Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup

Portland, OR Trash & Recycling: Yard Waste Collection (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Compost/yard debris pickup
Weekly
Garbage pickup
Every other week
Applies to
Rental properties, 4 units or fewer
5+ unit rentals
Weekly recycling & garbage minimum
Yard debris excludes
Stumps, bulky wood

Summary

Portland requires rental property owners to provide tenants weekly recycling and composting (yard debris) pickup, paired with every-other-week garbage collection.

The owner of a residential rental property of four or fewer dwelling units must provide for each dwelling unit, or subscribe to and pay for weekly recycling and composting service and every-other-week garbage removal service by a franchisee as defined in Portland City Code Chapter 17.102, where each dwelling unit is provided with at least one 20 gallon receptacle into which garbage and rubbish may be emptied for storage and collection. Receptacles and lids must be watertight and provided with handles.

D. The owner of a residential rental property of five or greater dwelling units must subscribe to and pay for recycling and garbage removal service by a refuse collection permittee or franchisee as defined in Portland City Code Chapter 17.102. Collection must occur at least weekly.

E. The owner of any owner-occupied residential property must subscribe to and pay for weekly recycling and composting service and every-other-week garbage removal service by a refuse collection permittee or franchisee as defined in Portland City Code Chapter 17.102 if the property has been posted two or more times within one year for violation of Subsection 29.20.010 H.1. or 2.

Full Breakdown

Under Portland City Code § 29.30.140.C, owners of rental properties with four or fewer units must either provide, or subscribe and pay for, weekly recycling and composting service plus every-other-week garbage removal through a City-franchised hauler (Chapter 17.102). Owners of five-or-more-unit rentals must subscribe to at least weekly recycling and garbage service under § 29.30.140.D. Composting service is how yard debris, grass clippings, leaves, hedge trimmings, gets picked up curbside; stumps and bulky wood are excluded from the compost stream under § 17.102.020.NN.

Violations & Fines

Failure to provide required composting/recycling/garbage service is a Property Maintenance violation enforced by the Bureau of Development Services under Title 29, subject to notice and civil penalty for noncompliance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Portland require yard debris pickup at rental homes?
Yes. Owners of rentals with four or fewer units must provide or pay for weekly composting (yard debris) service under City Code § 29.30.140.C.
Are tree stumps collected as yard debris in Portland?
No. City Code § 17.102.020.NN defines yard debris as grass clippings, leaves, and hedge trimmings, and specifically excludes stumps and bulky wood materials.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Portland

All Portland rules

Compare Portland to another location·View the Oregon trash & recycling overview

Get notified when Yard Waste Collection in Portland, OR changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.

Yard Waste Collection in Nearby Cities

How other cities in Multnomah County handle yard waste collection.

Gresham, OR
Some Restrictions