Multnomah County, OR Trash & Recycling: Pickup Rules & Schedules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- MCC § 27.506
- Applies to
- Unincorporated county only, not Portland
- Collection frequency
- Weekly on-route pickup required
- Covered housing
- Single-family, duplex, triplex, fourplex homes
- Enforcement
- Notice of violation, civil penalty, or license suspension
Summary
Licensed haulers must collect standard recyclables weekly on-route from single-family homes, duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes in unincorporated Multnomah County, not Portland, which runs its own program.
Provide weekly on-route collection of all standard recycling materials, unless granted and exception by the Director.
b. For multi-family residences, the
licensee will provide regular collection of standard
recyclable materials for each multi-family dwelling
community having five or more unites, unless granted
an exception by the Director.
c. For businesses, the licensee will
provide regular collection of standard recyclable
materials, unless granted an exception by the Director.
d. The licensee will provide a recycling
education and promotion program to all customers
that supports solid waste management according to the
waste reduction hierarchy described in the
administrative rules.
(Ord. 1207, added, 4/10/14)
Full Breakdown
Multnomah County Code § 27.506 sets the Residential Service Standard: for single-family residences, including duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes, the county-licensed hauler must provide at least one durable recycling container and weekly on-route collection of all standard recyclable materials, unless the Director grants an exception. The rule applies only in unincorporated Multnomah County outside urban service districts (§ 27.500). Portland, Gresham, Troutdale, Fairview and Wood Village run their own collection programs and are not covered. Multi-family buildings of five or more units and businesses get regular (not necessarily weekly) recycling collection under separate subsections.
Violations & Fines
Failing to meet the Residential Service Standard is a violation under § 27.508; the Director can issue a written notice of violation, and an uncorrected violation can bring civil penalties, license suspension, or license revocation for the hauler.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Multnomah County pick up recycling weekly?
Does this rule cover Portland?
What if my hauler skips a week?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Multnomah County
Compare Multnomah County to another location·View the Oregon trash & recycling overview
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