Food Compost Collection in Portland, OR
Since 1936, Portland Disposal & Recycling, Inc. has been a family-operated cornerstone of Portland’s sustainability efforts, transforming food waste into valuable compost to keep our city vibrant and green. Our residential food compost collection service empowers households to divert food scraps from landfills, fostering a cleaner environment for future generations. Using a 60-gallon green “Portland Composts!” roll cart, we make it simple to collect food scraps like vegetable peels, coffee grounds, and leftovers. Join our community-driven mission to enhance Portland’s beauty, one family at a time, with our convenient and eco-friendly composting solutions.
Food Composting Instructions for Portland Residents
Residential customers with regular service receive a 60-gallon green “Portland Composts!” roll cart for food scraps and yard debris. Place your cart curbside by 6:00 a.m. for weekly pickup, ensuring it’s visible, accessible, and at least 12 inches from other carts or objects. The cart’s lid must close, and contents should be loosely packed for easy emptying. Weight should not exceed 135 lbs. to prevent damage. For questions, call us at (503) 281-8736, and we’ll guide you to compost effectively.
Acceptable Food Scraps for Composting
Accepted Food Scraps: Meats, poultry, seafood, bones, dairy, bread, fruits, vegetables, cheese, eggshells, rice, beans, pasta, coffee grounds, plate scrapings, paper napkins, paper towels, coffee filters, tea bags, and pizza delivery boxes. These materials are processed into nutrient-rich compost, benefiting local soil.
Not Accepted: Pet waste, plastic bags, “compostable” containers, liquids, grease, or oil. These can contaminate the compost stream or harm processing equipment, so please exclude them from your green cart.
Tailored Composting Services for Households
Every Portland household is unique, and our food compost collection service is designed for flexibility. While we provide weekly pickup by default, residents can adjust schedules or request assistance for special needs, such as help with curbside placement. For those focused solely on composting without garbage service, contact us to explore customized options. Our goal is to make eco-friendly living effortless, ensuring your food scraps contribute to a sustainable Portland.
Managing Extra Food Compost
If your green cart overflows, you can:
- Save extra scraps for the next collection day.
- Visit a local compost facility.
- Set out an extra 32-gallon can labeled with a yard debris sticker (max 55 lbs.), a brown Kraft paper bag (max 45 lbs., no food scraps), or a tied bundle (max 45 lbs.) for an additional fee.
Call (503) 281-8736 to arrange extra pickup and discuss costs, keeping your composting routine seamless.
Frequently Asked Questions: Food Compost Collection
What Food Scraps Can I Put in My Green Cart?
Include meats, dairy, fruits, vegetables, coffee grounds, and paper napkins. Exclude pet waste, plastic bags, or “compostable” containers to ensure clean compost processing.
How Do I Ensure My Compost Cart Is Ready for Pickup?
Set your cart out by 6 a.m., lid closed, facing the street, at least 12 inches from objects. Keep it under 135 lbs. and loosely packed for safe collection.
Can I Compost Food Scraps Without Other Waste Services?
Yes, we offer compost-only collection for residents. Call (503) 281-8736 to set up a tailored service plan focused on food scraps.
Why Are “Compostable” Containers Not Allowed?
Many “compostable” containers require specific industrial processes not compatible with our system, risking contamination. Use only approved food scraps and paper items.
What If My Food Scraps Exceed the Cart’s Capacity?
Store extras for the next pickup, use a local facility, or arrange an extra can or bag pickup (fees apply). Contact us for details.
Portland Disposal & Recycling, Inc. (Portland, Oregon), (503) 281-8736, is committed to sustainable food composting. Contact us to join our mission for a greener Portland.
Customer Reviews
★★★★★
Great company with great customer service. I first talked to Trina, whom was very pleasant. I then spoke with Mellissa who got me all set up and answered all my questions with a phone Smile. I do forget the drivers name, but he did tell me he was one of the owners. He was great to work with as well. The company did what they said they were going to do and charged what they said they were going to charge . They were on time with the delivery. I requested for the bin to be picked up early (last minute) and they came the next morning. I would definitely recommend this company for disposal needs, and will use them again if needed in the future
– Joseph B.
★★★★★
Their team is the best! I've had to call a couple of times (new service, change of garbage can) and the person who helped me was absolutely wonderful. I never thought I'd be laughing on a call with the garbage company, but it was the highlight of my Monday! Thank you for having such a fantastic team, especially for the residential calls!
– Krista
★★★★★
Great customer service with a reliable and straight forward weekly pick-up schedule. Highly recommend! Portland Disposal and Recycling also offers affordable dumpster rentals with short-notice delivery for all of your home renovation needs. My only regret was not getting a bigger dumpster ;)
– Lucia K.
★★★★★
Dumpster Rental was great. I am totally happy with our weekly service from Portland Disposal so when we had a large amount of construction debris from a house remodel I called them. Melissa was very helpful and we set up delivery for the next day and pick up 3 days later. The dumpster arrived by 8:30 we had it filled by 9:30 and so I called to request an earlier pick up. The gentleman must have arrived while we had stepped out to the store because it was gone by 11:30. Great service. The man who dropped it off had a tricky angle in which to park it in our back driveway. Maneuvered it easily and put it in a handy location for us and, he obviously maneuvered it out of there too. Highly recommend.
– Ruth P.
★★★★★
I’ve not ever had a problem with Waste Management. They are on time and have never missed a pickup. I try to put my bins in order so they can pick up easily, or at least I think I do, bc I can only imagine some of the situations that occur for them on the daily. They also have very responsive pleasant customer service reps.
– Tashina L.
★★★★★
I've honestly never thought about reviewing the garbage company, but jumped online and saw they only had 2 stars! I'm figuring people only take the time to review after they've had an issue and they're super mad.... but I've found Portland Disposal & Recycling to be reliable and they've not done anything to call negative attention to what they're doing on a day-to-day basis. The best service companies are the ones that do the job right and don't require any thought whatsoever on the part of the customer.
– Nicole M.
★★★★★
Great company with great customer service. I first talked to Trina, whom was very pleasant. I then spoke with Mellissa who got me all set up and answered all my questions with a phone Smile. I do forget the drivers name, but he did tell me he was one of the owners. He was great to work with as well. The company did what they said they were going to do and charged what they said they were going to charge . They were on time with the delivery. I requested for the bin to be picked up early (last minute) and they came the next morning. I would definitely recommend this company for disposal needs, and will use them again if needed in the future
– Joseph B.
★★★★★
Their team is the best! I've had to call a couple of times (new service, change of garbage can) and the person who helped me was absolutely wonderful. I never thought I'd be laughing on a call with the garbage company, but it was the highlight of my Monday! Thank you for having such a fantastic team, especially for the residential calls!
– Krista