Portland, OR Trash & Recycling: Recycling Rules (2026)

a. All businesses and multifamily complexes must recycle 75 percent of the solid waste they produce;

b. All businesses must recycle all of their paper and containers. For the purposes of this Section, containers means all recyclable metal, plastic and glass containers;

c. Covered food scraps generating businesses must separate their food scraps for collection.

d. For all building projects within the City where the total job cost (including both demolition and construction phases) exceeds $50,000, the general contractor must ensure that 75 percent of the solid waste produced on the job site is recycled. In addition, certain materials generated on the job site must be recycled in compliance with administrative rules established by the City Administrator. For an affected building project where there is no general contractor, this requirement applies to the property owner is the person responsible for ensuring compliance with the recycling requirements.

2. Commercial customers that provide garbage collection service to business tenants as part of their rental/lease must provide recycling and, where appropriate, compostable collection systems that will enable the business tenants to recycle in compliance with administrative rules established by the City Administrator.

3. All multifamily complexes within the City must establish recycling systems for their tenants’ use, in compliance with administrative rules established by the City Administrator.