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Changes to credit and debit card processing fees

Starting June 3, 2025, customers who use a credit or debit card to pay their sewer, stormwater, and water bill will pay a 2.95% processing fee. To avoid this fee, customers can make an electronic payment directly from their bank account. Learn more.

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Portland is a Sanctuary City

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Garbage, Recycling, and Compost

Program
Community and Economic Development
Learn what goes in each bin, how to sign up for garbage service, and how to look up your garbage company. Request assistance and order free recycling signs and labels. Find out how to get rid of stuff that doesn't fit in your bins and how to report trash in public areas.
Three icons are show side-by-side: A blue recycling icon, a green apple core, and a black trash can.

Featured content

A large blue recycling symbol (arrows chasing each other in a triangular shape) next to a blue recycling cart and a yellow glass recycling bin

Recycling – what goes in the bin

A green circle with a white apple core icon inside is shown next to a green compost cart.

Compost – what goes in the bin

A dark gray circle with a white trash can icon within in is shown next to a dark gray garbage cart.

Garbage – what goes in the bin

A green compost bin, black garbage bin, blue recycling bin, and yellow glass bin lined up on a residential street, with gardens and homes in the background.

Recycling at home

A mother and son put cardboard and other recyclables into a blue recycling cart. Nearby is an orange container labeled glass recycling and an gray dumpster labeled garbage. In the background is a covered parking area and two story apartment buildings.

Recycling at apartments & multifamily

A woman in an office puts cardboard into a recycling bin. A restaurant staff member puts a bag of food scraps into a compost bin.

Recycling at businesses

Two children in a classroom stand near one another and work on a project together.

School Recycling & Waste Reduction Resources

A 1-quart clear ziplock bag filled with batteries is shown with an arrow pointing to set it on top of a glass recycling bin filled with glass.

Battery recycling

Compost truck tipping green roll cart into collection area

Who picks up my garbage?

A phone icon, a question mark icon, and an email icon.

Ask a garbage and recycling question

How to set up garbage service

Community cleanup resources

About garbage and recycling in Portland

Contact

Garbage and Recycling Hotline

wasteinfo@portlandoregon.gov
phone number503-823-7202

Related offices, programs, and projects

View of downtown cross walk showing public trash cans on either side of the street. Trash cans are black with art on the side showing big foot on one and a hamburger on another.

Public Trash Cans

Three photos show a child hugging a used book, a sign that reads Tool Library Open, and a smiling woman uses a sewing machine to mend a turquoise shirt.

Resourceful PDX

Aerial view of grocery store shelves filled with prepackaged goods

Sustainable Consumption and Production

Deconstruction workers climbing on top of a roof sheathing

Deconstruction

Equity in Garbage, Recycling, and Compost

News

20 Tons of Batteries Recycled in First Year of Portland’s Curbside Program

In the city’s first year of curbside battery collection, Portlanders safely taped, bagged, and set out more than 20 tons of batteries in their glass recycling bins. That means fewer fires, safer workers, and a cleaner environment for everyone.

Blog post

Residential waste bins at the curb.

Why "tanglers" should never go in your recycling bin

Plastic bags, rope, cords and clothing all wreak havoc at the recycling facility.

Blog post

Keep it fresh with these food storage tips

Learn how to keep food from going bad by making the most of your freezer and understanding where in your fridge and cupboard food will last the longest.

Blog post

More news

Past Meetings and Hearings

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