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Learn what to do if you accidentally dropped a phone, wallet, keys, or another valuable item into a City of Portland public trash can. Find out how to request assistance recovering your lost item and improve the chances of getting your belongings back.
We understand how stressful it can be to lose something important. We can't guarantee we'll be able to recover your dropped item, but we're happy to assist in any way we can.
Please do not force the door open or break the lock. Damaging public trash cans increases maintenance costs, which are paid for by everyone with a garbage and recycling bill in Portland.
Before you contact us
Double-check it's not hiding somewhere else
Please be sure you've looked for your lost item everywhere else first. Many times, people discover their item wasn't in the trash can after all.
It's never fun to dig through a bin of other people's trash—especially if your phone/key/wallet turns out to have been buried in your bag the whole time. To save you time and hassle, we strongly encourage you to double-check everywhere else your item could be first:
- Pockets of jackets or pants
- All the pockets of backpacks, tote bags, gym bags
- Car seats, center console, under a seat, or trunk
- The store, office, or restaurant you recently left
How to contact us
Our staff are available Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., excluding holidays.
- Email (fastest): bpstrashcans@portlandoregon.gov
- Phone: 503-823-7202
If you reach voicemail, we check messages regularly during business hours.
Do not call 911: They will not be able to help you. If you call 311, they will send you to us, so it's faster to contact us directly.
Information you'll need to provide
To help us respond quickly, please include:
- Location of the trash can (cross streets and which corner it's on).
- Can ID number (look for the silver tag near the top of the can).
- Date and approximate time your item fell into the bin.
- What item was dropped (phone, keys, wallet, etc.)
- A good phone number* and email where we can reach you.
*Lost your phone? Please provide an email and a phone number you can check often, or ask a family member or friend who can keep an eye on their phone for you.
When you can expect a call back
Our staff are available Monday through Friday during business hours.
We do our best to respond within 1–2 hours during business hours. If staff are very busy, it may take until the end of the next business day. Thank you for your patience while we work to assist you.
Please keep a close eye on your phone and email. Our availability to meet may be limited, so it's important that you pick up or respond right away. That will help us quickly confirm a time to meet you at the can.
When we can meet you at the trash can
We will try to meet you the same day.
If your request comes late in the afternoon, we may need to meet the following business day. If we can't meet you until the next day, we will ask the garbage company not to empty the bin that night.
When trash cans get emptied
Downtown Portland public trash cans are emptied nightly, typically between midnight and 8 a.m.
Other trash cans around the city are emptied between two and four times a week, between midnight and 8 a.m.
If you drop something in a can after 5 p.m. or on a weekend, especially in downtown Portland, we may not be able to help you retrieve it before the can is emptied.
If you drop your keys in a can after 5 p.m. or on a weekend, you could purchase and use a telescoping magnetic pickup tool or a flexible magnetic claw grabber to try to retrieve them.