Salem, OR Trash & Recycling: Pickup Rules & Schedules (2026)
Key Facts
- Sharp/hazardous waste
- Must be securely wrapped before disposal
- Loose recyclables
- Bundled and tied, or bagged, before pickup
- Manual can weight limit
- 60 pounds including container
- 90-gallon mechanical cart limit
- 180 pounds including container
- Infraction fine
- $100 to $250, $250 for repeat
Summary
Before Salem's franchised hauler will take it, solid waste has to be drained, sealed, and bagged the right way. SRC 47.145 requires sharp or hazardous items to be securely wrapped, ashes cooled before bagging, and loose newspapers or magazines bundled and tied so they don't blow away before collection.
(a)Solid waste shall be drained of surplus liquid and placed in sealed receptacles approved by the Director.(b)Pet feces, sharp objects such as broken glass and knives, and any other waste with the potential of causing injury or disease shall be securely wrapped in a manner to prevent exposure or injury to the public or employees of a franchisee.(c)Ashes shall be allowed to cool and shall be securely wrapped or bagged before being deposited in any receptacle.(d)All waste, with the exception of large bulky items, shall be deposited promptly into a receptacle, or be placed or located for disposal so as not to create a safety, nuisance, litter, or health hazard.(f)Newspapers, magazines, and similar recyclable material, when not placed in a receptacle, shall be bundled and securely tied with a strong cord or securely placed in a plastic or heavy paper shopping bag to prevent blowing and littering prior to collection.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 26 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 145 sets out the preparation standard every generator has to follow before a franchisee will collect solid waste. Liquid waste has to be drained and placed in a Director-approved sealed receptacle, and anything with injury potential, such as pet feces, broken glass, or knives, must be securely wrapped so it doesn't cut or expose a collector or the public. Cooled ashes have to be bagged or wrapped before they go in a receptacle, and, aside from large bulky items, waste has to be deposited promptly into a receptacle or otherwise placed so it doesn't create a safety, nuisance, litter, or health hazard.
Loose newspapers, magazines, and similar recyclables that aren't in a receptacle must be bundled and tied with a strong cord, or bagged in plastic or heavy paper, specifically to keep them from blowing around before the truck arrives. Source-separated compostables and recyclables must also follow any administrative rules the Director has adopted to head off health, safety, or pest problems. Once waste is set out, Sec. 155 caps how much a receptacle can weigh: 60 pounds for a manually-emptied can, and, for mechanically-emptied carts, 180 pounds for 90-gallon carts, 120 pounds for 64-gallon carts, 60 pounds for 32-gallon carts, and 40 pounds for 20-gallon carts, including the container's own weight.
Violations & Fines
Failing to prepare solid waste as SRC 47.145 requires, including overloading a receptacle past the Sec. 47.155 weight limits, is an infraction under Sec. 47.245(a), punishable by a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $250, rising to a flat $250 for a second violation within one year. A civil penalty of up to $2,000 per violation, with each day counted separately, is also available under Sec. 47.240(a).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to bag my recycling before Salem picks it up?
How much can my Salem trash can weigh?
What's the fine for improperly prepared trash in Salem?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Salem
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