Gresham, OR Trash & Recycling: Mandatory Organics Recycling (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies to
- Covered food-handling businesses only
- Group 1 threshold
- 1,000 lbs/week food scraps
- Exemption
- Under 250 lbs/week
- Waiver
- 12 months, after site visit
Summary
Restaurants, grocers, hospitals, schools and other food-handling businesses in Gresham must separate food scraps from the rest of their trash once they generate enough waste to hit the city's weight thresholds.
(7) Business Food Scraps Requirement.
(a) Applicability. A covered business is a business that cooks, assembles, processes, serves, or sells food or does so as service providers for other enterprises. Covered businesses subject to the business food scraps requirement include, but are not limited to:
Cafeterias & buffets Caterers Colleges & universities* Correctional facilities Drinking places* Elementary and secondary schools* Food product manufacturing Food service contractors Full service restaurants
Grocery retail Grocery wholesale Hospitals* Hotels* Limited service restaurants Nursing & residential care* Retirement & assisted living* Specialty food markets Warehouse clubs
* Only those with full-service restaurants or on-site food preparation or service are subject to this requirement.
(b) Business Food Scraps Requirement.
(i) Covered businesses must separate food scraps from all other solid waste for collection.
1) Covered businesses must collect food scraps that are controlled by the business, agents, and employees. This requirement does not apply to food scraps controlled by customers or the public. At its discretion, a business may also collect food scraps from customers or the public but must ensure that food scraps are free of non-food items. K12 schools may also include studentgenerated food scraps from school cafeteria meals but must ensure that food scraps are free of non-food items.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
Gresham Revised Code § 7.25.400(7) creates a Business Food Scraps Requirement for 'covered businesses': anywhere that cooks, assembles, processes, serves or sells food, from full-service restaurants to hospitals and grocery stores. Covered businesses must separate food scraps from other solid waste, provide labeled receptacles for internal collection areas, and post signage identifying what must be source-separated. The mandate phases in by volume: Business Group 1 kicks in at 1,000 pounds of food scraps a week, down to 250 pounds for Group 3, and any business under 250 pounds weekly is exempt outright. A 12-month compliance waiver is available after a site visit.
Violations & Fines
Noncompliance draws a written notice with 14 days to fix it first; an uncorrected violation can bring a citation or civil penalty under GRC 7.25.400(8) and Article 7.99.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Gresham households have to separate food scraps?
What happens if a covered business ignores the rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Gresham
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Mandatory Organics Recycling in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Multnomah County handle mandatory organics recycling.