Clean up your neighborhood

Garbage and recycling › Clean up your neighborhood

Make a difference in your neighborhood by planning a community cleanup event. Metro offers vouchers to nonprofits for the disposal of bulky waste and nonrecyclable materials.

Program update

In 2009 the Metro Council approved $100,000 in funding for the disposal voucher program and directed staff to clearly define the qualifying criteria for organizations and events; to continue to call for waste reduction, education and recycling at cleanup events; to improve program user accountability and administrative efficiency; and to increase outreach about the availability of the program.

To achieve these goals, the following program modifications were implemented Jan. 1, 2010:

Qualifying events must have a primary focus on community cleanup.
Disposal vouchers may no longer be used for residential yard debris.
Curbside cleanup events are no longer eligible.
Event organizers are now required to complete and return an event summary form within 30 days of the event or be subject to a one-year disqualification from the program.

Metro's disposal voucher program supports community and natural area cleanups sponsored by neighborhood associations, local governments, public agencies and eligible nonprofit organizations. These projects enhance the appearance and safety of neighborhoods and contribute to the livability of the region. The vouchers cover the disposal costs of bulky waste and nonrecyclable materials that are collected during cleanup events.

Local governments also are eligible to participate in Metro's neighborhood cleanup matching grant program that pays for other items related to cleanup events, like dumpster rental fees, advertising, and gloves and supplies for volunteers.

Eligibility for disposal vouchers

Your organization must be a local government, neighborhood association or a qualified nonprofit organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code.
You must apply for disposal vouchers at least 14 days prior to an event.
You must not contract with for-profit organizations to collect, process or sell used good.
You must recognize Metro as a sponsor on all marketing materials.
You must provide opportunities at your event for reuse and recycling.
You cannot use Metro’s disposal vouchers to benefit any religious function of any religious group.
You are required to complete and return the event summary form within 30 days of your event or be subject to a one-year disqualification from the program. Your summary should include the amount and types of waste collected and recycled at your events, samples of event publicity, photo of reuse and recycling station, and number of people served.
You must use the vouchers by the expiration date, and return to Metro any unused vouchers no later than 30 days after your event.
There is a $5,000 annual limit per agency (depending upon fund availability).

Qualifying events

Events that qualify for disposal vouchers include neighborhood or community cleanups, natural area cleanups and other events with a primary focus on waste reduction or recycling. Events should provide benefit to the public at large and cannot solely benefit one organization or that organization's membership.

Prohibited materials

hazardous waste
commercial landscaping
construction debris
waste not accepted at transfer stations
household garbage
residential yard debris or trimmings

How to apply

Fill out the disposal voucher application below and fax or mail it to Ava Linhart at Metro. Apply for disposal vouchers well in advance of your event, and no later than 14 days prior. Include proof of nonprofit status if applicable. Contact your local hauler to inquire about rental or donation of dumpsters. Metro’s disposal vouchers pay only for disposal of the waste at a local transfer station (the "tipping fee").

Return completed application and event summary forms to:

Metro's Sustainability Center
Attn: Ava Linhart
600 NE Grand Ave
Portland, OR 97232
503-797-1651 | 503-797-1849 fax
ava.linhart@oregonmetro.gov

Report illegal dumping

Residents help stop road dumper

In 2006, a number of Gunderson employees assisted Metro detectives over several weeks in finding a culprit that was tossing sacks of garbage from a moving vehicle; the sacks would be struck by traffic and the garbage scattered all over the roadway. The detectives confronted and questioned the man who admitted to tossing out his garbage on his way to work. He was issued the maximum citation and promised never to do it again.

Contact feedback@oregonmetro.gov with questions regarding this site.

Metro
600 NE Grand Ave.
Portland, OR 97232-2736
503-797-1700
503-797-1804 TDD
503-797-1797 fax

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