Community Volunteer Group
Exciting news! We are working to form a community volunteer group to build community while suppo rting the City’s Sustainability programs. This group will assist the Sustainability team through (1) outreach and dissemination of information, (2) event planning and execution, and (3) providing input on various Sustainability topics.
 
There is no minimum time requirement, so even if you have just a few minutes a month we’d welcome your involvement and are happy to provide a way to meet other passionate community members. If you are interested in learning more and potentially getting involved, please fill out this short Google Form.
EV Drivers - Deadline Extended
Do you drive an electric vehicle (EV)? We want to hear from you! If you are willing to share some takeaways about your experience with EVs, please fill out  this very short Google Form  and we will reach out to you with additional details. The deadline to fill out the form has been extended until  11:59pm on Sunday, June 28.
Community Center EV Chargers - Available Tomorrow!
We are excited to announce that 9 new electric vehicle (EV) chargers at the Community Center will be operational tomorrow afternoon, Friday, June 19 . Watch this short video of Mayor Abe-Koga unveiling the chargers!

These chargers are part of the 43  new  EV chargers staff is installing this year at 3 City locations. By fall or winter, we aim to install 24 new chargers at the 850 California St. parking structure (in addition to the 10 existing chargers), and 10 new chargers at the 135 Bryant St. garage.
Municipal Green Building Policy
Success! The City Council approved a new  green building policy  for City facilities on June 9. This policy requires LEED© Gold certification of new buildings and major renovations, encourages building electrification and renewable energy measures where feasible, and reflects the completion of 3 actions within Sustainability Action Plan 4. You can read the staff report and adopted policy  here .
Support for Telecommuting
City Council Meeting
Tuesday, June 30, 6:30pm
The City Council will consider a resolution encouraging broader use of telecommuting and supporting safe, affordable, and convenient transportation options for employees who cannot work remotely. The rapid shift to remote work during the Shelter-in-Place order has resulted in a significant drop in vehicle traffic, associated air pollution, and GHG emissions. This resolution aims to maintain some of these environmental and health benefits as businesses reopen.
 
The agenda will be available here on Friday, June 26. Instructions for how you can participate in the Council meeting will be available at the top of the agenda. We welcome your participation.
Bikes for Essential Workers
The Silicon Valley Bicycle Exchange (SVBE) and Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition (SVBC) have teamed up to offer bikes to essential workers in need of transportation.

  • Can’t afford a bike but need one to get to your job or to get around? Fill out this form and they'll try to match you with a bike.
  • Have a bike you aren’t using? If it’s in perfect working order, they will match you with a recipient. If it needs a bit of work, SVBE will refurbish the bike and give it new life.
  • Want to help with the effort? You can make a donation to cover the cost of bike parts ($40 on average) or you can help them tune up the bikes by taking a few home to work on.

Join the #BikeMatchSV program as a recipient, donor, or volunteer through the form here .
SVCE Recognition Program -
EV Charging
Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) has launched their Regional Recognition program. It recognizes the achievements, big and small , of local businesses, governments, and non-profits across the region who have invested in innovative solutions to EV charging. Awardees will be recognized at a virtual awards ceremony in the fall and receive free promotion of their work through SVCE’s marketing team.  Applications are due by midnight on Saturday, July 18. Learn more and apply here.
SVCE Relief Programs
In response to COVID-19, SVCE is supporting our community by providing on-bill credits for income-qualified residents and qualifying small businesses, developing an all-electric online contractor training program, and supporting local community resilience projects. Learn more here.
Clean Cars for All
Attention Bay Area residents! The Air District’s Clean Cars for All Program has expanded t o all Bay Area zip codes.

Income qualified residents who ow n a model year 2004 or older vehicle can receive up to $9,500 to retire their old vehicle and purchase or lease a new or used electric vehicle. Funding is available for electric vehicle charging equipment as well. You can also get a pre-loaded Clipper card (up to $7,500) for turning in your old vehicle. Incentive options vary depending on income and zip code.

Check if you are eligible for the Clean Cars for All program and apply here.

For additional information about this program, please contact (855) 256-3656 or cleancars@gridalternatives.org.
Public Comment for Superfund Site
The former JASCO Chemical Corporation repackaged and formulated chemical products from 1976 until 1995 on two acres of land in Mountain View. The company’s waste disposal practices and leaks from underground storage tanks contaminated the site’s soil and groundwater. In addition, some chemicals (known as volatile organic compounds) formed vapors in the soil. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) removed contaminated soil and treated the groundwater to remove the chemicals.
 
