Your trash bill, and how to cut it
Recology Mountain View picks up, and the city bills you with water and sewer. Trash prices double with every size step, so cart size matters more here than anywhere nearby.
Last checked Oct 20, 2026 · Rates effective July 1, 2026 (+6.5%)
What you pay
| Trash cart | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| 24 gallon (1 adult or 2 seniors only) | $40.00 | $480 |
| 32 gallon | $53.30 | $640 |
| 64 gallon | $106.60 | $1,279 |
| 96 gallon | $159.90 | $1,919 |
Included: a split recycling cart (picked up every other week) and a compost cart for food scraps and yard waste. Larger recycling or compost carts are free. The first 2 extra recycling and first 3 extra yard carts are free, then $6 a month each.
Saving money
64 to 32 gallons
$640 a yearThe biggest single saving on this site for most Mountain View homes. Move food scraps and yard waste into the free compost cart and the 32 usually fits. An excess trash tag is $6 per 32 gallons.
How: call Recology Mountain View at 650-967-3034.
32 to 24 gallons
$160 a yearOnly for households of 1 adult or 2 seniors.
Free things
2 On Call Plus pickups a year
3 bulky items plus a 4×4×8 ft pile each. Or swap one for a free SMaRT Station dump voucher. Pickups run out in mid-December; vouchers expire Dec 31 (one-week grace).
Curbside extras
Batteries, used motor oil, cooking oil and textiles can go out with your carts.
Holiday trees
Collected free on your compost day for four weeks from Dec 26.
Hazardous waste, paint, mattresses
Free county drop-off by appointment (hhw.org). Paint at PaintCare sites. Mattresses through Bye Bye Mattress.
Rules and fees that surprise people
- Timing: out by 7 AM, no more than 24 hours early, back within 24 hours, and stored out of street view. City Code 16.21.
- Placement: 18 inches apart, 2 feet from gas and water lines.
- Contamination: a recycling or compost cart with trash in it costs a $23 return trip plus $6 per 32 gallons.
- Extra pickup of a yard or recycling cart on a non-service day: $17.
Facts are checked against the public sources listed on each page. Rates change every year; each page shows when it was last checked. Individual bills are confidential in California, so personal numbers are estimates from public rates. Nothing here is legal, tax or insurance advice.