Recycling

Paper items allowed

• Flattened cardboard boxes.
• Cereal boxes and cardboard egg cartons.
• Office paper and paper bags.
• Mail. Envelopes with windows and labels are OK; no plastic padding.
• Newspapers, magazines, catalogs.
• Paperback books and phone books.
• Cartons; milk, juice, soup, etc. - must be empty and dry.
• Non-metallic gift wrap.
• Pizza delivery boxes. Must be empty. No food residue. Small amounts of grease are OK.

What's not allowed

• Coffee cups, takeout food containers, paper plates.
• Frozen food boxes or ice cream containers.
• Wax-coated cardboard or paper coated with food, wax, foil or plastic.
• Paper towels, napkins, facial tissue.
• Plastic-padded mailers.
• Shredded paper.

When sorting your plastics, ignore the recycle symbol and number. Plastics recycling in Oregon is based on the size and shape of the item. Please rinse containers. They do not need to be perfectly clean, but should be free of food residue and dry before they go in your bin.

Plastic items allowed

All items must be 2 inches by 2 inches or larger. Caps are okay if screwed on.

• Plastic bottles and jars with a neck.
• Plastic jugs (milk, juice, etc.).
• Tubs (yogurt, cottage cheese, etc.).
• Plastic buckets.
• Rigid plant pots. (Thin, crinkly plastic pots are not accepted).

What's not allowed

• Any plastic not shaped like a bottle, tub, bucket or jug.
• Plastic bags or stretchy plastic of any type: pallet wrap, bubble wrap, stretch wrap.
• Plastic lids (unless they're screwed on).
• Loose plastic caps (must be screwed on).
• Plastic 6-pack can holders (all types, including rigid plastic).
• Plastic take-out food containers.
• Plastic disposable plates, cups, or cutlery.
•  Prescription medicine bottles or other plastic containers smaller than 2 by 2 inches.
•  Disposable plastic or latex gloves.
•  Bottles in contact with motor oil, pesticides or herbicides, or other hazardous materials.
•  Hoses, ropes, or cords.

Metal items allowed

• Aluminum and steel food cans.
• Empty aerosol cans.
• Empty and dry metal paint cans.
• Aluminum foil, clean and dry.
• Scrap metal, smaller than 18 inches and less than 10 pounds.
• Metal lids, screws, nails (less than 2 inches).
  • Place screws inside a soup can, crimp tightly closed, then put into mixed recycling.
• Beverage cans. Deposit cans and bottles can be recycled in your bin or, to collect deposit funds, take them to a BottleDrop Center or participating grocery store.

What's not allowed

• Batteries. Find out how to prepare batteries for curbside battery collection. 
• Electronics.
• Wire, chains, or electric cords.
• Non-empty aerosol cans t must be disposed of at a hazardous waste facility. Call Metro at 503-234-3000 for locations or go to Metro's Find a Recycler.

Glass items allowed

• All glass bottles and jars, it is okay to leave labels on.
• All colors of glass.

Always separate glass from other items. If glass ends up with other recyclables, it can cause harm to the staff and machinery at local recycling facilities.

Deposit glass bottles can be recycled in your glass-only bin or, to collect deposit funds, take them to a BottleDrop Centeror participating grocery store. 

What's not allowed

• Drinking glasses, dishware or drinkware of any kind.
• Ceramics or flower vases.
• Light bulbs.
• Window glass or mirrors.
• Lids, bottle caps or corks.

Apartments and businesses

Batteries must be taken to drop-off sites for safe disposal. For locations, visit Metro or call 503-234-3000.

Houses 

Battery recycling is offered for residential homes including duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes. Follow the instructions below to recycle bagged batteries with your glass recycling.

Batteries allowed 

Any battery that can fit into a 1-quart, zip-sealed plastic bag, including:

• AAA, AA, C, D, button-cell and coin, 6V and 9V batteries.
• Rechargeable and single-use batteries.
• Batteries that are easily removed, old cell phones, cameras, etc.

Tape, bag, place on top of glass

1. Tape any battery not labeled "Alkaline” on both ends with clear tape.
2. Put all batteries in a clear, 1-quart zip-sealed bag.
3. Place on top of glass in your glass recycling bin.

What's not allowed

• Batteries that do not fit in a sealed 1-quart bag.
• Vape pens or e-cigarettes.
• Items with embedded batteries (Cell phones, laptops, wireless headphones, bluetooth speakers, fitness watches/bands, electric toothbrushes, reading lights, etc.)
• Damaged, corroded, or bulging batteries 

Houses,  duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes

• Pour motor oil into a leakproof, clear plastic jug, 1 gallon maximum, with a tightly closed lid. 
• Place the jug on the curb next to your glass bin or recycling cart.

Apartments and businesses

Visit Metro to find a drop-off location or call 503-234-3000.