Garbage and Recycling

Residential garbage and recycling collection customers living in urban unincorporated Clackamas County and the City of Happy Valley now have the option to recycle even more with Recycle+, a new service from your garbage and recycling company.

Recycle+ offers:  

• Collection of materials not included in standard recycling.  
• Convenient on-call pickups. 
• No subscription required; cancel any time. 

Tip: Consider coordinating pickups with family, friends or neighbors.    

How the program works

You must contact your garbage and recycling company to establish this optional service. Sign up now!

Recycle+ is an on-call, every other week collection service. You must contact your garbage and recycling company to schedule a pickup at least two business days before the scheduled collection day.  

Your garbage and recycling company will determine your Recycle+ collection day, which may be on a different day from your standard garbage and recycling collection. 

Accepted Materials

Printable Recycle+ Guide: English | Español (Spanish)

Plastic film

Plastic film/bags (also known as plastic film packaging):  A soft, flexible, stretchy polyethylene (#2HDPE, #4LDPE) packaging. Bags must be free of food residue.

Film must be contained in the sealed bag provided by your collector.

• Produce bags 
• Plastic bags  
• Dry cleaning bags  
• Plastic padded envelopes (no padded manila envelopes) 
• Plastic overwrap for paper towels, paper plates, napkins, etc.

Clear plastic #1 clamshell containers

Clamshells must be contained in the sealed bag provided by your collector.

One-piece containers hinged on one side and stamped with #1PET or PETE. Containers must be clear and clean of food residue. No black or other color plastic containers. 

• Fruit containers  
• Egg cartons 
• Bakery containers 
• Take-out containers 

 

Textiles

Textiles must be clean, however they can be torn, worn or stained.

Textiles must be contained in the sealed bag provided by your collector.

• Clothing 
• Bed linens 
• Towels/rags  

Tip: Materials are downcycled into wiping cloths and rags. Consider donating usable textiles to reuse organizations.     

Compact fluorescent light bulbs

Bulbs must be contained in a 1-gallon sealed bag to protect workers from mercury exposure should bulbs get broken during handling. This bag is not provided by your collector. 

• Include: Curved or folded fluorescent lamps that fit a regular household lamp.
• Do not include: Long fluorescent tubes used in garages, basements or commercial lighting.

No wishcycling

If you place an item in the purple bin not included in the acceptable list above, it will be left behind in the purple bin on your pickup day. These items may belong in the trash.

Also, do not place any of the acceptable Recycle + items in your weekly recycling cart! These items are must be collected separately because the material recovery facilities are not designed for these additional materials. 

What is wishcycling? While we may have an intention to recycle more, the result of “wishful recycling” makes recycling programs cost more and makes materials sent to recycling companies worth less. Materials placed in the wrong bin is called contamination. Recycling companies want the purest material possible to send to manufacturers to make new products. Contamination causes issues in their processes. It’s important to recycle only what is on the list so our collective effort is successful.

Need a curbside recycling refresher? Review our recycle guide to make sure you are only recycling items in your weekly collection that manufacturers will actually use.

Prepare Materials

You will receive a purple bin and plastic bags from your garbage and recycling company. Separate all materials by type, put the materials in the plastic bags provided and place the bags in the purple bin. Make sure the container lid can close completely to keep materials dry. 

Why plastic bags? Each category of items needs to be kept separate and dry during collection. The plastic bags will be recycled once materials arrive at their final destination. 

Tip: To ensure materials are collected, make sure items are clean, sorted and bagged. Wet materials cannot be recycled. 

Program Cost

Recycle+ costs a small base fee and a pickup fee for each requested pickup. You can set out your Recycle+ curbside or at another location on your property, such as your doorstep or porch (additional fees apply).

Curbside is defined as within five feet of a public or private road. Place your bin out by 6 a.m. on your collection day.

For curbside collection, place your bin near the road so it is clear of sidewalks, driveways, public streets or other rights of way.

For doorstep collection, place your bin visibly near your doorstep or porch.

If you qualify as a person with a disability as identified by Oregon state law and do not share a household with an individual capable of placing your container curbside, you can request non-curbside pickup at no extra charge. Contact your garbage and recycling company for more information.

How to sign up for Recycle+

Have your account information, name, address and a telephone number ready, then contact your garbage and recycling company to schedule a pickup. You’ll receive an 18-gallon purple bin with a lid and bags prior to your first collection day.  

At this time service is only available in urban unincorporated Clackamas County and the City of Happy Valley. 

Questions or concerns?

Contact your garbage and recycling company for questions, to request service, or for issues related to collection.