Free community events that bring volunteers with fixing skills and people with broken items together.
Experienced fixers will attempt to repair or mend your items and may teach you how to fix them yourself. There are no guarantees for a repair. Some items are more difficult to repair, can take longer than we have time for at the event, or even break more during a repair attempt. Fixers can diagnose an issue and offer their best, unbiased advice. Our repair rate is over 75%. Some replacement parts may be available.
What to Bring
Please check the event page on the repair fair schedule for individual repair availability for each event. Examples of possible repair include clothing, textiles, bicycles, small electronics and small home appliances. We also do minor jewelry repair, and sometimes we have someone to sharpen knives and tools. Only bring items small enough to be easily carried by one person, and do not bring any items that are leaking, dangerous, dirty or have a strong odor. We do not do clothing alternations. All clothing must be clean. Repairers can turn down any items that do not meet these guidelines.
A maximum of one broken item per person will be examined at a time. After each item is examined/repaired, you must return to the registration table to be matched with another fixer volunteer for a second item.
Repair fair schedule
Find upcoming repair fairs below. Additional events will be added as they are scheduled.
We provide engaging and hands-on presentations in K-12 classrooms. If you do not see a presentation you are looking for, please contact us.
Composting with Worms (K-5) Students explore composting with worms and the entire worm bin ecosystem as they engage in hands-on experiments and observation.
Where is Away? (2-5) Students follow the journey of trash from our homes and schools to the landfill. Emphasis on reduction, reuse, recycling and steps towards sustainability.
Preventing Food Waste (6-12) Approximately 40% of the food grown in the United States for consumption is thrown away, and much of that waste is preventable. In this engaging multimedia presentation, students will explore the causes and consequences of food waste and problem-solve solutions to make a real difference.
Climate Change (6-12) Explore the problem of climate change, what people are doing about it, and why it’s not too late to make a difference. Emphasis on using your voice to engage with peers and adults about issues that matter.
Garbage Audit (4-12) Students examine the contents of the garbage and recycling bins in each classroom to determine which items are commonly misplaced in each bin. After the audit, students provide suggestions to specific classrooms to improve their garbage and recycling system.
Cafeteria Audit (4-12) This activity provides an opportunity for every student in the school to participate! Instead of throwing lunch trash away, each student sorts their own trash into designated categories (Food, Liquid, Recyclables, and Trash) to learn about what is being thrown away. After lunch, a smaller group of students collect weight and volume measurements of each category, which can be shared with the whole school.
Energy Audit (4-12) – Activity is led as an after school program Students explore their school after it closes for the day to determine how much energy is being wasted due to computers monitors, copy machines and other equipment is being left on at night and during weekends. By the end of the audit, students know how much energy and money are being wasted and the environmental impacts of this wasted energy.
Mini-Grants For School Waste Reduction Projects
Clackamas County provides small grants to schools to help meet waste reduction goals. Examples of past grant projects include:
Replacing disposable items used in school meal service: School meal service can generate a significant amount of waste. Switching to washable items like trays, plates, silverware, and cups can be a great way to reduce waste.
Purchasing party kits to reduce party waste: Teachers report that classroom party kits reduce waste by a minimum of one large trash bag per classroom party.
Installing a water bottle filling station: Reduce the use of disposable plastic bottles by installing a convenient water bottle filling station.
Support a school’s composting program: Some schools collect fruit and vegetable scraps to compost on-site. Our grant can help purchase items like compost tumblers and collection containers.
Educational posters for the classroom, office, and cafeteria
Make sure everyone in your building knows what to do with their recyclable, compostable, and disposable items. These posters can support your school’s waste reduction program.
Educational posters for the classroom, office, and cafeteria
Make sure everyone in your building knows what to do with their recyclable, compostable, and disposable items. These posters can support your school’s waste reduction program.
The Oregon Green Schools certification program has ended after nearly 30 years. In that time, it helped over 250 schools across Oregon to reduce waste in classrooms and cafeterias, teach children to conserve water and energy, and help children realize their leadership skills.
