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What You Recycle Matters – Help Oregon Do It Right

Every item you correctly recycle helps create a cleaner, more circular economy for Oregon. Together, we can make a real impact by recycling right.

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Recycle with confidence
What Can I
Recycle?

Help Oregon recycle better! Recycling only the items accepted by your community helps keep the system running smoothly, reduces the cost of recycling, and ensures that more materials are turned into new products.

Below is the base list that most Oregon communities recycle at homes and businesses. Learn what items your community recycles using the tool below, and recycle with confidence:

PlasticPlastic bottles, tubs, jugs and rigid plant potsCaps OK if screwed on. All items must be 2 inches by 2 inches or larger
MetalAluminum and steel cansEmpty and dry
Cardboard & CartonsFlattened cardboard, packaging boxes, and food and beverage cartonsNo food residue or frozen food boxes
PaperNewspaper, magazines, mail and paper bagsNo paper towels or napkins
Glass Bottles & JarsPlease place in a separate bin or drop-off at a collection point
All items must be empty and dry Pour liquids down the drain and, if possible, compost food waste.
No Bagged Recyclables Place recyclables directly into the bin, do not pre-bag.

This lookup tool only works for Oregon addresses. Please enter an Oregon location to see what’s accepted in your area.

Portland Metro Trials

Residents in the Portland Metro area can recycle empty aerosol cans and clean aluminum foil through a trial program.

How to Recycle FoilHow to Recycle Aerosols
Keep these out
What Can’t I
Recycle?

Not sure what goes in your bin? Don’t guess! Use the recycling look-up tool or check with your local recycling program for clear guidance. When the wrong items end up in the recycling, they can damage equipment and ruin other recyclables.

Below are items that should NEVER go in your recycling bin. Keeping them out helps make recycling safer, cleaner, and more effective for everyone.

Never in your bin Plastic bags and stretchy plastics These items tangle in recycling equipment and cause accidents or injuries. Take these to a RecycleOn Center or find other options for recycling at Plasticfilmrecycling.org
Never in your bin Batteries Batteries can start fires at garbage and recycling facilities. Never put batteries inside your garbage or recycling cart. Find recycling options at The Battery Network

Some communities collect batteries curbside. Find out if yours does by checking the Local Recycling Directory page.
Never in your bin Food and liquids Dirty and wet containers can spoil other recyclables. Pour liquids down the drain and, if possible, compost food waste.
Never in your bin Hoses, cords and wires Items like these get caught in recycling machinery. Contact your recycling company or local government for recycling or disposal options.
Never in your bin Non-recyclable plastics Not all plastics can be recycled. Plastic utensils, straws, and clamshell containers are not accepted in your recycling bin. For now, put these in the garbage.
Never in your bin Frozen food boxes These boxes have a coating to protect them in the freezer that also reduces their recyclability. For now, put these in the garbage.
Never in your bin Electronics These items create safety hazards and need special handling. Visit Oregon E-Cycles to find recycling options near you.
Never in your bin Clothing Clothing should not be placed in your recycling bin as it can jam sorting equipment. Consider donating them.
Never in your bin Diapers and medical waste These items create unsafe conditions for recycling workers and should never be recycled. Contact your garbage company or local government for disposal options.
Never in your bin Bagged recycling Bagged recyclables don’t get opened at the sorting facility. Recycling can only be sorted if it’s loose. At a recycling sorting facility, staff won’t know whether a bag is filled with garbage or recycling.
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