Business Recycling Requirements

Workplaces are in a unique position to take meaningful action to reduce environmental impacts. When businesses become more environmentally responsible they can benefit their individual business and the communities they operate in, and help us meet statewide goals.

Oregon law cites the need to conserve resources and energy and acknowledges limits in the environment’s ability to absorb the impacts of increasing consumption. Oregon's recycling laws give local waste sheds flexibility in implementing materials management programs and meeting voluntary materials recovery goals. Throughout greater Portland, Business Recycling and Food Waste Requirements are two policies that were established to help meet statewide recovery goals.   

The City of Gladstone has designated Clackamas County Sustainability and Solid Waste to provide waste reduction and recycling education in our community.

Recycling Requirements

Businesses throughout greater Portland are doing their part for the environment by recycling at work. But, during an average year, businesses still send more than 100,000 tons of recyclable paper and containers to local landfills.

In 2009 to encourage more recycling, Metro and local cities and counties adopted business recycling requirements that require businesses to:

• Recycle paper, cardboard and containers (aluminum cans, plastic bottles and glass)
• Ensure there are internal collection bins for these recyclables
• Post recycling signs and instructions for staff indicating which items go in the recycling bins.

Clackamas County provides free assistance, inside bins, and educational materials to help you meet these requirements.

Food Waste Requirements

Food is the largest portion of garbage the greater Portland area throws away every year. Food makes up 28% of the total waste that grocery stores, restaurants, caterers, commercial kitchens, food manufacturers and food distributors send to the landfill annually.

In 2018 and 2019, Metro, local cities and counties adopted a policy that requires certain types of businesses to keep food out of the garbage. 

Implementation of this regional requirement begins in March 2022 and many businesses within the Metro boundary will need to comply by 2023. All businesses generating more than 1 roll cart of food waste per week will be required to separate their food scraps by the end of 2024. 

Covered business will need to:

• Set up and maintain adequate service
• Set up internal containers with labels (available for free)
• Separate their food scraps from other garbage

*This requirement does not apply to public or customer-facing areas of your business. It only applies to food scraps handled by employees. 

Clackamas County business waste reduction specialist can help you set up a program with free assistance, internal bins and labels, and help train staff on what’s allowed in the food bin.

To support businesses, Metro, DEQ and local government partners have created online resources to help you reduce food waste through composting, prevention and donation strategies, and how to choose single-use service ware that balances cost and environmental impact.

GET FREE CUSTOMIZED ASSISTANCE

The City of Gladstone has designated Clackamas County Sustainability & Solid Waste to provide free personalized assistance and supplies help you meet these requirements and set up a recycling and waste reduction program in your workplace.

For free assistance, call Clackamas County waste reduction specialist at 503-557-6363 or greenbiz@clackamas.us or visit www.clackamas.us/recycling/work