Holiday Waste Sorting 101: What Goes Where?
The holidays are here, and with all the celebrations comes extra garbage. Not sure where to put that wrapping paper, broken string lights, or food scraps? We’re sharing tips straight from the City of Portland’s resources to help you sort your holiday waste the right way. Keep your celebrations sustainable and help reduce waste this season!
Check out the City’s holiday waste sorting guide here.
We’ve copied it below as well for your reference:
How to sort holiday waste
Unsure about which bin to put things in? Here’s a quick guide:
- Envelopes with plastic padding (even if the outside is paper).
- Foil or glitter-covered wrapping paper and gift bags.
- Bubble wrap, plastic “air pillows,” and packing peanuts.
- Plastic gift cards and any plastic not shaped like a bottle or round tub.
- String lights, ribbon, yarn, and cords – these are called “tanglers” because they get tangled in the machines that sort recyclables and cause the whole process to shut down.
- Wrapping paper and gift bags made only of paper (no foil or glitter).
- Cardboard boxes: It’s ok to leave tape and labels on boxes. Flatten boxes and cut up large boxes so they fit inside your blue recycling bin.
- Batteries and things with batteries can spark and cause fires: Never put them in garbage or mixed recycling.
- Curbside collection: Set a 1-quart, zip-sealed bag of batteries on top of glass in your glass recycling bin. Some batteries must have their ends taped for safety.
- Apartments and businesses: Contact Metro’s recycling information center for drop-off locations, search online, or call 503-234-3000.
- Include the food: Plate scraping, cooking scraps, and spoiled or moldy food can all go in.
- Holiday trees, wreaths, and greenery, as long as all decorations, lights, and wire have been removed first. (Fake or “flocked” trees should go in the garbage.)
Holiday tree disposal
For residents with curbside compost collection:
For real trees, first remove all trimmings from your tree, including lights, ornaments, tinsel, and tree stand. Then you have two options:
- Set out your whole tree (6 feet or shorter), next to your compost bin, for a $5.25 charge.
- Cut your tree into pieces (3 feet or shorter), and place in your compost bin for no extra charge.
Artificial trees and trees “flocked” with fake snow should be disposed of as garbage. To set out a whole artificial or flocked tree, call your garbage company for a cost estimate.
For apartments and businesses: Check with your property manager for disposal instructions or call 503-234-3000 or Ask Metro to find drop-off locations.
There are also nonprofit fundraiser pickup and drop-off options for real trees: Call 503-234-3000 or Ask Metro to learn more.
Extra trash
If you have more trash than your bin can hold, you can set out extra trash bags or cans (32 gal. and 40 lbs. max) for $6.50 each.
For large, bulky items that don’t fit into your garbage bin (like furniture or mattresses), call your garbage company for a cost estimate (prices vary). If the item is still in good condition, consider donating it: Call 503-234-3000 to find donation organizations, drop-off locations, and pick-up options.
Extra recycling
Cardboard: First, flatten boxes and cut cardboard into smaller pieces to fit as much as possible into your recycling bin. When your recycling bin is full (the lid should still be able to shut fully), then flatten all remaining cardboard, bundle it together, secure the bundle with tape, and lean the bundle against your blue bin.
There is no additional cost for extra cardboard. However, cardboard set outside of your bin can get blown by wind and create litter. It also slows down collection drivers, making it harder for them to collect everyone’s recycling on time. So please only set cardboard outside of your bin when you have made every effort to fit it into your bin.
Paper, metal, plastic: Put these materials in a cardboard box or a paper bag and set them next to your blue recycling bin. There is no charge for extra recycling.
Glass: You can set out any type of rigid plastic container filled with glass bottles and jars, for no additional charge. A 5-gallon bucket works well, with a few holes drilled in the bottom to let rain through.
Renters
If you rent a house, ask the landlord before setting out whole trees, extra garbage, or bulky items.
If you live in an apartment building and are looking for a place to drop off your Christmas tree, call 503-234-3000 or Ask Metro to find the nearest drop-off location to you
Reduce and reuse before you recycle
Getting rid of holiday decorations or gifts you don’t love? Donate them to one of Portland’s many non-profit thrift stores or offer them for free to neighbors via Nextdoor, Buy Nothing Group, or Craigslist.
Looking for gifts, holiday decorations, or an additional chair to host friends and family this year? Shop at one of Portland’s many local thrift shops for great finds and low prices.
By reducing, reusing, and recycling right, you’re saving natural resources, reducing pollution, and creating jobs: Thank you!