Compost Basics Workshops

2024 Events: 

Saturday, February  24: 10 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at the Community Center, 201 S Rengstorff Avenue  

Saturday, May 18: 10:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. at the Mountain View Library, 585 Franklin Street

Find out how to compost at home and use compost in your garden or on your house plants. Residents can see live demonstrations to build and maintain a backyard compost pile and worm compost bin in our FREE workshops hosted by the University of California Compost Education Program. Registration is required.

For more information and to register, visit ucanr.edu/compost or call the Rotline at 408-918-4640.  

Worm Composting Workshop

2024 Event: 

Saturday, October 5:  10 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Heritage Park, 771 Rengstorff Avenue (event will be held outdoors)

Find out how to build healthy soil and reduce kitchen waste through worm composting at a FREE workshop for residents. Great for families, apartments, town houses, or anyone who produces a lot of food scraps!

For more information and to register, visit  ucanr.edu/compost or call the Rotline at 408-918-4640.

 2024 Event: Saturday, August 24

By appointment only. Details will be provided at time of booking.

This FREE event helps residents to properly dispose of paint, oil, cleaning products, batteries, solvents and other household chemical products. This event accepts unwanted or expired drugs from both people and pets to help keep homes safe for children, seniors, and animals.

In addition to the Mountain View drop-off event in August, alternative drop-off locations are available throughout the year.

For more information or to make an appointment, contact the Santa Clara County Household Hazardous Waste Program at www.HHW.org or 408-299-7300. To find more information about household hazardous waste in Mountain View visit the household hazardous waste webpage.

2024 Events: Saturdays, March 2, July 13 and November 2 from 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m

Special Note: Proof of residency required. 

The Free Paper Shredding Event hours have been extended. The event will now end promptly at 3:00 p.m. and all those in line prior to that time will be served (no late arrivals). Peak wait times generally occur at the very beginning and end of the event. Paper shredding events are normally held on three Saturdays during the year at our SMaRT Station in Sunnyvale from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. If you cannot make the event see below for other shredding services or home shredding tips.

These events help residents protect their identity and recycle confidential or sensitive paper documents, tax returns, bank statements, or health records. The event is located at the SMaRT Station, 301 Carl Road (cross-streets are Caribbean Dr & Borregas Av) in Sunnyvale.

With new extended hours, these events end promptly at 3:00 p.m., and all those in line prior to that time will be served (no late arrivals). Please read the Document Shredding Guidelines to ensure your items will be accepted.

• The event is only for Mountain View and Sunnyvale residents.
• Proof of residency required (driver's license or identification card or utility bill with your Mountain View address).
• Events is from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Please, no early arrivals! Peak wait times occur from 8:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.; avoid arriving during these times if possible.
• The event stops at 3:00 p.m. sharp. Cars arriving after 3:00 p.m. will be turned away.
• If you miss the event, contact your local office supply store which may offer shredding services for a small fee.

Contact City of Sunnyvale for more information at 408-730-7262 Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Other Shredding Services & Events

The Mountain View Police Department offers one or two shred days per year as part of their Community Engagement Program since 2017. For information about their events visit Mountain View Police Department Facebook page.

If you use a personal shredder at home, put shredded paper in paper bag, staple shut and put the bag under the mixed paper lid (dark blue). If you live in an apartment, put the bag in the Mixed Paper cart.

Saturday, October 5, 2024: 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m

Location:  Maker Nexus, 1330 Orleans Drive, Sunnyvale

Fixit Clinics are fun “do-it-together” workshops where you collaborate with community members to learn how to repair broken items. These hands-on events that place in well-equipped workspaces, have specialty tools, and volunteer Fixit Coaches will help you with troubleshooting. Bring your electronic gadgets, appliances, computers, toys, sewing machines, bicycles, fabric items, and more for assessment, disassembly, and possible repair. 

The events aim to build participants’ confidence and knowledge. Whether you fix it or not, you will gain insights into how things are made and connect with others in the community!

Mountain View residents can attend any of the free Fixit Clinics hosted throughout Santa Clara County. All ages are welcome, and the events are family-friendly. 

Register for the October 5^th Fixit Clinic using this form.

For more information and to sign up to volunteer visit the Fixit Clinic webpage.

Sunday, October 27, 2024: 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m

Location: Senior Center, 266 Escuela Avenue, Mountain View

Do you have things that you like, but no longer work? Don’t toss them, repair them! Volunteers will help you assess and fix your things instead of throwing them away. Repair Café Mountain View is a volunteer-run, community service dedicated to encouraging the repair and reuse of goods, rather than sending them to landfill.

At any of the free, periodic Repair Café events, volunteers will guide you to tackle the repair yourself or fix it while you watch and learn. Chances are you will leave with a once-again useful item and some knowledge of how to repair this item and others. 

The events are typically held at the Mountain View Senior Center, 266 Escuela Ave. In addition, the Repair Café hosts events in other nearby cities throughout the year.

For more information or to volunteer, visit the Repair Cafe Mountain View Facebook page.

For more Repair Cafe events held in other cities, please visit the Repair Cafe page.

Contact
RepairCafeMV.org
RepairCafeMV@gmail.com

Citywide Garage Sale at Homes

Saturday, September 14, and Sunday, September 15, 2024: 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

The annual Citywide Garage Sale was held Saturday, September 14, and Sunday, September 15, 2024 at homes throughout Mountain View.

This free event is sponsored by the City's Recycling and Zero Waste Section of Public Works. Visit the Garage Sale page or call 650- 903-6311 for more information.

America Recycles Day

America Recycles Day is held on November 15th annually with many events taking place on the weekend near that date. Visit America Recycles Day to find an event near you. Sign a pledge card to Learn & Act:

• Learn what materials are collected for recycling in Mountain View at home, apartments, schools and businesses, and where to get cash for bottles and cans. 
• Pledge to Act now to reduce your personal waste through waste reduction, recycling and composting activities starting in November and throughout the year.

Arbor Day

Arbor Day is typically held on the second Saturday in March and offers many public awareness and educational opportunities in advance of Earth Day. The City's Community Services Department hosts the Arbor Day event annually.

Creek & Coastal Clean Up Days

National River Clean Up is held annually on the third Saturday in May.

California Coastal Clean Up Day is held annually on the third Saturday in September.

These are regional programs and Mountain View's participation is coordinated by the City's Fire Department, Environmental Protection, Water Pollution Prevention Program. More information may also be found at CleanaCreek.org.

Earth Day

Earth Day is observed on April 22nd annually, and the City's Sustainability Department hosts an Earth Day event near that date to celebrate! The event will change year to year, but will typically feature local organizations and community partners, kid’s activities, presentations by City staff, food, and more. This event is a great way to learn how to make every day Earth Day!

Prescription Drugs Take-Back Events

These events are operated by the City of Mountain View Fire Department but might also be part of a Police Department Community Engagement Event (650-903-6224). There is a drop-off box for prescription drugs in the lobby of the Police/Fire Administration Building.

There are also events and drop-off locations available at no cost throughout the year through a countywide program. For information about these and other locations, visit our Medicines & Sharps Disposal page.