While the program has ended, Clackamas County Sustainability and Solid Waste remains committed to ensuring that the program’s legacy lives on. We will continue to support our dedicated teachers, parents, students, and volunteers by providing mentorship, presentations, materials, and mini-grants to assist Clackamas County schools in achieving their sustainability goals.
To everyone who contributed to the success of Oregon Green Schools by doing your part in our little corner of Oregon, thank you for your determination, vision, and teamwork. The knowledge you have shared, the leadership you have shown, and the positive habits you have fostered will continue to inspire lasting change for years to come.
Together, you have made Oregon’s schools healthier, safer, and more sustainable.
Certified schools
We want to applaud the student green teams, teachers, and volunteers whose hard work helped build sustainability-minded cultures within their schools. The following schools are the last to be certified as Oregon Green Schools:
Clackamas High School (NCSD) Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, 2024-2027
Gardiner Middle School (OCSD)Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, 2024-2027
John McLoughlin Elementary School (OCSD) Green Lunchrooms, 2024-2027
Summit Learning Charter (Estacada School District) Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, 2023-2026
Sunset Primary School (WLWVSD) Green Lunchrooms, 2023-2026
Forest Hills Elementary School (LOSD) Green Lunchrooms, 2022-2025
Hallinan Elementary School (LOSD) Green Lunchrooms, 2022-2025
Lakeridge Middle School (LOSD) Green Lunchrooms, 2022-2025
Lakeridge High School (LOSD) Green Lunchrooms, 2022-2025
Lake Grove Elementary School (LOSD) Green Lunchrooms, 2022-2025
Lake Oswego Middle School (LOSD) Green Lunchrooms, 2022-2025
Lake Oswego High School (LOSD) Green Lunchrooms, 2022-2025
Oak Creek Elementary School (LOSD) Green Lunchrooms, 2022-2025
Palisades World Language School (LOSD) Green Lunchrooms, 2022-2025
River Grove Elementary School (LOSD) Green Lunchrooms, 2022-2025
Westridge Elementary School (LOSD) Green Lunchrooms, 2022-2025
Reduce Wasted Food At School
Compost food scraps at school
Some schools in Clackamas County are eligible to collect compostable food scraps through a commercial composting program. Other schools may consider a small garden composting program. Whatever your needs, we are here to help. Contact us for assistance.
Milk dispensers
Since 2017, Clackamas County has been helping schools transition from disposable milk cartons to using milk dispensers with a washable cup for milk service. This transition has saved thousands of gallons of milk and prevented hundreds of thousands of cartons from ending up in the landfill.
Frequently asked questions
Why should my school consider using milk dispensers?
Milk cartons are not easily recyclable in schools and, in some areas, they are not recyclable at all.
In schools where dispensers are in use, students can choose how much milk to take and usually drink more of the milk they take, which reduces milk waste by over half. Canby schools increased their milk sales to students while still decreasing overall volume of milk purchased.
Cartons are often thrown away half-full, adding to the weight of the garbage and contributing to injuries and messes when waste is carried out.
Milk cartons make up at least 50% of a school's lunch trash volume. When those cartons are not there, trash cans do not fill as quickly and custodians will not have to empty the trash nearly as often, which saves time and trash bags.
Without cartons in the garbage, a school may be able to save more money by reducing garbage service.
Students report that the milk tastes better.
Which Clackamas County schools are using milk dispensers?
Canby School District
Carus Elementary
Cecile Trost Elementary
Howard Eccles Elementary
Ninety-One Elementary
Philander Lee Elementary
William Knight Elementary
North Clackamas School District
Ardenwald Elementary
Cascade Heights Public Charter
Oak Grove Elementary
Scouters Mountain
Spring Mountain Elementary
Sunnyside Elementary
Verne Duncan Elementary
View Acres Elementary
Oregon City School District
Beavercreek Elementary
Candy Lane Elementary
Gaffney Lane Elementary
Holcomb Elementary
Jennings Lodge Elementary
John McLoughlin Elementary
Redland Elementary
Silver Falls School District
Butte Creek School
What equipment is needed, and how much does it cost?
