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Learn about:
Recycling requirement
Businesses in Portland are required to recycle paper, metal cans, plastic bottles, and glass bottles and jars. Learn more.
Food scraps requirement
Some food businesses in Portland will be required to compost their food scraps starting in 2023. Learn more.
Bag ban and fees
Plastic single-use checkout bags cannot be provided by retailers, grocery stores, or restaurants. Paper checkout bags may be provided by retailers and grocery for a 5-cent (or more) fee per bag. Learn more.
Single-use plastics
Businesses in Portland cannot automatically include plastic straws, stirrers, utensils, or individually packaged condiments in a customer’s order for dine-in, drive-through, take-out, or delivery. These items can only be provided upon customer request. Learn more.
Polystyrene foam container ban
Restaurants, grocery stores, and nonprofit food servers in Portland are prohibited from serving or packaging food and beverage in products made of polystyrene foam, often called Styrofoam. Learn more.
Containers in the right of way
Garbage, recycling, and compost containers cannot be stored on public sidewalks or streets. Learn more.
How to report an out-of-compliance business
Fill out this short form or contact the City's Garbage and Recycling staff to let us know about a business that is not complying with one or more of these requirements.
We will contact the business to help them understand the rule(s) and give them up to 30 days to come into compliance before charging fines.
Report an out-of-compliance business
Learn more
Find more detailed information about these rules and others in the City's Commercial Collection Customers: Solid Waste, Recyclables and Compostables Administrative Rules. Contact us with questions.