Guide to Portland OR Recycling Rules

How To Recycle Electronics

Recycling electronics in Rose city can be tricky and not all transfer stations accept them. If you have printers, computers, audio/visual equipment, cell phones, or other electronics, we can help dispose of them properly. Some electronics are considered hazardous waste and are only accepted at a toxic waste station. Additionally, portland ensures meaningful access to resilience access city programs such as Oregon E-Cycles.

Oregon E-Cycles provides safe recycling for a range of electronics. You can take up to seven items under the program to a participating collection or transfer site and recycle them for no charge. Some locations will accept additional items, such as scanners, speakers, or game consoles, but may charge a fee.

How To Compose Food

Food compost requires two separate containers for disposal. The first container should be stored in your kitchen with a special liner and the second container is used for curbside pickup.

Curbside compost basics:

• Food scraps are picked up weekly
• Dump food compost weekly (even if half full)
• Weight limit is 135lbs
• Remove empty containers from curbside within 24 hours
• Use approved pail liners

How To Recycle Appliances

Oregon law requires that all large household appliances be recycled.

At Action Junk Hauling, we provide affordable appliance removal services. Alternately, you can self-haul your appliance to a local drop-off site like Metro Central. At most transfer stations, appliances that run on coolant and dishwashers with a plastic casing are not accepted free of charge.

How To Recycle Hazardous Materials

If you want to recycle your hazardous material in Rose city, Metro Central is the closest drop-off location to Portland.

Metro Central accepts the following hazardous waste:

• Dry metal paint cans
• Motor oil
• Light bulbs
• Batteries
• Electronics

Metro Central in Portland also has city programs that host neighborhood collection events on Saturdays from March through November.

What to Throw Out

Deciding what to keep and throw away is difficult enough at times. Sorting and packing recycling can add another layer of difficulty. If you need help deciphering what waste and recycling go where we can help. We know how to efficiently separate, clean, pack and dispose of all of your waste recycling. We can quickly gather your plastic bottles, plastic containers, empty aerosol cans, aluminum foil, and sort everything while you relax.

Empty aerosol cans

Do you have empty aerosol cans? If so, your empty aerosol cans can be recycled with steel cans in your blue recycling bins.

Appliances-coolant containing

Appliances that contain Freon or other coolants need special handling. Some facilities accept these but may have an age restriction. Call us for further details before disposing of a coolant-containing appliance.

Appliances-large

Large non-coolant-containing appliances are considered acceptable recycling. Large appliances must be picked up by a professional junk removal company or dropped off at a recycling facility that accepts appliances.

Appliances-small

The EPA estimates that 95% of the materials in small appliances can be recycled. Small appliances must be dropped off at a recycling facility or picked by a professional appliance hauling company.

Aseptic containers

Aseptic containers are not 100% paper but they can be recycled curbside.

Block packaging foam – Styrofoam

All air packs and packing peanuts should go in the trash, never in the compost or recycle.

Boats & campers

Portland’s landfill does not accept boats and campers. Salvage disposals are accepted at Columbia Ridge, Valley View, and Astoria Transfer Station.

Brick

Most brick can be recycled at your local transfer station. Habitat for humanity is also known for reclaiming useful brick.

Bubble wrap

Bubble wrap and plastic packaging that doesn’t conform must be thrown in the garbage.

Building and demolition materials

If you want to save money discarding your demolition materials, work with a professional Junk hauling company or load them into a rented pick yourself.

CDs and DVDs

You can drop off, donate or discard CDs and DVDs in the trash roll cart.

Cardboard

Cardboard is eligible for curbside pickup in Portland Oregon.

Carpet

Contact your regular garbage service provider in advance to arrange for the pick-up of bulky items.

Carpet pad

For a fee, your regular garbage service company can arrange the pick-up of bulky items like carpet pads.

Cell phones

Cell phones do not go in the trash. Companies like Batteries Plus and Whole Foods have reuse drop-off locations for cell phones.

Ceramic tile

Tile can be dropped off at Metro Transfer Station and other dry waste facilities like Hillsboro Landfill.

Coated wire

Coated wire can be put in the trash roll cart for curbside pickup.

Roofing-composition

Roofing composition can be thrown away or taken to a dry waste facility.

Computer peripherals

Computer peripherals can be collected at a drop-off recycling event or taken to Value Village.

Computers and monitors

Oregon’s Ecycles partners accept working and non-working monitor units at no charge.

Concrete

Concrete can be dropped off at the Hillsboro landfill.

Creosote treated wood

Metro Central Transfer Station accepts household waste and treated wood from the public.

Dirt

All dirt can be thrown in the garbage roll cart or taken to the landfill.

Drywall

Drywall and its alternative formats are considered garbage and can be taken to the dry waste disposal facility nearest to you.

Electronics

City programs like Oregon E-Cycles Program Electronics allow you to dispose of your electronics at their partner locations.

Engineered wood

The best place to take your treated wood in Portland is the Metro Central Transfer Station.

Ferrous metals

Steel, aluminum, zinc, copper, iron, cast iron, and other ferrous metals can be put in the mixed recycling cart for curbside pickup.

Floppy disks

Old floppy disks should be thrown in the garbage, not the recycling container.

Glass-bottles and jars

Glass bottles and jars are eligible for curbside pickup as long as they are separated and without lids.

Hand tools

Hand tools should be taken to a reputable private recycler or picked up by a professional junk removal company.

Hardback books

Hardback books should be taken to Metro Central Station for proper disposal.

