart/Bin: Printer/copy paper, junk mail, writing paper, catalogs, magazines, newspapers and inserts, dry food boxes (no frozen/refrigerated boxes), and small pieces of flattened cardboard that fit easily in the cart/b

in.

For larger pieces of cardboard, flatten and cut or fold into pieces about 3'x3' and lean against the mixed paper cart. If you have more than one or two cardboard boxes, flatten and bundle (tie or tape) together for easier handling.

Containers Cart/Bin: Glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles, jugs, tubs with lids, and metal cans (tin, steel and aluminum). Beverage and soup cartons such as milk, juice, plant-based milk, soup or broth may also be placed in the container cart/bin.

Place recyclable materials in the carts loosely, not in plastic trash bags. 

Textile Collection

You can ask your property manager to approve adding a clothing/textile collection program onsite. The property manager would need to contact Recology (650-967-3034 or ContactUsRMV@Recology.com) to designate a central collection container location at the complex and request to begin the collection service.

Items accepted in the program include clothes (laundered socks, shirts, shorts, pants, dresses, skirts, tank tops, jackets, sweaters, pajamas, and robes); shoes of all kinds (even single shoes) and textiles (laundered sheets, pillowcases, bed covers, towels) and curtains.

Bulky Items

Do NOT put furniture or other bulky items inside or next to trash dumpsters, out at the curb, or in the street. Residents can drop-off certain bulky items for free at the Mountain View Recycling Center (935 Terra Bella Ave.) during drop-off hours. See our Bulky Item Disposal Options flyer for more information. Trash can be hauled to the SMaRT Station (301 Carl Rd.) for a fee. 

Batteries and Cell Phones

DO NOT put batteries or cell phones in the trash or recycling containers. These items are harmful to the environment and must be properly disposed of at a special collection site. 

Used Motor Oil, and Other Household Hazardous Wastes

Used motor oil and other household hazard waste (HHW) such as paint, medicines, and chemicals like pesticides are harmful to the environment and must be properly disposed of at take-back facilities. Visit the Household Hazardous Waste page for more information about free HHW drop-off locations for these items.

City and state laws require multi-family complexes to subscribe to recycling and compost collection services to keep recyclable and organic waste (food scraps, food-soiled paper, and yard trimmings) out of the landfill (City Municipal Code Chapter 16 and SB 1383). 

Multi-family properties are also required to:

• Provide information to new residents within 14 days of move-in, and annually, to all residents, about the proper sorting of recyclable and compostable material to minimize contamination in collection containers.
• Ensure proper sorting of materials and periodically inspect containers. Property management may need to provide additional training as needed. 

Property managers can contact Recology for information about educational resources and signage to assist in meeting these required mandates.

Your property manager or homeowner's association must set up recycling or compost service or make other changes to your shared collection services. The utility rate for trash service is based on the number, size, and frequency of service of trash and compost containers. There is no additional charge for recycling collection. For current rates, please visit the City’s Utility Billing page.