Estimate for an elementary school with ~ 400 students
Equipment
Cost
3-spigot stainless steel milk dispenser
$2,517
Industrial cart for dispenser
$560
400 Washable cups ~$30 for case of 36
$325
Dishwashing trays 17 trays holding 25 cups
$400
2 carts to move trays to and from kitchen
$268
3 additional milk crates To simplify changing milk bags during lunch
$171
Total:
$4241
Won't students spill the milk?
The Canby and Olympia School Districts both report no additional spills after beginning to use the milk dispensers. In fact, some school personnel in Olympia have reported fewer spills with the milk dispensers.
How much time does it take to wash all of the dishes?
In the Canby School District, the kitchen staff has found that the additional time required to wash the cups is negligible. Kitchen staff washes the dishes in between other tasks and no additional time has been required to wash cups.
How do we source milk in bags?
Work with your dairy to get milk in bags. The dairy supplying Canby schools offered milk in 3-gallon bags. In Olympia, another community that has implemented milk dispensers, the dairy's 5 -gallon bags were too heavy. The dairy was able to fill them with just 4 gallons to make them easier to load.
How do we meet the USDA requirements for a reimbursable meal?
Canby schools have not been audited yet, but they are following the same procedure as Olympia. The schools with dispensers in Olympia have passed their OSPI audits with flying colors. No issues were raised about the use of dispensers. These districts have reported that by the time students have gone through the serving line they already have a reimbursable meal. One variable to consider is whether or not a District has chosen the "offer" or "serve" option for how they qualify for reimbursement.
For the best guidance, please check in with your district's Child Nutrition Specialist for guidance on how to incorporate milk dispensers into your lunch program.
How do you keep kids from throwing the cups in the trash?
Students pour their unfinished milk into a bucket, then place the cup upside down in the dishwashing tray. This process needs to be taught and reinforced, but it quickly becomes habit for the kids.
Can I contact Nutrition Services Directors who are already using dispensers?
Yes!
Galina Dobson Canby School District Nutrition Services 503-263-7140 ext. 3480 dobsong@canby.k12.or.us
Is it really better to use a washable cup than a carton?
Yes. Washable cups are better than disposable cartons. Most environmental impacts occur before we even see a product, so using washable dishware is better than disposables as long as those reusable dishes are, well, reused. Estimates vary somewhat, but as long as a washable dish is used 10 or more times, it is better than using a disposable dish. Below is a graphic that helps to explain where the environmental impacts occur over a product's lifecycle.
Fluorescent lamps are energy-efficient, long-lasting, and can be recycled—but they contain mercury and must be handled carefully to protect public health and the environment.
Identify Fluorescent Lamps
Includes:
Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs)
Linear tubes, U-tubes, circular tubes
UVA bulbs
High-intensity discharge lamps (mercury vapor, metal halide, high-pressure sodium)
Neon lighting
Create a Lamp Recycling Plan
Assign responsible staff: Know regulations and good management practices. Contact DEQ at 503-229-5913 if unsure.
Store lamps properly:
Use cardboard boxes (original box works well).
Do not tape or rubber-band lamps.
Keep in a safe, dry location.
Label boxes with handling instructions.
Choose a recycling method:
Property manager recycling program
Mail-back service
Local recycling facility
Assign collection responsibility: Determine who takes full boxes to recycling.
Educate staff: Show collection areas and proper handling.
Severe weather can make roads unsafe for collection trucks. When conditions are hazardous, franchisees may postpone pickup to ensure the safety of drivers and the community. Here’s how collection is managed during adverse weather.
Garbage Collection
Garbage is the top priority when service is disrupted.
Postponed garbage (and commercial food waste) will be collected as soon as road conditions allow.
If collection must be delayed to a future week, all accumulated garbage up to your normal service level will be collected.
Recycling Collection
Recycling collection may be postponed when weather makes pickup unsafe.
Service will resume as conditions improve.
If multiple days of severe weather occur, recycling may be delayed beyond the following week while crews focus on catching up on garbage routes.