Tanks-heating oil

Tanks should be picked up by a professional junk removal company or taken to a reputable private recycler.

Printer ink cartridges

Printer ink cartridges are considered to be hazardous waste and should be disposed of safely at the Metro Central Hazardous waste facility.

Insulation

Insulation does not belong in the recycling container with recyclables. Insulation can be recycled at Habitat for Humanity Restore on 10445 SE Cherry Blossom Drive, in Portland, OR 97216.

Laser printer cartridges

All laser printer cartridges must be disposed of at the Metro Central Waste Facility on 6161 NW 61st Ave. in Portland, OR 97210.

Magazines

Magazines can be discarded curbside with your mixed recycling materials and shredded paper.

Microwave ovens

Action Junk Hauling can easily recycle your microwave oven or you can drop it off at an electronics recycling company.

Scrap paper

Scrap paper (excluding torn food containers) can be placed in your recycling container with junk mail and other recyclables.

Newspaper

Newspaper are recyclables can be placed in your blue cart with your junk mail and milk jugs. Contaminated newspapers must be collected separately.

Copier and computer paper

For large amounts of copier or computer paper, dropping them off at the Metro Central Transfer Station is your best option.

Packing peanuts

Packing peanuts are garbage and should not be kept in the same container as mixed paper. Packing peanuts and styrofoam should be thrown in the garbage.

Paint – architectural

When you are ready to discard your paint, take it to the Metro Hazardous Waste Facility or a local paint store like Sherwin Williams.

Paperback books

Similar to hardback books, paperback books are eligible for drop-of at the Metro Central Transfer Station 7 days a week.

Plastic bags

Some grocery stores will accept plastic bags in a plastic bag recycling drop-off bin. Check PlasticFilmRecycling.org for more details.

Plastic bottles and jars

Plastic bottles 6 ounces or larger are accepted in mixed recycling and picked up curbside.

Plastic buckets

Plastic buckets 5 gallons and smaller can be placed in your blue cart and recycled with plastic.

Plastic clamshells containers

Plastic clamshells are NOT included in mixed recycling programs, therefore, should be thrown in the garbage.

Plastic drums and barrels

Plastic drums and barrels should be clean and free of hazardous waste then dropped off at either Metro Central or Metro South Transfer station.

Plastic film

All plastic film is garbage and can be thrown away in your trash can.

Plastic tubs

Put tubs in your household cart or bin marked with a blue sticker or sign indicating that it is for Recycling.

Plate glass

Municipal facilities like Metro Central Transfer Station accept household waste and bulky waste materials such as plate glass from the public.

Foam food trays and containers

Always dispose of food trays and containers in your waste can. This excludes egg cartons and beverages bottles.

Porcelain fixtures

Always remove internal mechanisms before recycling your porcelain fixtures. Recycling facilities will crush porcelain and ceramic fixtures to use as fill.

Power tools

Power tools can be donated to Habitat for Humanity ReStore (Beaverton) or thrown in your garbage can.

Pressure treated wood

All pressure-treated wood goes to the dry waste facility or to a municipal disposal facility like Metro Central Transfer Station.

Rock

The best way to recycle rock is to take it to a local landfill such as Grimm’s Fuel Company at 18850 SW Cipole Rd in Tualatin OR.

Rubble

Rubble should be sorted and taken to a landfill like Farmington Landfill in Aloha OR.

Salvaged and used building material

Used building materials that are in good, reusable condition can be recycled at Habitat for Humanity in Beaverton or donated.

Sand

Most landfill companies like S&H Landscape Products & Supplies in Tualatin OR recycle sand for a fee.

Sawdust

If you need to get rid of some sawdust you can start with filling your trash can. Avoid missing with plastics.

Sod

Sod is accepted at Metro Central Transfer Station as well as your local Woodco landfill in Beaverton.

Drums

Pride Recycling depot in Sherwood accepts steel drums. Some recyclers cannot accept drums that previously contained hazardous waste.

String lights

Busted string lights can be put in the garbage or taken to a metal recycler.

Televisions

TVs are covered devices under the Oregon E-cycles program and can be taken to Cricket Wireless, Value Village and other E-Cycle destinations in Tigard OR.

Terra cotta

Clay items and terra cotta can be tossed in the garbage and placed at your curbside for pickup.

Tires

Automobile tires can be discarded at the Tulation Landfill or the Metro Transfer Station for a fee.

Tyvek

If you have Tyvek that needs to be tossed, you are allowed to do so in your household waste can.

UPS battery backup

Batteries are considered hazardous waste and should always be taken to the appropriate waste facility such as Batteries plus or Metro Hazardous Waste Facility.

Untreated wood

The Tualatin Valley Recovery Landfill accepts untreated wood and other dry bulky waste items.

Vehicles

Automobiles should be hauled by a professional junk hauling company or taken to C&M Recyclers.

Video and audio tapes

Video and audio tapes can be thrown away in your garbage according to the Oregon Department of waste and recycling.

Pallets

Take your pallets to the Metro Central Transfer Station or to the Pallet Doctor in Cornelious WA.

Yard debris

If you have a curbside yard debris service, put the organic material in your yard waste cart.

We Can Pick Up & Recycle Your Junk

Do you want to contribute to environmental quality in Portland Oregon? If so, call us today. We know how to efficiently remove buckets, motor oil pesticides, plastics, compost, cardboard, and all other junk. Our junk hauling company practices sustainable and responsible disposal methods.

Customers call us in Hillsboro, Beaverton, Portland, and beyond because we are affordable, convenient and we always show up on time. Plus we are open 7 days a week.