City of Portland, OR
07/21/2026 | News release | Distributed by Public on 07/21/2026 11:10
Early garbage pickup on hot days
Label: News article
View full size image of Recycling, compost, and garbage bins sitting on the grassy section between the sidewalk and the street. An intense sun shines down on them.
On very hot days, waste collection may start earlier than usual for the safety of collection drivers. Residential customers should set garbage, recycling, and compost bins out at the curb the night before.
Published
July 21, 2026 10:00 am
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Don't miss a pickup: Set bins out the night before
On Wednesday, July 21, collection may start as early as 5 a.m. to protect the health and safety of waste collection drivers.
Residential customers should set out garbage, recycling, and compost bins the night before collection day to avoid missing a pickup.
As Gregory Moore, district manager for Waste Connections, one of Portland's residential garbage companies, explains:
"We are asking residential customers to help us keep our drivers safe by placing bins at the curb the night before. Our drivers work 10- to 11-hour days inside trucks that can get overwhelmingly hot.
Allowing our team to start collection early will get them off the streets earlier and reduce the potential for heat-related illnesses.
We appreciate the community's support in helping to protect our most valuable asset, the hard-working men and women collecting your garbage and recycling."
If your pickup is missed
Please contact your garbage and recycling company directly. For other questions related to garbage and recycling, contact our Curbside Hotline.
Get real-time alerts
Download the Portland Garbage Day Reminder app (App Store or Google Play) to get real-time notices about weather-related service delays, including early pickup during summer heatwaves and delayed pickup during winter storms.
Or get notifications by email, text, or phone call: Sign up for garbage day reminders.
Dropping off hazardous waste?
Check Metro's website or call to confirm the Hazardous Waste and Transfer Station hours. They may close early due to the heat.
More heat-related information
Go to the City of Portland's Stay cool and safe in Portland heat waves webpage or visit Public Alerts.
City of Portland, OR published this content on July 21, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on July 21, 2026 at 17:10 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]