Clackamas County Applications Now Open!
¡Bienvenidos a los voluntarios bilingües!
The number one way people learn about the Master Recycler Program is from another Master Recycler!
Help us spread the word:
Tell people you talk with while volunteering.
Share the application on your social media, local Nextdoor, or neighborhood group while sharing what the program means to you.
Attention Washington County Master Recyclers!
There is now a reduced rate program for garbage and recycling services available to qualifying households in unincorporated parts of Washington County. Learn More.
¡Atención, expertos en reciclaje del condado de Washington!
Ahora hay un programa de tarifas reducidas para los servicios de basura y reciclaje disponible para los hogares que califican en las partes no incorporadas del condado de Washington. Aprende más.
Goosechase for Washington County
One of the many ways people celebrate a new year is to create New Year’s resolutions. Join Washington County Solid Waste and Recycling in our “New Year, Greener You” game to help you achieve your sustainability goals for 2023! Whether your New Year’s resolution is to become “greener,” save money, have more fun, spend time with family, or even participate in events in your community, Goosechase is for you! Learn more.
Goosechase para el condado de Washington
Una de las muchas maneras con que la gente celebra un año nuevo es creando resoluciones de Año Nuevo. Únete a nuestro juego “Reverdece con el Año Nuevo” para ayudarte a realizar tus metas de sostenibilidad para el 2023. Ya sea que tus resoluciones incluyan el volverte más “verde”, ahorrar dinero, divertirte más, pasar más tiempo con tus seres amados, o participar en eventos comunitarios, ¡Goosechase está diseñada para ti! Aprende más.
Partner Spotlight
City of Portland Garbage and Recycling Outreach Staff
Genevieve Joplin, Paul de Block and Alicia Polacok
As 2023 kicks off, the City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability is excited to connect with Master Recycler volunteers, new and seasoned, for tabling opportunities in the community. We are happy that a signature City of Portland community event, Fix-It Fairs, are back in person for 2023, (see the volunteer calendar for more information) and are great way to get familiar with recycling information and sharing it with community members.
While the topic of recycling is always one we can talk about, we also rely on Master Recycler volunteers for help with explaining the specifics on composting, food waste prevention and our local network of reuse, repair and sharing organizations.
Genevieve Joplin has worked with Portland businesses for many years on recycling and composting and looks to Master Recyclers for help with requests from businesses for recycling presentations. Most workplaces appreciate an overview of the recycling system, as well as answering specific questions on tricky materials. As the opportunities emerge to gather at many of the fun spring and summer outdoor events, Genevieve will be the main contact for City of Portland tabling kits. Feel free to reach out as you see volunteer opportunities that interest you, or if you have an idea to use one of the kits in your own community. Email genevieve.joplin@portlandoregon.gov or call 503-568-2803.
Paul de Block works on food waste prevention programs and food scrap composting programs, both at work and at home. He is the point person for keeping the Eat Smart, Waste Less food waste prevention education kit stocked and updated. Paul is a good resource to call on when providing outreach to the community on food waste related topics. Email paul.deblock@portlandoregon.gov or call 503-823-2069
Alicia Polacok is your contact for garbage, recycling, and compost information for all Portland residents, renters, and community members. She is your go-to contact for Resourceful PDX, the thoughtful consumption program that continues to share how and where Portlanders can reuse, repair, borrow and share. Email alicia.polacok@portlandoregon.gov or call 503-823-7107.
Volunteer Opportunities
JOIN THE REPAIR MOVEMENT IN GRESHAM
The community group that organizes Gresham Repair Cafes would like to bring in additional people to help organize and run events. Pre-pandemic, this group organized up to three repair cafes each year at rotating locations across the city.
They are looking for folks that have an interest or background in organizing events, helping promote Repair Cafe events within the community through social media and networking. There is also potential interest in combining forces with swap and reuse/exchange events. No repair/fixing experience required.
If you're interested or have questions, please contact RepairCafeGresham@gmail.com
Do You Enjoy Creating Tabling Kits?
Are you the creative type who enjoys dreaming up table displays to share your recycling knowledge? The City of Troutdale needs your help! They are looking for a Master Recycler or two to help them design and create an engaging recycling education table for summer events.
Interested? Reach out to Ryan Largura at ryan.largura@troutdaleoregon.gov.
Volunteer Calendar
New year means new events on the calendar! Check out the below events in January.
Metro South Transfer Station Service Update
The Metro South transfer station will stop accepting polystyrene foam for recycling in January. Please drop off polystyrene foam by Jan. 15 to make sure it can be recycled before the service ends.
Polystyrene foam includes any rigid, non-squishable Styrofoam products like block packaging and egg cartons. After January, these materials should be thrown out with household garbage or taken to the Agilyx recycling center in Tigard.
The polystyrene recycling service was a pilot program launched in 2020. Agilyx, the company who owns and operates the processing equipment, has decided to move operations back to their recycling center. Metro staff will continue to explore new options for the space so that resources can be dedicated to more impactful services like bulky waste disposal and mattress recycling.
Learn more about how Metro is working to identify and mitigate gaps in service for specific items at oregonmetro.gov/systemfacilitiesplan.
For questions about what can and can’t be recycled, visit oregonmetro.gov/askmetro or call 503-234-3000 to speak with a recycling expert in English or Spanish.
Actualización del servicio de la estación de transferencia de Metro
La estación de transferencia de Metro South dejará de aceptar espuma de poliestireno para reciclaje en enero. Por favor traiga su espuma de poliestireno antes del 15 de enero para asegurar que puede ser reciclada antes de que termine este servicio.
La espuma de poliestireno incluye cualquier producto rígido de poliestireno como bloques de paquetería y cartones de huevos. Después de enero, estos materiales deben tirarse a la basura con el resto de la basura del hogar o llevarse al centro de reciclaje de Agilyx en Tigard.
El servicio de reciclaje de poliestireno fue un programa piloto lanzado en 2020. Agilyx, la compañía propietaria que opera el equipo de procesamiento, ha decidido trasladar sus operaciones de nuevo a su centro de reciclaje. El personal de Metro continuará explorando nuevas opciones para el espacio para que los recursos puedan dedicarse a servicios más impactantes como la eliminación de desechos voluminosos y el reciclaje de colchones.
Para preguntas sobre lo que se puede reciclar y lo que no, visite oregonmetro.gov/preguntaunexperto o llame al 503-234-3000 para hablar con un especialista en reciclaje, en español o inglés.