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1. Does my recycling have to fit inside of my cart?

Yes, all materials collected for recycling must fit inside of your cart so that the lid closes completely. Excess recyclable materials should be contained in paper bags and placed next to your cart.

2. My recycling roll-cart is too large for me. Are there any other options for me?

Beaverton haulers provide residents with a 60-gallon roll-cart for recycling. The larger size increases your overall capacity and provides space for larger items (like cardboard) to fit inside the cart.

3. Recycling is picked up every week, why do you want me to set it out only when full?

Beaverton residents have weekly collection of garbage and recycling, so you can set it out weekly if you would like too. However, in order to help keep collection costs low, you are encouraged to set out recycling carts and glass bins only when they are full (or nearly full). This increases the overall efficiency of the system, which in turn helps maintain low rates.

4. What happens to my recycling?

The materials are taken to a local, privately owned processing facility called a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) where the materials are sorted both mechanically and manually. The sorted materials (e.g., metal, cardboard, paper, plastic, etc.) are then baled and transported to various markets throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Examples may include: paper to paper mills, metal to metal smelters, and plastic bottles to fiber mills (used in carpets and clothing).

5. How can we persuade our neighbors to recycle more?

Lead by example. When talking with your neighbors, you may want to point out that recycling allows us the opportunity to reuse metals, petroleum products, tree fibers and other materials that have limited supplies and are energy-intensive to extract. Additionally, it removes large quantities of material from occupying space in our landfills.

6. I’m recycling everything I can at home—what more can I do?

There are two possible things to think about:

• Reduce - Consider ways you might generate less waste at home. Purchase products with less packaging or more recycled-content or reuse more materials.
• Take your home practices to work. Are you recycling the same materials at work that you can recycle at home? Since businesses produce over 50% of the region’s waste, there is huge potential for recovery from businesses.

7. What do I do with used motor oil?

Used motor oil can be recycled curbside using the following guidelines:

• Pour the oil into a clear, plastic container with a screw-top cap (i.e., a one-gallon milk jug)
• Place the container next to your red glass recycling bin (your motor oil actually gets picked up by the glass recycling truck).
• The red bin serves as a signal to the truck driver. Even if you do not have glass in your bin, place your red bin at the curb so the driver stops to collect your oil.
• Do not mix anything with motor oil - your hauler will refuse to pick it up.

8. Why aren’t more materials recyclable at curbside?

Materials are placed on the recyclable list when the markets are stable and able to accept the large quantities of materials that citywide programs generate. Careful consideration is given when any material is added to recycling collection. Rarely are materials removed from the list. Public recycling depots, such as Far West Recycling, often accept materials for recycling that can’t be recycled curbside. Contact the depot for more information or view the recycling depot page.

9. What are some common mistakes that people make when recycling?

People make several common mistakes when recycling

• #1 - Placing glass bottles and jars into the mixed recycling cart. Any resulting broken glass contaminates paper products and makes them difficult to process. Glass bottles and jars should be kept separate and collected in your curbside bin.
• #2 - Placing plastic bags in curbside recycling containers. Plastic bags tend to get tangled up in sorting equipment resulting in costly shutdowns and repairs.
• #3 - Placing materials with food residue in the recycling cart. For example, pizza boxes should be free of large amounts of grease and cheese.
• #4 - Placing frozen food cartons and coffee cups in the recycling cart. The boxes are specially coated to prevent moisture from entering the carton. The coating makes the paper-pulping process difficult.

When in doubt, keep it out! It is actually better to keep materials out of the recycling cart if you are unsure about whether or not they are recyclable, than to put them in and hope for the best.

If you have any questions about what is or is not recyclable, please call the Beaverton’s Solid Waste and Recycling Program at 503-526-2665.

10. Are businesses required to recycle?

In April, 2009, the City of Beaverton passed the Business Recycling Requirements that state that all Beaverton businesses* recycle all paper, cardboard, and containers (metal, plastic and glass). The Recycle At Work program offers free assistance and desk-side boxes to businesses in the City. To learn more, please call The Recycle at Work program at 503-526-2460.

11. What can I do to stop junk mail?

It is estimated that every household gets about 100 pounds of unsolicited mail each year. To learn how to stop junk mail, please visit Metro's Stop junk mail site or call 503-234-3000.