Garbage and Recycling

Oregon’s Opportunity to Recycle Act requires property managers of multifamily communities with 5+ units to:

• provide residents with access to recycling (mixed and glass) and
• educate residents at move-in and at least annually, thereafter.

We can help by offering recycling resources and services to meet the unique needs of your community.

Request Outreach Materials and Assistance

We offer free recycling resources and services to meet the unique needs of multifamily communities. This includes:

• recycling guides for new resident move-in packets — available in seven languages,
• easy-to-read recycling stickers for bins and signs for enclosures,
• presentations, trainings, and events for residents of multifamily communities,
• and more!

Multifamily Garbage & Recycling Improvements

Regionally, we recognize that multifamily communities face challenges with garbage and recycling that single-family homes don’t. Together, we are trying to help with a number of improvements outlined in the 2030 Regional Waste Plan:

• Minimum Service
  All garbage and recycling will be collected at least weekly. Multifamily property managers/owners will still need to provide “adequate” service, and new per unit minimum (and recommended) volumes will help right-size service
  Multifamily Service Calculator
• Regional Signage
  Shared multifamily bins in the tri-county area will have consistent, image-based garbage and recycling signage.
• Bulky Waste Collection
  Multifamily communities will have “regularly-occurring bulky waste collection.” (Research, reports*, and engagement of interested parties are helping to inform this service.)
• Color Standards
  By July 1, 2028, shared multifamily garbage and recycling bins throughout the tri-county area will be consistently colored: garbage will be gray/black, recycling blue, glass orange, and yard debris/food waste (when available) green.

For additional details, view our Multifamily Regional Service Standard Improvements Summary Flyer. 

*View recent multifamily bulky waste reports: 2022-23 ClackCo Multifamily Bulky Waste Project  | 2021 ClackCo Multifamily Bulky Waste Pilot

Stay Connected

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Recent Editions

• Winter/Spring 2025
• Fall/Winter 2024
• Summer/Fall 2024
• Spring/Summer 2024

Tips for Success

Download our waste reduction and recycling rating tool to help identify opportunities for improvement in your community.

Calculate your score

Having a successful garbage and recycling system in your community benefits everyone: property managers, residents, maintenance staff and the collector. It can also help keep your costs manageable and predictable. Below are a few things you can do to get your community off on the right foot (don’t hesitate to contact us for help):

• Ensure garbage, recycling and glass are available on-site (studies show for best results, place all three containers together).
• “Right-size your service” — make sure you have enough container space (no overflow), but not too much (consistently empty space adds to your costs).
• Encourage residents to recycle correctly by providing educational materials.
• Don’t let overflow or bulky waste accumulate — it only encourages more! Contact your garbage and recycling company for pick-up.
• Reuse is a great alternative to waste — plan an annual or ongoing swap event for residents to exchange unwanted items (large or small) or encourage the use of online platforms like Facebook Marketplace, BuyNothing, etc.

Bulky waste

To effectively manage bulky waste (large, unwanted items, like sofas and TVs), have a plan:

• Request a customized Bulky Waste Flyer to give to residents at move-out for donation and disposal options.
• Designate a place for residents to place their bulky items that does not cause safety concerns or block access to garbage and recycling.
• Develop a cost-sharing plan for residents and property managers to split the cost of disposal of large, unwanted items.
• Contact us! We can help you troubleshoot. 

Dispose of Waste

• Illegal dumping and theft of service can be costly for a property owner. Contact your garbage & recycling company for pick-up. To help deter illegal dumping at your community:
  • Post Signs — Citing ORS may help
    • Theft of Service (ORS 164.125): using garbage and recycling containers or service without explicit permission
    • Illegal Dumping or Offensive Littering (ORS 164.805): discarding of trash or other debris, without permission, on public or private property
• Send Letters — If you find mail with an address, send a letter stating that it is illegal for non-residents to use the bins
• E-cycles (desktop computers, laptops, monitors, TVs and printers)
• Fluorescent lamp recycling
• Hazardous waste
• Donate usable building materials, appliances and fixtures
• Search Metro’s Find A Recycler website for Disposal and Donation options
• Shopping Cart Return: Not all stores participate in these collection services, so you may need to contact the store directly
  • Regionally: Northwest Grocery Association Cart Retrieval Service at 503-899-2475
  • In Oregon City
  • In Milwaukie

Opportunities for Multifamily Communities

• Incentives offered through Energy Trust of Oregon for energy-saving retrofits such as window replacements, insulation, sealing gaps and cracks, and heating and cooling systems.
• Purchase discounted paint through MetroPaint.
• Become a Leader in Sustainability and join the network of other sustainable businesses in Clackamas County.

Hazardous waste can pose a health and safety risk to you, workers, and the environment. These items should be properly disposed of at a household hazardous waste facility:

• Aerosol spray products
• Art and hobby chemicals
• Automotive fluids
• Batteries
• Fire extinguishers
• Household cleaners and disinfectants
• Mercury-container products (fluorescent light bulbs and tubes, thermometers, thermostats)
• Paints, stains, solvents and thinners
• Pesticides and poisons
• Pool and spa chemicals
• Propane tanks
• Sharps (medical syringes, lancets, etc.)
• Unwanted or expired medicines and drugs
• Full list of Household Hazardous Waste

Find a Disposal Location

View our Garbage and Recycling Transfer Stations and Depots page to find disposal locations throughout the county for common household hazardous waste, including the Metro South Household Hazardous Waste Facility.