Yard Debris Collection
Yard debris service may also be postponed.
Collection will take place as soon as roads are safe.
Like recycling, yard debris pickup may be delayed beyond the next week if crews are prioritizing garbage and recycling.
When service resumes, all accumulated yard debris up to your subscribed service level will be collected.
Customer Notifications
Franchisees will:
Notify Clackamas County by 10 a.m. on any day collection is postponed.
Update their voicemail and website at least once per day with the latest service information.
Postponed collections due to inclement weather are not considered missed collections. Because service is provided once conditions improve, billing credits are not issued for weather-related delays.
From the Franchisee General Responsibilities section of the Administrative Regulations for Clackamas County Solid Waste and Recycling Collection Services for Franchisee and Customer.
Between April and June of 2018, we were in a number of neighborhoods to provide individualized feedback on how residents were recycling. You may have found an informational tag on your cart when you retrieved it from the curb. The tags recognized recycling carts that contained properly sorted recycling or alerted residents to items that did not belong in their recycling cart.
What were the project results?
During the first week, only 37 percent of homes across all neighborhoods received a ‘Nice Job’ tag. By the sixth and final week of the study, that number had risen to 54 percent. The most common items people mistakenly recycled included plastic bags, paper towels, to-go cups for hot and cold drinks, and plastic ‘clamshell’ containers. None of these items belong in curbside recycling.
County staff will use the lessons learned during this pilot project to inform future cart tagging efforts.
The presence of non-accepted materials in recycling has been an ongoing issue. For example, a 2015 study found that, in our region, nine percent of the materials placed in single-family recycling actually belonged in the garbage.
Due to changes in global recycling markets, the cost to process recycling has risen significantly. The most important contribution you can make is to put only approved materials in your recycling. By recycling correctly, you help keep recycling quality up and costs down, all while keeping valuable materials out of the landfill.
How were carts evaluated?
Clackamas County contracted with an authorized third-party contractor who specializes in waste and recycling. The contractor observed what was in recycling carts, then left the appropriate feedback tag. They did not remove items. They followed professional standards set by the County. Data collected, including any information pertaining to recycling at your household, is confidential and anonymous. You may remove the tag placed on your cart.
What can and cannot be recycled at home?
Even if you believe you are recycling right, it is always good to review the recycling list.
Questions?
If you have questions about recycling, the project, or have concerns, please contact us at 503-742-4463.
Take your garbage and recycling to the Clackamas County Garbage and Recycling Transfer Station located outside of Sandy. Find out what is accepted, hours, fees and more.
Loose loads must be covered to prevent litter. Unsecured loads are subject to an additional $10 fee. Credit cards, debit cards, and cash are accepted.
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Accepted recycling
The Clackamas County Garbage and Recycling Transfer Station accepts for recycling the same items accepted in curbside services, plus several additional drop-off services.
Consider collecting and donating your beverage deposit containers to AntFarm(collection spot on site).
Recycling questions? Visit Metro’s Find a Recycler tool, or call 503-234-3000.
Prohibited materials
Household Hazardous Waste (e.g., paints, batteries, light bulbs, cleaners, medical sharps, propane tanks, etc.) Please take household hazardous waste to the Metro South Household Hazardous Waste Facility.
Construction, demolition and remodeling debris containing asbestos The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality requires asbestos testing and documentation before disposal of construction, demolition and remodeling debris. Transfer stations will not accept suspected asbestos-containing materials without documentation.
Questions? Call Metro’s Recycling Information Center at 503-234-3000.
Remove all tinsel, decorations, stands, and wire frames before disposal. If you live in an apartment, condo, or mobile home community, ask your property manager, landlord, or HOA board for guidance on disposal. You have several disposal options:
Option 1: Yard Debris Cart (if you have this service): Cut tree into pieces and place in your yard debris cart for no extra charge (make sure the lid closes). You can do this over several weeks if your tree is large. Or set out your tree (6-feet or shorter) next to your yard debris cart. Cut larger trees in half. There may be a small fee for this option (call your garbage company).
