All items should be empty and dry before going into your recycling bin. Items should be placed loose in the bin; do not bag them.
Paper
Allowed paper items
- Cardboard boxes, cereal boxes, cardboard egg cartons.
- Newspapers, magazines, catalogs, phone books, and junk mail.
- Cartons (milk, juice, soup; empty and dry).
- Shredded paper must be sealed in a paper bag, do not put in your bin loose. (Businesses with larger quantities: Ask your garbage company.)
Have extra cardboard? Fit as much into your bin as possible by flattening and cutting into smaller pieces. When your bin is full, flatten extra cardboard, tape together in one bundle, and lean next to your blue recycling bin. Bundles should be no larger than 3 feet in any direction.
What’s NOT allowed
- NO coffee cups, take-out food containers, paper plates, pizza boxes, or frozen food boxes.
- NO wax-coated cardboard or paper coated with food, wax, foil or plastic.
- NO paper towels, napkins, facial tissue.
Plastic
When sorting your plastics, ignore the recycle symbol and number: Plastics recycling in Portland is based on the size and shape of the item. Please rinse containers. They do not need to be perfectly clean, but should be free of food residue and dry before they go in your bin.
Allowed plastic items
- Plastic bottles* and jars (6 ounces or larger).
- Plastic jugs (milk, juice, etc.).
- Round plastic food containers (6 ounces or larger) buckets (5 gallons or smaller).
- Plant pots (4-inch diameter or larger).
*Deposit cans and bottles can be recycled in your bin or, to collect deposit funds, take them to a BottleDrop Center or participating grocery store.
What’s NOT allowed
Any plastic that is not shaped like a bottle, round tub, bucket, or jug is not allowed in Portland's recycling. This means:
- NO plastic bags or plastic film of any type: pallet wrap, bubble wrap, stretch wrap.
- NO plastic caps and lids.
- NO plastic 6 pack can holders (all types, including rigid plastic)
- NO plastic take-out food containers and disposable plates, cups and cutlery.
- NO prescription medicine bottles and other plastic containers under 6 oz.
- NO disposable plastic or latex gloves.
- NO bottles that have come in contact with motor oil, pesticides or herbicides, or other hazardous materials.
Metal
Allowed metal items
- Aluminum, tin, and steel food cans.
- Beverage cans.*
- Empty aerosol cans.
- Empty and dry metal paint cans.
- Aluminum foil (clean and dry).
- Scrap metal (smaller than 30 inches and less than 30 pounds).
- To recycle small metal pieces (under 2 inches), like metal lids, screws and nails, collect inside a soup can, crimp tightly closed, then put into mixed recycling.
*Deposit cans and bottles can be recycled in your bin or, to collect deposit funds, take them to a BottleDrop Center or participating grocery store.
What’s NOT allowed
Aerosol cans that still contain liquids should be emptied (if non-toxic, like cooking spray) or disposed of at a hazardous waste facility (if toxic, like chemicals or paint). Not sure if it’s toxic? Call 503-234-3000.
Glass
Glass should always be collected separately from other recycling. If glass ends up with other recyclables, it can cause harm to the staff and machinery at local recycling facilities.
Allowed glass items
- All glass food and beverage bottles* and jars.
- All colors of glass (it's OK to leave labels on).
*Deposit glass bottles can be recycled in your glass-only bin or, to collect deposit funds, take them to a BottleDrop Center or participating grocery store.
What’s NOT allowed
- NO drinking glasses, dishware or drinkware of any kind.
- NO ceramics or flower vases.
- NO light bulbs.
- NO lids or bottle caps.
Not sure if something is recyclable?
Look it up or call 503-234-3000: They’ll tell you if it goes in your garbage or recycling bin, or where you can drop it off for recycling, donation, or safe disposal.
Or view more items at RecycleOrNot.org or @recycleornot on Instagram. (Visite ReciclarONo.org o @reciclarono en Instagram.)