Information
Learn about Portland's garbage and recycling system, including its history, key policies, and what happens to your recycling and compost after it leaves your home or business.
What happens to your recycling
Ever wondered what happens to your recyclables after they're picked up from your home or workplace? Follow their path from your blue bin to becoming new products.
What happens to your food and yard waste
Did you know that Portland's home and business compost programs are different? The yard waste and food scraps residents put in their green bins become nutrient-rich compost. The food scraps businesses put in their green bins are converted into energy that powers buildings and fuels vehicles.
Learn where food & yard waste go
The history of Portland's garbage and recycling system
Learn about key policies, programs, and plans that shaped how the City of Portland manages and reduces waste, from the 1950s to the present.