Recycling Signs for Apartments & Multifamily

Information
Recycling, garbage, and compost signs for multifamily properties, including apartments, condos, townhomes, and any residential community with five or more units.
On this page

Note: Businesses and residential homes have different guides.

Property managers: The City provides free signs, posters, welcome guides and other resources for properties located in Portland.

Order free signs & guides

Signs

Hang these weatherproof, durable plastic signs above waste collection containers (roll carts, dumpsters). All signs are 24x18" except glass recycling which is 18x12".

Three horizontal signs showing what items can go in recycling (blue), glass recycling (orange), and garbage (black).

Order signs

Posters

Hang these paper posters on the wall above waste bins inside, near mailboxes and in laundry rooms and other waste collection areas. Posters are 11x17".

Three vertical posters show what items are allowed in recycling (blue), glass (orange), and garbage (black).

Download poster PDFs to print:

Order printed posters

Resident brochure

Include this Garbage and Recycling Guide brochure in move-in packets, share near the waste or mail area, and encourage residents to post on their fridge as a reminder.

Brochure preview showing inside panels of what items can go in recycling (blue), glass recycling (orange), and garbage (black), plus what to do with items that cannot go in any of those waste bins.

Brochures are available in Spanish, Vietnamese, Simplified Chinese, and Russian.

Download brochures

Order printed brochures

Doorhanger

Hang this card on residents' door handles as a reminder of what can and can't go in the recycling bin. English on one side, Spanish on the other.

A paper doorhanger is shown with images of what can go into recycling, glass, and garbage. One side is in English and the other side is in Spanish. A photo is shown with the doorhanger hanging from an apartment door handle.

Order doorhangers 

Compost and yard waste signs

Composting at multifamily properties is not required by the City. Before starting to compost at your multifamily property, determine if you’re set up for success or whether it’s best to hold off.

If you have yard waste service, we also have yard waste signs. If you have yard waste and want to compost food as well, talk to your garbage company; you may be able to collect them together or may need to keep them separate. 

A green sign with an apple core showing the items that are allowed in compost. Three narrow green rectangular stickers saying Food Only, Food and Yard Waste, and Yard Waste.

Available signs include:

  • Durable outdoor sign (24x18")
  • Poster for indoor areas (11x17")
  • Stickers for labeling containers (8x8" and 11x3.5")

Contact us to request compost signs for multifamily properties.

Digital education for residents

Use the following cut-and-paste information and images in emails, newsletters, and community websites to help people understand how to recycle.

Copy and paste the following text and images into emails or newsletters:

Message 1: What goes in the bin? 

Text: Find the answers to your recycling questions at Portland.gov/recycling.

Image: Choose from horizontal or square images below. 

Blue recycling bin shown with lid open and text the reads: What goes in the bin? Get the guide: portland.gov/recycling
Right-click to save the image to your computer. On mobile, hold your finger on the image until a "save to photos" option pops up.
Blue recycling bin shown with lid open and text the reads: What goes in the bin? Get the guide: portland.gov/recycling
Right-click to save the image to your computer. On mobile, hold your finger on the image until a "save to photos" option pops up.

Message 2: Recycle or Not?

Text (English): Play the Recycle or Not game at RecycleOrNot.org to test your skills. (Hint: Swipe left on to-go containers – they belong in the garbage.) Scroll through confusing items and send a photo of your own to get answers at @RecycleOrNot on Instagram. 

Text (Spanish): Juegue el juego en ReciclarONo.org. Visite RecilarONo.org o envíe una foto del artículo e que ested quiere reciclar a @ReciclarONo.org en Instagram.

Image: Choose from horizontal or square images below. 

Image of clear plastic take-out food container and plastic fork, with the words “trash” on the left and “recycle” on the right. Text reads recycleornot.org. Logo of Oregon Metro.
Right-click to save the image to your computer. On mobile, hold your finger on the image until a "save to photos" option pops up.
Image of clear plastic take-out food container and plastic fork, with the words “trash” on the left and “recycle” on the right. Text reads recycleornot.org. Logo of Oregon Metro.
Right-click to save the image to your computer. On mobile, hold your finger on the image until a "save to photos" option pops up.

Contact

Multifamily Recycling Program

multifamily@portlandoregon.gov
phone number503-823-7202

Related

Order free garbage, recycling or compost signs for your tenants
Business recycling and compost posters

See something we could improve on this page? Give website feedback.