On May 26, 2020, the EPA published a Notice of Intent to delete the JASCO Chemical Corporation site from the National Priorities List (NPL) in the Federal Register. NPL sites are commonly called “Superfund” sites. You may comment on EPA’s proposal to remove this site from the NPL until June 25, 2020. Comments may be submitted online here or by emailing canteenwala.eric@epa.gov . More information is available here and here .
Recycling & Zero Waste
This section will share program updates, upcoming events, and all news related to Zero Waste. Contact Recycling & Zero Waste staff with any questions about the Recycling & Zero Waste program at  recycle@mountainview.gov or (650) 903-6311.
Curbside Calendar Correction
The Annual Resource Guide mailed to homes in January had a misprint in the curbside calendar that caused the recycling week color to be off schedule starting in July. You can save or print the revised calendar available  here  and set up service reminders at MountainView.gov/MySchedule . There will also be a reprinted calendar in the Summer Resource that will be mailed to all residents next month.
SMaRT Station Buy-Back Center Open – Appointment Only
The Buy-Back Center at the SMaRT Station is now open to the public for CRV buyback from 8am to 4:30pm seven days a week by appointment only. Make an appointment  here  or call 408-752-8530. The SMaRT Station is located at 301 Carl Road in Sunnyvale.
How to Stay Healthy and Reduce Waste During COVID-19
Credit: Sunnyvale Environmental Services
The world has experienced drastic changes these last few months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While we have less traffic and cleaner air, we are generating more trash at home. With the State rollback on plastic bag bans, stores are giving out non-recyclable plastic bags. These often end up as litter or in the landfill, since plastic bags and wrap are not recyclable. We are also shopping more online, resulting in extra cardboard set out curbside and more plastic packaging in the trash. While health and safety are a top priority, here are some ways to reduce your waste:
 
  • Use your reusable shopping bags without bringing them into the grocery store. During check out, load your groceries back into your cart. Wheel the cart to your car and load groceries into your own bags. No more plastic!
 
  • Next time you order food delivery, specify that you don't need disposable utensils since you have your own at home. If your takeout boxes are paper products (such as waxed cartons, pulped fiber bowls) then they can go in the compost.
 
  • If ordering from Amazon, choose the Frustration Free Packaging Program. This program ships qualified items in their original packaging with no extra box. The resulting packaging is easier to open and uses recyclable content.
 
More Virtual Activities
The California Green Business Network and partners are hosting a webinar series aimed to help businesses adapt and recover, build resilience, and incorporate sustainability in the years ahead. In this webinar, experts from GreenSeal, EPA Safer Choice, and others will discuss their certification standards and safe ways to disinfect your business (and home!). Register here .

  • Friday, June 19, 11am-12:30pm
Not sure what to do with all of your food scraps? Want to boost your home gardening? UCCE is hosting FREE virtual community composting workshops. Register  here .

  • Saturday, June 20, 10am-12pm
Join this  Facebook Live Q&A  with UC Master Gardener Karen Schaffer. Ask her any questions you may have about vegetable gardening, from getting started, pests and problems, when or how to harvest, and even looking ahead to a fall/winter garden. Learn more here .
 
  • Wednesday, June 24, 4pm-5:30pm
Food activist Anthony Myint will discuss the ways in which farmers, ranchers, and diners can take action on the climate and promote carbon sequestration. Register here .

  • Wednesday, June 24, 4:30pm-6:30pm
What does it mean to have a resilient local food system? Have you wondered how to help the most at-risk members of your community during this time? Join this webinar to meet the folks doing the great work of keeping food on the shelves for our neighbors who are experiencing food insecurity, right now, and at all times. Register here .
 
  • Wednesday, June 24, 7pm-8:30pm
Meet other young professionals who are interested in working in the environmental field at this virtual meet and greet! The event will consist of making new connections, getting to know each other, and a game of environmental trivia. This event was postponed from June 4. Register here .

  • Thursday, June 25, 7pm-8:30pm
Present your broken item to a global team of expert community repairers and get suggestions for things to try. After all items hav e been presented, those with broken items and repairers will be put in to Zoom breakout rooms to implement the suggestions and, hopefully, fix the items. Register here .
 
  • Sunday, July 12, 6pm
Join the UCCE Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County for this informative webinar on summer fruit tree care. Register here .
 
  • Saturday, July 18, 1-2pm
Are you considering leasing or buying an electric vehicle (EV) and want real information versus a sales pitch? Join this online class to hear from local, long-time EV drivers and experts on their experiences. Register here .

  • Wednesday, July 22, 5:30pm-7pm
Concerned about climate change? Want to learn how to make a REAL difference in lowering your carbon footprint, saving money, greening your food choices, transportation and finances, improving your health, increasing community, impacting policy, and more? This 3-part evening class takes the guesswork out of where to spend your precious time, and provides a supportive environment within which to affect real change. Learn more  here .
 
  • Wednesdays, August 5, 12, 19, 6:30-8:30pm
We Want to Hear From You!
Tell us your sustainability story! Have you recently made energy efficiency upgrades to your home, incorporated a new zero waste habit into your life, or found an alternate mode of transport that you love?

Send a photo and a short blurb to  sustainability@mountainview.gov and we may feature it in an upcoming newsletter!
Want to stay updated on more Sustainability news and local events? Follow us on  Facebook !
Subscribe to this newsletter here .
Read previous newsletters here.
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