Recycling Requirements for Apartments & Multifamily

Information
A row of 4 blue recycling roll carts lined up against a white concrete wall inside a building.
Owners and managers of multifamily properties – including apartments, condos, townhomes, and any residential community with five or more units – are required to provide and pay for adequate garbage and recycling service.
On this page

Do you live in an apartment or multifamily community? Check out the what's recyclable page.

Property manager checklist

1. Provide adequate service. You must provide recycling (paper, plastic and metal), glass recycling, and garbage. Compost is optional. Contact your garbage company to determine the right container size and pickup schedule so containers do not overflow.

2. Label all containers and waste areas with up-to-date, City-provided signs and stickers that clearly identify the items that can, and cannot, go in each bin. The most recent signs were created in 2021: If you have older signs, contact your garbage company or the City to get updated labels.

3. Inform new residents. You are responsible for providing new residents with information on how to recycle within 30 days of move-in. We recommend giving printed copies of our Recycling Guide brochure to residents and encouraging them to post the guide on their fridge.

4. Educate residents every year. You’re required to remind residents how to recycle at least once a year.

Educate residents

In addition to giving all new residents a Recycling Guide brochure at move-in, it's helpful to provide regular reminders throughout the year. 

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.

Get free support

We can help you prevent mistakes with waste before they happen at your multifamily property. Contact us for assistance, questions, or help solving problems.

Contact

Multifamily Recycling Program

multifamily@portlandoregon.gov
phone number503-823-7202

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