Portland has updated its recycling rules to match new statewide standards under Oregon’s Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act. The state will continue to review what belongs in the recycling bin, so Portland’s rules may change from time to time. The good news is that most updates should add more items to recycling as local facilities modernize with funding from the Recycling Modernization Act.
New items allowed in recycling include pizza boxes, plastic screw caps on plastic bottles and paperback books. To recycle pizza boxes, make sure they are completely empty; remove paper liners and plastic pieces, putting them in the trash; and remove leftover food like cheese crusts and toppings (grease on the box is ok). Do not recycle cheesy, saucy pizza boxes or the boxes frozen pizzas come in. Both of those items belong in the trash.
Plastic bottles (soda, ketchup), plastic jugs (milk, laundry detergent) and plastic jars (peanut butter, mayonnaise) should now be recycled with their plastic caps screwed on. Before recycling them, empty the container, pouring out any leftover liquid, scrapping out peanut butter or other food. Give it a quick rinse and shake to dry, then screw the cap back on. Don’t recycle caps on paper cartons (milk or juice), snap-on lids (yogurt, margarine, sour cream) or any loose caps or lids.
Paperback books may be recycled; however, a better idea is to donate or give away books in good condition. Hardback books, however, are not recyclable. Donate them if they’re usable; otherwise, put them in the garbage.
Shredded paper is no longer allowed in recycling, even if it’s bagged, so put it in the garbage or recycle it at select drop off locations like the Metro Central Transfer Station (6161 NW 61st Ave). The problem with shredded paper in recycling is that it turns into confetti when bags pop or tear during sorting, allowing the tiny pieces to scatter, mix with dust and debris and end up as trash.
The size limit for scrap metal has been reduced so that the maximum length is 18 inches and it must weigh 10 pounds or less. The new limit helps ensure recycling sorting facility workers and machinery are not harmed. Larger pieces of metal can be taken to a drop off location. Make sure small metal pieces, like metal bottle caps, get recycled by putting them in a soup can and crimping the lid shut.
Aerosol cans must be completely empty before going in the recycling. To ensure they are empty, press the nozzle until nothing sprays out, then shake the can to check that it’s empty. Aerosol cans that still have product in them can explode when crushed in the recycling truck or at recycling sorting facilities, potentially injuring workers and damaging equipment.
Clean aluminum foil must be tightly packed into a ball the size of a baseball or larger. Small pieces of foil can’t be recycled as they will fall through sorting equipment and become trash. A baseball-sized ball stays together and gets recycled.
Plastic bottles, tubs, buckets and jugs that are at least two inches by two inches in two directions may be recycled. Plastics smaller than that (i.e. prescription bottles, loose caps and lids) fall through sorting equipment and should be thrown away.
Visit portland.gov/RecyclingUpdates for the full recycling acceptance list and to stay up to date on future updates by signing up for the quarterly newsletter.
