Garbage and Recycling

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.

View the final cart tagging project report: Clackamas County Single-Family Residential Recycling Cart Tagging Project (07/24/18)

Why did we do this project?

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.

Many schools aren't easily able to recycle milk cartons. As a result, most milk cartons from schools end up in the garbage. The transition from milk cartons to dispensers and washable cups can cut cafeteria waste in half, on top of reducing milk waste and students drinking more milk! Learn more about milk dispensers in Clackamas County schools.

Posters and Containers

To request posters and containers, contact Leaders in Sustainability at greenbiz@clackamas.us.

Posters

Containers

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.

Clackamas County Garbage & Recycling Transfer Station 
19600 SE Canyon Valley Road, Sandy
503-260-1577

Hours:
Thursday – Monday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 
Closed Tuesday and Wednesday
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.

Find additional disposal locations near you

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.

• Curbside accepted paper, metal and plastic
• Cardboard (collected separately)
• Glass bottles and jars
• Scrap metal (including large and small appliances, bicycles, lawnmowers, etc.)
  • All liquids must be removed; no propane tanks
• Wire (Christmas lights year-round, extension cords, household wiring)
• Motor oil (limit 5 gallons per day; no other automotive fluids
• Electronics (including TVs, laptops, computers, monitors, cables, etc.)
• Lead acid batteries (vehicle batteries only)

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.

Other resources

• Clean up containers and dumpsters
  Available for clean outs and construction debris
• Disposal and recycling locations
  Find other garbage and recycling options within the county
• Garbage and recycling service
  Available for residents, businesses and organizations
• Household hazardous waste
  What is household hazardous waste and where to dispose of it
• Illegal dumping
  How to report illegal dumping

Celebrate the holidays sustainably by reducing, reusing, and recycling right.

Holiday impacts to garbage service

Check if Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year's Day will affect your garbage collection by connecting with your garbage collector.

Disposing of common holiday items

Real trees and wreaths

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
  • Metro South Transfer Station
    2001 Washington St., Oregon City
    503-234-3000
  • McFarlane’s Bark
    13345 SE Johnson Rd., Milwaukie
    503-659-4240
  • S & H Landscape Products & Supply
    20200 SW Stafford Rd., Tualatin
    503-447-7784
• 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.

• Metro South Transfer Station
  2001 Washington St., Oregon City
  503-234-3000
• Clackamas County Garbage & Recycling Transfer Station (Sandy Transfer Station)
  19600 SE Canyon Valley Road, Sandy
  503-668-8885
• Willamette Resources
  10295 SW Ridder Rd., Wilsonville
  503-570-0626

 

Gift wrapping and packaging materials

• 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.

Explore more waste-wise holiday ideas.