Portland

Recycling Guidelines

Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.

Separate Glass – Plastic, paper, metal accepted together, but glass must be separated 

PLASTIC

Look for plastic items labeled #1 - #5.

  • Bath bottles- shampoo, conditioner, mouthwash, lotion, etc.
  • Bottles & jugs- beverage, food, etc.
  • Buckets
  • House bottles & jugs- cleaning supplies, detergent, etc.
  • Plant pots
  • Tubs- yogurt, margarine, etc.
  • Remove lids and caps from plastic containers

Remove lids and caps from plastic containers

Plastic, single-serve to-go containers with no food residue

METAL

Look for tin, aluminum and other metal items

  • Aerosol cans
  • Aluminum cans- beverage, food, etc.
  • Aluminum foil
  • Tin and steel food cans
  • Metal paint cans
  • Scrap metal

Tin, aluminum, steel, and empty aerosol cans

PAPER

Look for Paper items

  • Brown paper bags
  • Cardboard & chipboard- flattened moving boxes, dry food boxes, tissue boxes, shoe boxes, toilet paper rolls, etc.
  • Cartons- beverage, food, etc.
  • Mixed paper- computer paper, office paper, unwanted mail, flyers, notecards, newspaper, magazines, folders, etc.

Paper can be recycled up to seven times, depending on the quality

Cardboard tubes from wrapping or toilet paper rolls

GLASS

Look for glass food jars and drink bottles

  • Bottles- beverage, food, etc.
  • Jars- beverage, food, etc.
Bottles and jars (remove lids or caps)
Clean and dry your glass bottles

Separate Glass – Plastic, paper, metal accepted together, but glass must be separated 

Doorstep Recycling Collection
Place acceptable recyclables in a securely tied, see-thru bag, separate from your trash and place in your bin, outside your front door with your scheduled trash collection.

When in Doubt – Toss it Out
Please do not place any unacceptable items in communal recycling containers or in your household recycling bags. Remember, if recycling contains “contaminants” (non-recyclable items or containers not properly cleaned), the whole batch may be rejected and sent to a land fill. When in doubt – best to toss it out!

What can NOT be recycled

  • Plastic bags
  • Plastic lids
  • Diapers
  • Freezer boxes
  • Coffee cups
  • Pesticide or herbicide bottles
  • Propane cylinders
  • Household garbage
  • Light bulbs
  • Drinking glasses
  • Flower vases
  • Ceramics
  • Broken glass
  • Windows
  • Mirrors

Recycle Collection Tips

  • Separate recyclable materials from mixed waste and set out these materials for recycling collection
  • Place Shredded paper in a clear plastic bag
  • Scrap metal should be smaller than 30 inches and weigh less than 30 pounds
  • Separate glass from other recyclables

Multifamily-specific highlights. Check with your municipality for the latest guidelines.

  • The single-use plastic bag is banned
  • Polystyrene foam containers are banned
  • All Portland businesses are required to recycle paper, plastic bottles, metal cans, and glass bottles and jars
  • Containers are not allowed to be stored on the sidewalk or streets
  • Communities will be required to provide enough space for onsite collection and storage of garbage and recycling
  • Communities must provide a recycling system that is convenient to tenants for all materials that can be recycled in Portland
  • They have two sorting systems, where glass is collected in one container, and all other recyclables are collected in another container
  • All communities shall make all reasonable efforts to ensure the provision of central collection containers for a two-sort system
  • It is not feasible to provide a central collection system for recyclable materials at any multifamily communities
  • The community owner must provide at least two bins to each unit; they must label each bin to identify the unit it belongs to and must ensure the bins are replaced if lost or damaged
  • Please refer to the minimum storage table below

Multifamily Recycle Collection Tips 

  • Must separate all paper and containers from mixed waste and set out for recycling collection
  • All residents in buildings where garbage collection is provided as part of the rental or lease agreement shall use the collection system for recyclables and compostable made available by the community owner or manager
  • Communities that separate glass for recycling collection must keep it separate from all recyclable paper
  • All communities shall recycle all paper and containers
  • Residents shall separate all food scraps from mixed waste and set out for collection
  • Correctly label all interior and all exterior recycling and composting containers and provide accurate signs and instructions that identify the materials that the community must recycle

Learn more about recycling in your city.

For more information, please contact:

Portland’s Garbage and Recycling Hotline 503-823-7202 [email protected]

This information is not your official community or municipality guidelines. Recycling mandates may change based on the local processing capabilities and shifting markets. Contact your leasing office or local recycling agency to learn more or use the links under the “Recycling Resources"