Unsure where to properly dispose of an item? Use the Metro Find a Recycler tool or call 503-234-3000.

Trash, old appliances, mattresses, tires, furniture, oil, antifreeze and pesticides are a few of the things dumped on public lands, sidewalks, alleyways and waterways, putting human health and wildlife at risk. If you see people actively dumping items, do not confront them. Note the vehicle’s license plate number, make and model, items dumped and location. You can report this information to your local law enforcement.

Cleanup on Public Property

On public roadways within Clackamas County

• Clackamas County Road Concerns (phone or online form)

On public land within the Metro Urban Growth Boundary

• Metro Regional Illegal Dumping Patrol (RID Patrol)

On forest lands

• Clackamas County forest lands
  • ClackCo Forestry Department     
    503-742-4414
• State owned land
  • Oregon Department of Forestry
    503-945-7200
• Federally owned land
  • US Forest Service – Clackamas River Ranger District 
    503-622-2009
  • Bureau of Land Management – Northwest Oregon District
    503-375-5646

Cleanup on Private Property

Clean up of illegal dumps on private property is the responsibility of the property owner. Concerns about the collection of waste on a neighbor’s property can be reported to code enforcement.

Within unincorporated County

• Clackamas County Code Enforcement

Within city limits

• Contact your city’s code enforcement

The Sustainability & Solid Waste program sets the rates and service standards for franchised garbage and recycling companies within unincorporated Clackamas County, and for the cities* of Happy Valley and Barlow. Our goal is to ensure that solid waste collection services are provided to residents and businesses safely, cost-effectively and efficiently, and in a way that supports the benefits of recovering materials from the system.

*If you live in a different city, please contact the city for your garbage and recycling rates. 

Garbage Cart Sizes

The size of your garbage cart and frequency of collection will impact your monthly bill. 

Codes, Administrative Regulations, & Policies

Codes

Clackamas County code related to Solid Waste and Waste Management: 

• Clackamas County Code
  • Chapter 10.03 Solid Waste and Waste Management.
  • Chapter 10.04 Recycling License

Administrative Regulations

Standards set by Clackamas County for garbage, recycling and yard debris service.

• Administrative Regulations

Inclement Weather Policy

From the Franchisee General Responsibilities section of the Administrative Regulations for Clackamas County Solid Waste and Recycling Collection Services for Franchisee and Customer.

Franchisees may postpone collection when weather conditions make driving hazardous. In situations where garbage, recycling, and yard debris collections are all postponed to subsequent week(s), franchisees will give priority to the collection of garbage. 

• Garbage 
  The franchisee will pick up postponed collections of garbage as weather and road conditions permit. If collection must be postponed to a subsequent week(s), the cumulative amount of the current subscribed service level will be collected.
• Recycling 
  Collection will be postponed to a subsequent week(s) as weather and road conditions permit. Resumption of recycling collection may be postponed past the following week if there have been several days of inclement weather and the franchisee is using available staff and trucks to catch up on garbage collections.
• Yard Debris 
  Collection will be postponed to a subsequent week(s) as weather and road conditions permit. Resumption of yard debris collection may be postponed past the following week if there have been several days of inclement weather and the franchisee is using available staff and trucks to catch up on garbage and recycling collections. When collection resumes the cumulative amount of the current subscribed service level will be collected.
• Notification of Postponed Collection 
  The franchisee will notify Clackamas County by 10 a.m. by telephone or e-mail on the days that collection will be postponed. The franchisee will update their voicemail and web site at least daily, notifying customers of postponed collections.
• Billing 
  Postponed collections are not considered missed collections because the service is rendered in due course. Credits are not available for postponed collections due to inclement weather.

Whether you are at home, work, or school, the materials you can recycle are the same. All items should be empty and dry before going into your recycling bin.

Printable Recycle Guides

Businesses: Print or request workplace recycling tools

Still Have Questions?

Find a Recycler: Look up easy options to recycle, donate or reuse anything from batteries and packing peanuts to that old dishwasher.

Metro Recycling Information Center: Call for your garbage and recycling questions at 503-234-3000.

Instagram: You can also direct message pictures of questionable items to @recycleornot on Instagram.

Play the game: Test your recycling knowledge with this interactive game.

Contact your garbage and recycling company to:

• Start or stop service
• Request an additional service or make changes to existing service
• Report a missed pickup or collection issue
• Update your contact information
• Ask billing or collection service questions

Are you unsure which garbage and recycling company services your address?

Company Websites and Phone Numbers

Free Tools and Resources

Receive internal recycling boxes, posters and decals to make it easy to recycle.

Request assistance and supplies

We know businesses are busy, and it can be confusing to find the programs that will help your business. Our advisors are a one-stop resource that help you get what you need to make your business more sustainable.

• Available to all. Our services are provided at no cost to any Clackamas County business. We have advisors that speak English and Spanish, and can provide support through translation services in other languages. 
• Personalized consultations. Identify sustainability solutions that make sense for your workplace. 
• Recommendations and referrals. Take the guesswork out of operating more sustainably. We can connect you to other environmental programs.
• Ongoing support. Running a sustainable business is not a one-and-done thing. It takes continuous improvement. We’re here to support you along your journey. 
• Connect and learn. Gain insight from others that value sustainable business practices.