Preparing Recyclables

Gresham Sanitary Service - Blue Curby recycling Bin

Curbside recycling is easy! Just follow the basic instructions below. We will provide you with one Curby recycling bin for glass only and a blue recycling cart for all other recycling materials. Please do not place glass in the blue recycle cart. Recycle only those items that are listed. Other items or trash will contaminate your recyclables and may make them unusable.

Recycle in Cart:

Paper

Flattened cardboard
Cereal, cracker and shoe boxes
Magazines and phone books
Mail and office paper
Paper egg cartons
Newspapers
Paper bags
Paper rolls

Tip Cardboard boxes should be placed inside the cart. Flatten and cut boxes to a size that will fit and fall out loosely

Tip Put your small scrap paper items and shredded paper in a brown paper bag or box before placing in the cart. This will help reduce litter when the cart is emptied on windy days. Paper & Cardboard Recyclables

Plastic

Plastic Recyclables

Plastic bottles, jars, jugs and tubs – 6 ounces or larger
Rigid plastic nursery plant pots – 4 inches across or larger
Plastic buckets

Metal

Clean steel, aluminum & tin cans and lids
Clean foil items
Empty aerosol cans
Other small metal items under 30 lbs. and less than 30 inches

Metal Recyclables

Unacceptable Materials

Paper cups and plates
Napkins and paper towels
Food-soiled paper
Frozen food boxes
Plastic bags
Plastic clamshells and trays
Hazardous waste bottles
Styrofoam blocks and packing peanuts
Ceramics
Motor oil bottles or containers that have come in contact with pesticides or herbicides
Plastic toys
Plastic lids
Computers, monitors or TV’s
Liquids
Fluorescent lights

Near Cart:

Glass

Bottles & Jars

Glass Recyclables

Place in Curby bin to the side of the recycle cart.

Tip: Equipment at Oregon and Washington paper mills is damaged when glass shards are mixed in with recyclable paper. Always keep glass bottles and jars out of the cart.

No lids, mirrors, light bulbs, broken glass, drinking glasses, flower vases, ceramics or window glass.

Motor Oil Recyclables

Motor Oil

Put in transparent one gallon jug with a screw top lid to the side of the recycle cart.

Do not mix motor oil with other liquids.

No cooking oil.

Setting out your bins and carts

Placement of Carts and Bins

Please leave a space of 3 feet between your cans and carts, and, when possible, leave a space of 10 feet between your cart and cars, trees, mail boxes and basketball hoops. We use trucks with automated collection arms and that spacing is needed for them to function effectively. All cans and carts must be placed within three feet of the curb.

Your recyclables, garbage and yard debris should be out on the curb by 6:00 a.m. on collection day.

Tip You don’t need to put your recycling cart out for collection every week. Put it out only when it is full. That saves you time and energy, and makes the collection system more efficient.

Want more information?

See the City of Gresham’s web site or contact us.