Trash & Recycling in Clackamas County, OR (2026)
7 rules for unincorporated Clackamas County, Oregon.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Only a county-franchised hauler or its approved subcontractor may collect solid waste for pay in unincorporated Clackamas County. Self-hauling for compensation, or hiring an unfranchised company, is unlawful under the Solid Waste and Waste Management Chapter and carries a civil penalty.
Trash Pickup Franchise Rules in Clackamas County
Significant RestrictionsClackamas County Code § 10.03.140(A)
A. Except as provided in 10.03.050 of this chapter, it shall be unlawful for any person to store, collect, transport, or dispose of any solid waste or wastes for compensation unless such person is franchised, in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.03.140 to 10.03.330 of this chapter, or is a subcontractor of a Collection Service Franchise holder under Section 10.03.260. B. Except as...
Bin Placement Rules
In unincorporated Clackamas County, garbage must be removed from the property at least once every 7 days and kept in a rodent-proof container with a tight-fitting lid while on site. Any accumulation of household trash is a violation of the Solid Waste and Waste Management Code (Ch. 10.03).
Garbage storage and container rules in unincorporated county
Some RestrictionsClackamas County Code Ch. 10.03 (Solid Waste and Waste Management)
Garbage must be removed from the property at least once every 7 days and must be kept in a rodent-proof container with a tight fitting lid while on site. An accumulation of household trash of any amount on property is a violation of the Clackamas County Solid Waste and Waste Management Code.
Recycling Requirements
Franchised haulers serving unincorporated Clackamas County must run weekly curbside recycling routes inside the urban growth boundary under County Code Section 10.03.260(A)(5)(a). The County's seven-member Solid Waste Commission oversees compliance, and a hauler that fails to provide adequate service risks franchise suspension or revocation.
Curbside Recycling Rules in Clackamas County
Some RestrictionsClackamas County Code Section 10.03.260(A)(5)(a)
5. Shall provide the opportunity to recycle as follows: a. Shall provide at least weekly residential on-route curbside/roadside collection of recyclable materials and weekly on-route collection of yard debris within the urban growth boundaries of Clackamas County and cities within the Metropolitan Service District. b. Shall provide other on-route collection of recyclable materials as requ...
Illegal Dumping
Dumping trash, litter, or debris in any amount violates Chapter 10.03 of the Clackamas County Solid Waste Code, with civil penalties up to $3,500 when the owner can be identified. Oregon law also makes littering and offensive dumping a crime under ORS 164.775 and 164.805.
Illegal dumping penalties in Clackamas County
Some RestrictionsORS 164.775 (Deposit of trash within 100 yards of waters)
It is unlawful for any person to discard any glass, cans or other trash, rubbish, debris or litter on land within 100 yards of any of the waters of the state, or in any water of this state.
Yard Waste Collection
Franchised haulers must pick up yard debris weekly on-route for homes inside the Metro urban growth boundary. County code defines yard debris narrowly: grass, leaves and prunings under four inches across qualify, but stumps, sod, dirt and rocks do not.
Yard Debris Collection Rules in Clackamas County
Some RestrictionsClackamas County Code §§ 10.03.030(72) and 10.03.260(A)(5)(a)
72. YARD DEBRIS means grass clippings, leaves, tree and shrub pruning of no greater than four (4) inches in diameter, or similar yard and garden vegetation. Yard debris does not include dirt, sod, stumps, logs, tree and shrub pruning greater than four (4) inches in diameter, or rocks, plastic, animal waste or manure, cat litter, potting soil, prepared food wastes or non-putrescible material. .....
Dumpster Rules
Commercial, industrial, multi-family and residential developments that use an on-site compactor must keep the area around it clean and washed down or face a solid waste nuisance violation. Any screen used to hide a waste nuisance from view must meet one of six specific fence, wall, berm or hedge designs.
Dumpster and Compactor Screening Rules in Clackamas County
Some RestrictionsClackamas County Code § 10.03.060(B)(12) and (C)
12. When commercial, industrial, multi-family or residential developments that use a compactor or compactors for on-site waste management, do not keep the areas around the compactor free of solid waste and debris, and washed down on a regular basis. C. Any sight obscuring screen used to abate a solid waste nuisance shall consist of one of the following options: 1. Construct a wood fence u...
Recycling Rules
Every business in the county must source-separate recyclable paper, cardboard, glass, plastic bottles and metal cans, provide labeled receptacles, and post signage identifying what to recycle. Anyone operating as a recycling depot, broker or collector must also hold a county recycling license.
Recycling Rules in Unincorporated Clackamas County
Some RestrictionsClackamas County Code § 10.03.145; § 10.04.030
All businesses within the County shall comply with waste prevention, recycling and composting requirements as set forth in this Chapter and the regulations promulgated hereunder. Failure to comply with this section shall be considered a public nuisance which may be abated as provided in 10.03.070 of this chapter. A. Business will source-separate all recyclable paper, cardboard, glass and pla...
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