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City guide · Oregon
Portland, OR Trash & Recycling Pickup Schedule (2026)
Portland runs a four-stream curbside collection system - garbage, recycling, compost, and glass - and the schedule is a little different from most cities: garbage only comes every other week, while the other three streams come weekly. Here's exactly how it works and where to find your specific day.
How often is trash picked up in Portland?
Garbage is collected every other week at houses, duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes. Recycling and compost are collected every week. Glass is also collected weekly, in its own small yellow bin, kept separate so it doesn't contaminate the paper stream.
| Stream | Frequency | Container |
|---|---|---|
| Garbage | Every other week | Black cart (20–90 gal) |
| Recycling | Weekly | 60-gal blue cart |
| Compost | Weekly | 60-gal green cart |
| Glass | Weekly | 14-gal yellow bin |
Portland switched to this split schedule in 2011 when food scraps were added to curbside compost - garbage moved to every other week to keep rates down, while compost moved up to weekly to make composting easy.
Find your exact pickup day
Your collection day and which week your garbage falls on depend on your specific address and hauler route - there isn't one single day for the whole city. The City of Portland's own address lookup tool is the accurate source:
Look up your address on portland.gov →
You can also sign up there for free reminders by email, text, app, or phone call before each pickup day, or call the Garbage & Recycling Hotline at 503-823-7202 (8 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday–Friday).
Bin placement rules
- Set carts out by 6:00 AM on your collection day
- Remove bins from the curb within 24 hours of pickup
- Place containers within 3 feet of the curb
- Cart handles should face your home, not the street
- Keep lids closed
- Don't block sidewalks, driveways, or bike lanes
Holiday schedule
Portland only adjusts collection for two holidays: Christmas Day and New Year's Day. When one falls on a weekday, that week's collections shift back one day, and the week's Friday customers are serviced on Saturday. No other holidays affect Portland's pickup schedule.
During severe weather, leave carts at the curb - collection resumes as soon as it's safe, which can include a Saturday catch-up run. No credits or refunds are issued for weather-related delays.
What goes in each bin
Garbage
Every other weekGoes in
- Food-soiled paper & napkins
- Plastic bags & film wrap
- Styrofoam & packing material
- Broken glassware, ceramics
- Pet waste, diapers
Keep out
- Batteries & electronics
- Paint, chemicals, motor oil
Recycling
WeeklyGoes in
- Cardboard, flattened
- Paper, mail, magazines
- Metal cans, empty & rinsed
- Plastic bottles & jugs (#1, #2)
Keep out
- Glass (its own bin in Portland)
- Plastic bags — they jam sorters
Compost
WeeklyGoes in
- Food scraps, including meat & dairy
- Yard debris, grass, leaves
- Food-soiled paper
Keep out
- Plastic bags — use paper or certified compostable
- Pet waste
Glass goes in its own 14-gallon yellow bin, collected weekly — keep it separate from recycling so it doesn't contaminate the paper stream.
Frequently asked questions
How often is garbage picked up in Portland?
What day is my Portland pickup day?
What time do bins need to be out in Portland?
Does a holiday delay my Portland garbage pickup?
What if my collection is delayed by weather?
Need more than curbside pickup? Compare local bulk & junk removal quotes. Moving elsewhere in the state? Browse all Oregon cities or the full 50-state directory.