Option 2: Donation: Many nonprofit organizations offer pickup services or drop-off locations for a small fee or donation to their cause. Find one by searching Metro’s Find a Recycler webpage.
Option 3: Take to a yard debris facility or compost at home (if space allows) Below are several in Clackamas County. Find others by searching Metro’s Find a Recycler webpage. Note: The Clackamas County Garbage and Recycling Transfer Station (Sandy Transfer Station) accepts trees as garbage at the garbage rate
Option 4: Garbage: Cut tree into pieces and place in your garbage cart for no extra charge (make sure the lid closes). You can do this over several weeks if your tree is large. Or set out your tree (6-feet or shorter) next to your garbage cart. Cut larger trees in half. There will be a small fee for this option (call your garbage company).
Artificial and “flocked” trees and wreaths
All artificial trees and trees “flocked” with fake snow should be put at the curb for pick-up as garbage for a small fee (call your garbage company).
String lights
Put in your garbage cart, or take to a facility for recycling (remove large bulbs first). Most of these facilities only recycle string lights during and right after the holiday season.
Wrapping and tissue paper: Put wrapping and tissue paper with glitter, plastic, or metallic foil in the garbage. Those without can go in the recycling.
Gift bags, ribbons, and bows: Reuse next year. Otherwise, ribbons and bows go in the garbage. Put gift bags with glitter, plastic, or metallic foil in the garbage (remove ribbon handles).
Greeting cards: Put greeting cards with glitter, plastic, or metallic foil in the garbage. Those without can go in the recycling.
Rigid plastic packaging: Put rigid plastic packaging (the kind you need scissors to open) in the garbage.
Padded shipping envelopes: Do not put paper or plastic shipping envelopes with bubble wrap inside in your recycle cart. Reuse, or put in the garbage. Or cut out all labels and stickers and take plastic shipping envelopes to the grocery store with your plastic bags.
Bubble wrap: Reuse, or put in the garbage. Or take to the grocery store with your plastic bags (pop first).
Packing peanuts: Reuse, or put in the garbage (bag them first). Or check with your local shipping store to see if they will reuse them.
Polystyrene (Styrofoam™): Put in the garbage. Or search for a current fee-for-recycling drop-off option on Metro's Find a Recycle webpage or by calling 503-234-3000.
Extra garbage and large items
Set out extra bags for a small fee (call your garbage company): For large, bulky items that do not fit in your garbage bin (like furniture or mattresses), call your garbage company for a cost estimate or take to a transfer station for a fee. Consider donating if the item is still in good condition. Search Metro's Find a Recycler directory or call 503-234-3000.
Information for Renters
If you rent a house or apartment, ask your property manager before setting out whole trees, extra garbage or large, bulky items.
Green gift giving guide
The holidays can be expensive and create a lot of extra waste. Explore the options below to save money, reduce waste and help the environment.
Mailing and wrapping gifts
Reuse shipping envelopes and boxes when mailing presents
Save bows, ribbons, gift boxes, and gift bags for next year
Make your own wrapping paper from grocery bags, maps, and old calendars
Make the wrapping paper part of the gift, like a dish towel
Only buy wrapping paper that can be recycled (no glitter, plastic, or metallic foil)
Translate
We are only limited in what we can fix by the skills of our volunteers. 
We offer resources and assistance to help your school set and meet recycling and waste reduction goals. 
The Oregon Green Schools certification program has ended after nearly 30 years. In that time, it helped over 250 schools across Oregon to reduce waste in classrooms and cafeterias, teach children to conserve water and energy, and help children realize their leadership skills.
Since 2017, Clackamas County has been helping schools transition from disposable milk cartons to using milk dispensers with a washable cup for milk service. This transition has saved thousands of gallons of milk and prevented hundreds of thousands of cartons from ending up in the landfill.
Between April and June of 2018, we were in a number of neighborhoods to provide individualized feedback on how residents were recycling. You may have found an informational tag on your cart when you retrieved it from the curb. The tags recognized recycling carts that contained properly sorted recycling or alerted residents to items that did not belong in their recycling cart.
