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Recycle at Home

Gresham garbage haulers offer curbside recycling service to collect paper, plastic, glass and yard debris for single family and multiplex (2-4 units) homes.

What items can be recycled curbside?

  • Mixed paper and cardboard
  • Scrap metal and cans
  • Plastic bottles, tubs and buckets
  • Glass bottles and jars on the side
  • Batteries (when prepared for disposal)
  • Image of garbage, recycling, yard debris and glass bin placed 3 feet apart.

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  • Place containers at the curb, leave a space of 3 feet between carts and 6 feet from cars, mailboxes, basketball hoops, trees and other stationary objects.

  • Recycle Flattened cardboard and cereal boxes, egg cartons, office paper, paper bags, paper and envelopes (windows and labels included) newspapers, magazines, catalogs, phone books, junk mail, cartons and shredded paper must be sealed in a paper bag.
     
  • Recycle plastic bottles and jars with a neck (6 ounces or larger,) plastic jugs (milk, juice, etc.,) round plastic food containers (6 ounces or larger,) plastic buckets (5 gallons or smaller,) plant pots (4-inch diameter or larger and made of rigid plastic. 
     
     
     
  • Recycle all glass food and beverage bottles and jars, all colors of glass (labels are okay). 
     

  • Recycle clean steel, aluminum and tin cans with lids, clean aluminum foil, trays and plates and small scrap metal. Metal items (smaller than 30 inches and less than 30 pounds).

  • Curbside recycling customers can now place spent batteries in the glass recycle bin. Steps for safe disposal. 

    Multifamily residents, contact Metro for recycling locations.

  • Place leaves, grass, small branches, plants and trimmings from your garden. Tree and shrub prunings should be less than 4 inches in diameter.

Apartment/Multi-family Complexes

Multi-family (5 or more units) recycling

Property owners are required to provide garbage and recycling services. Recyclable materials include paper, plastic, metal, and glass. 
 

Recycle guide

 
Recycling assistance
Still unsure what to do with something?
Recycling and garbage containers should be well-labeled and not overflowing. Your property manager should provide you with information about how to recycle and dispose of other waste at move-in, and once every year as a reminder.
 

Other waste resources 

Large, bulky waste: Ask your property manager where to put large items like mattresses or furniture. If the item is in good condition, call 503-234-3000 for donation options.
 
TVs, electronics, and hazardous waste: These items cannot go in the garbage. Ask your property manager or contact Metro for drop-off disposal or donation options.
 
Problems? Contact your property manager if waste containers are overflowing, not well-labeled, or missing. If these problems continue, contact the City at 503-618-2525 or Recycle@GreshamOregon.gov.
 

Property owners and managers 

Owners of rental properties are required to provide garbage and recycling when a property is occupied.
Oregon Revised Code, Chapter 7 (7.25.400) 
 
Multifamily complex managers must provide recycling opportunities and education to residents. Education is required at move-in and once per year after that.
 
We are here to help!
City staff can help property managers and residents with technical assistance, delivering resources, and presentations.

 

Battery Collection

Batteries can spark and cause a fire when not handled properly. Residential customers can now safely dispose of batteries with weekly curbside collection service. Learn more about battery collection.

Bottles and Cans

Money in the can

Oregon’s bottle and can refund value is now 10 cents per container. The state has expanded the types of refundable containers. 

Refundable containers include

Not included

  • Wine or hard alcohol
  • Milk – dairy or plant-based
  • Infant formula
  • Meal replacement drinks
Returns made easy 

Fill up a green BottleDrop bag with your Oregon deposit containers and earn as much as $5 to $10 a bag. 

Find a bottle drop center.

More information 

Learn more about the Oregon Bottle Bill.

How to Recycle

Residential recycling in Gresham uses a two-sort system:

  • Glass in one bin.
  • Paper, plastic, metal in the other.  

Residential service options

Items collected

  • Paper
    • Included: Egg cartons, cereal and shoe boxes, junk mail, phone books, magazine, newspapers, paper rolls, cartons and flattened cardboard. 
    • Not included: Coffee cups, take-out food containers, paper plates, pizza boxes, frozen food boxes, coated paper food boxes, paper towels, napkins and facial tissue. 
  • Plastic
    • Included: Plastic bottles and jars (6 ounces or larger), milk or juice jugs, tubs (6 inches or larger) and plant pots (4 inches or larger).
    • Not included: Plastic film, cups, take-out containers, disposable plates or cutlery, bubble wrap and latex gloves. 
  • Metal
    • Included: Clean steel, aluminum and tin cans with lids, clean aluminum foil, trays and plates and small scrap metal. Metal items (smaller than 30 inches and less than 30 pounds).
    • Not included: Chains, wire hangers, 
  • Glass
    • Included: Glass food and beverage bottles and jars. 
    • Not included: Drinking glasses, flower vases, light bulbs, windows and broken mirrors. 

Note: Batteries are now collected with weekly service. Battery collection instructions.

 Collection day reminders 

  • Set out containers and roll carts by 6:00 am on collection day.
  • Place containers within 3 feet of the curb and leave a space of 3 feet between carts.
  • Place carts 10 feet from cars, mailboxes, basketball hoops, trees and other stationary objects.
  • Remove carts and containers from curb within 24 hours, preferably the evening of pick-up day.

Become a certified recycling expert

  • Recycling 101:Protect natural resources by learning about recycling, composting and waste reduction with Recycling 101, an online, self-paced course created in partnership with the Association of Oregon Recyclers.
  • Become Master Recycler:Take an eight-week course on the latest information on consumption, compost and recycling. Then, promise to volunteer 30 hours to share what you learned with neighbors, coworkers and community.
Waste Prevention Resources

Reduce, reuse and prevent

Reduce, reuse and recycle is more than a slogan. At home, we encourage everyone to reduce, reuse and recycle, in this order of importance.

How to reuse and waste less

  • Use reusable grocery bags, coffee mugs and lunch containers so you don’t throw away after one use.
  • Reuse items like jars, bags, gift bags and tissue paper.
  • Buy in bulk when possible. Bulk flour, nuts, cereal etc. can go home in one plastic bag instead of a bag and a box.

Food waste prevention

  • Learn how simple actions like proper food storage and meal planning can help you reduce food waste and address climate change. Read more about the Eat Smart Waste Less program.
Buy used and donate more
  • When you want to buy something, ask: "Do I really need it or can I make it at home?"  Consider borrowing or renting equipment. 
Repair items instead of buying new
  • Repair what you can, donate usable items, and purchase used items. Bring items to a free Repair Cafe.
Yard Debris
Curbside garbage service includes weekly collection of yard debris. Additional yard debris, in paper bags, may be set out for an extra charge.
 

Yard debris alert

Haulers are seeing an increase in contaminated yard debris, which could result in carts not being serviced until contaminants are removed.
 

What goes in yard debris

Grass clippings
Weeds
Pumpkins
Dead plants from gardens
Tree or plant prunings less than 4 feet (cut up)
 

Do not put in yard debris

Pet waste or cat litter
Anything plastic
Treated or painted wood
Garbage
Glass
Rocks
Sod
Stumps
Large limbs
 

Yard debris tips

  • Setting out a bundle instead of a cart? Be sure bundles are no more than 3 feet long and 18 inches in diameter.
  • Extra bundles and large paper bags will be an additional $4.43 per bundle/bag.