Services, Fees and Policies

The Sustainability & Solid Waste program sets the fees and service standards for franchised garbage and recycling companies within unincorporated Clackamas County, and for the cities* of Happy Valley and Barlow. Our goal is to ensure that solid waste collection services are provided to residents and businesses safely, cost-effectively and efficiently, and in a way that supports the benefits of recovering materials from the system.

*If you live in a different city, please contact the city for your garbage and recycling fees. 

Clackamas County’s annual garbage and recycling fee review is happening now. Learn more.

Garbage Cart Sizes

The size of your garbage cart and frequency of collection will impact your monthly bill. 

Services and Fees

How fees are set

Every year, Clackamas County reviews the production records of the seven parent companies that hold collection franchises. The review is used to establish the fees charged for the variety of services the county requires its franchised collectors to offer, and to ensure a fair return to the collectors. Adjustments are made each year, as necessary, to keep fees and real costs aligned and to prevent large and unexpected fee increases. Staff presents the results of the review to the Solid Waste Commission (SWC) for consideration and then presents the results and SWC’s recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) for a final decision.

Find your fee for collection services

1.  Identify your Fee Zone:
   • Step 1: Enter your address into Clackamas Maps.
   • Step 2: On the right-hand side, click “Utilities & Districts”
   • Step 3: Your Fee Zone will be listed underneath Sanitary Hauler (If a Fee Zone is not listed, that means you are in the jurisdiction of a city that sets its own fees; please check with your city for their fee schedule).
2. Go to your Fee Zone page to determine your services and fees.
   Urban Fee Zone  Rural Fee Zone  Distant Rural Fee Zone Mountain Fee Zone

Take a moment to review the recycle guide for a reminder on which items go in which bin.

Miscellaneous Services

Bulky Waste – appliances, furniture, etc.

Minimum $5 fee (maximum $40), plus fee based on weight and special handling needs. If not easily accessible, hourly fee also applies. Contact your garbage and recycling company to arrange for pick up and fees. 

A $30.00 coolant removal fee applies to items with refrigerant, (refrigerators, air conditioners, etc.) even if refrigerant is removed.

Clean Up Containers & Dumpsters

Available for clean outs and construction debris. Rates will include container fee (based on size), rental fee, delivery fee, mileage fee, and handling fee. 

Each collection charged at 33% of regular container fee (see commercial containers). Container rent is charged when container is kept longer than 5 working days with no collection.1

• Handling fee: $20 (only charged for first collection)
• < 3 cubic yard: $2.10 rent per day
• 3 cubic yards: $3.10rent per day
• 4 cubic yards: $4.10 rent per day
• For larger containers: see Drop Box.

Contact your garbage and recycling company to right-size the container to the project, arrange for drop off, and determine fees and restrictions specific to your project.

Waste from construction, demolition, and remodeling projects may require asbestos testing and paperwork for disposal.

Tire Handling Fee

Charged in addition to disposal fees.

• On rim: $5.50
• Off rim: $2.00

Occasional Extra Garbage Bag

35 gallon maximum

• Light: $3.00, does not require extra trip
• Heavy: $5.05, curbside/roadside and requires extra trip 
• At House: $5.85, picked up at house (50 ft max from curb/road)

Hourly handling fee

Charged in addition to disposal fees

• 1 truck, 1 person: $73.00 per hour
• 1 truck, 2 people: $105.00 per hour

Other Fees

• Gate fee: $4.00 
• Reinstatement fee: $5.00
  When service is reinstated after it has been stopped for non-payment or if customer stops and starts service more than once in a calendar year. 
• Cart redelivery: $10.00
  If cart picked up then service restarted within 12 months.

1 Rent shall not exceed $20.00 per container in a 30 day period.

Distance Fees

Distance fees apply when service is not curbside or roadside as defined. Distances over 50 feet are considered drive-in only. Fees for distances over 50 feet also apply to non-urban containers served off public roads.

Miscellaneous Container Fees

• Overweight charges will be applied to containers weighing over 275 pounds per cubic yard. The fee must be mutually agreeable to the customer and collector. The County will act as an arbitrator in the event of a dispute.
• Containers that have been compacted are charged 2.2 times the regular container fee for the zone.
• Overweight compacted containers weighing over 500 pounds per cubic yard will be charged
  this fee plus disposal for the excess weight.
• Container cleaning fee will be charged for containers needing cleaning more than 2 times in a 12 month period. The fee is the actual cost of cleaning.
• Mileage fee applies to Distant Rural and Mountain Fee Zones when containers are located over 26 miles round trip from a disposal site if there are less than seven (7) containers picked up per collection route.

Commercial Medical Sharps & Infectious Waste

If you are a business with medical sharps or infectious waste, your garbage and recycling company has subcontracted with a medical waste company to provide you with safe handling and disposal. 

• Waste Management – Trilogy Medwaste
• All other garbage and recycling companies – Stericycle

See Infectious Waste Rates

Codes, Administrative Regulations, & Policies

Codes

Clackamas County code related to Solid Waste and Waste Management: 

• Clackamas County Code
  • Chapter 10.03 Solid Waste and Waste Management.
  • Chapter 10.04 Recycling License

Administrative Regulations

Standards set by Clackamas County for garbage, recycling and yard debris service.

• Administrative Regulations

Inclement Weather Policy

From the Franchisee General Responsibilities section of the Administrative Regulations for Clackamas County Solid Waste and Recycling Collection Services for Franchisee and Customer.

Franchisees may postpone collection when weather conditions make driving hazardous. In situations where garbage, recycling, and yard debris collections are all postponed to subsequent week(s), franchisees will give priority to the collection of garbage. 

• Garbage 
  The franchisee will pick up postponed collections of garbage as weather and road conditions permit. If collection must be postponed to a subsequent week(s), the cumulative amount of the current subscribed service level will be collected.
• Recycling 
  Collection will be postponed to a subsequent week(s) as weather and road conditions permit. Resumption of recycling collection may be postponed past the following week if there have been several days of inclement weather and the franchisee is using available staff and trucks to catch up on garbage collections.
• Yard Debris 
  Collection will be postponed to a subsequent week(s) as weather and road conditions permit. Resumption of yard debris collection may be postponed past the following week if there have been several days of inclement weather and the franchisee is using available staff and trucks to catch up on garbage and recycling collections. When collection resumes the cumulative amount of the current subscribed service level will be collected.
• Notification of Postponed Collection 
  The franchisee will notify Clackamas County by 10 a.m. by telephone or e-mail on the days that collection will be postponed. The franchisee will update their voicemail and web site at least daily, notifying customers of postponed collections.
• Billing 
  Postponed collections are not considered missed collections because the service is rendered in due course. Credits are not available for postponed collections due to inclement weather.