• Recycle your holiday tree
• SHS Recycling Drive
• Styrofoam ban in 2025
• Business recycling requirements
• State approves new recycling rules to reduce packaging pollution, make producers pay for waste
• All about plastic recycling 

Recycle your holiday tree

What to do with the tree once the holidays are over? Several scout troops are conducting fundraisers for tree and greenery recycling. Or you can follow the instructions for Walker Garbage pickup. If you have room on your property, another solution is to put the tree behind a bush somewhere and wait until summer when all the needles will have fallen off to become compost. Then you can either trim off the branches and use the trunk as a pole or cut it up and place it in yard debris.

Troop 728

Saturday, January 4, and Sundays January 5 and 12, 9 am-noon, Terra Linda Elementary School, suggested donation $20

If you received one of our flyers (the white envelope with red writing) then we will be picking trees up in your neighborhood on these dates. Please have your tree (wreath, or greenery) at the curb by 9 am on the date of your choice, with the envelope attached and visible from the street. If it isn’t out by 9 am when we start collecting, it might be missed during our first route. We will make another round by 11 am, so no need to let us know until after noon.

There is no need to call or email to “schedule” a pick up. If you received our envelope, then we will have trucks in your area on those dates. If you misplaced the envelope, you can make one by writing 728 on any homemade donation envelope placed in a waterproof bag. Don’t forget to make sure the envelope is visible!

If you did not receive an envelope, we might not be picking up in your area. But don’t worry, we will be accepting drop offs at Terra Linda Elementary school until noon on those dates.

For your tax-deductible donation—$20 suggested for average tree—you may put cash or a check payable to “Troop 728” in the envelope and attach it to the tree. You may also pay via PayPal or Zelle to trees@troop728.com. If you choose the PayPal option, to maximize your donation to the troop, please use “send Money to Friends & Family” and please write your Transaction ID on the envelope and still attach it to the tree. The envelope is the indicator that your tree is meant for Troop 728.

For more information about joining our girls troop 5728, or boys troop 728, please visit www.troop728.com

Thank you for your support of Scouting! Happy Holidays!

Troop 208

Saturday & Sunday, January 4-5, 9 am-3 pm, Stoller Middle School parking lot, 14141 NW Laidlaw

Please remove all ornaments and tinsel, no flocked trees or wreaths. Suggested donation $20.

Girl Scout Troop #40259

Wednesday, January 1, Saturday & Sunday January 4-5, 9 am-4 pm, Trader Joe’s parking lot, 7215 SW Garden Home, $12 per item

 Our troop is doing tree/wreath/swag recycling. They are a small troop hoping to earn money to go to Spain during Spring Break 2026!

Scout Troop 5618/618

Saturday & Sunday, January 4-5, 12 am-4 pm, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 14175 NW Cornell, suggested donation $20/tree, $10 wreath or swag

Drop off your holiday greenery. They are also collecting redeemable cans and bottles.

From Walker Garbage: Can I recycle my Christmas tree along with my yard debris?

Please cut up your tree so it all fits inside your yard debris cart with the top closed. Any tree parts left beside the bin will be charged as extra material.

All trees will be picked up as yard debris during yard debris weeks. Trees need to be placed next to your containers, out at the curb (or wherever they are normally placed for pick up). Only artificial/flocked trees will be picked up as garbage and will be charged as an extra unit of garbage at: $6.25 in Washington County, $5.00 in Portland and $4.85 in Beaverton.

All trees need to be 6 ft. and under. If your tree is over 6 ft., it must be cut down into smaller sections. Trees (6 ft. and under) set out without a yard debris cart will be picked up at no charge. Additional sections will be charged as an extra unit of yard debris at: $3.00 in Washington County, $3.75 in Portland and $3.45 in Beaverton. Trees (6 ft. and under) set out in addition to a full yard debris cart will be charged at: $5.00 each in Washington County and Portland and $3.00 each in Beaverton.

SHS Recycling Drive

Saturday, January 11, 10 am-2 pm, Sunset High School, 13840 NW Cornell Rd

Recycle your Styrofoam and electronics at our drive led by Sunset High School’s Climate Change Club, in partnership with Green Century Recycling! We accept: Rigid styrofoam that breaks when it’s bent; Packing peanuts (no starch); EPS Grade B styrofoam egg cartons and cups; Electronics such as computers, phones, video games, tablets, etc. 

For more information on what is accepted, please visit our website. Please drop off styrofoam that is clean, dry, and free of tape, labels and residue. 

Donations are greatly appreciated and crucial for continuing this service, as we do incur a fee to recycle these items. Thank you for helping us make our community more sustainable! For questions, email us at shsclimatechangeclub@gmail.com

Styrofoam ban in 2025

Does your business use Styrofoam coffee cups or containers in breakrooms or for take-out service? These materials will be prohibited in Oregon as of January 1, 2025. Contact the Green Business Leaders team at recycle@washingtoncountyor.gov to help you transition away from Styrofoam. We can help you find reusable options, waste less, and save money!  

Business recycling requirements

Businesses, schools, public agencies, and nonprofit organizations are required to recycle the following:

Paper and cardboard; Metal cans and containers; Plastic bottles and round containers; Glass bottles and jars.

Have recycling questions? We can help you identify recyclable items you have and disposal options. Check out our Business Recycling Guide and What to Recycle and Where search tool. Call us today at 503-846-3605.

State approves new recycling rules to reduce packaging pollution, make producers pay for waste

Starting this summer, Oregonians across the state will have a standardized list of what can and cannot be recycled statewide, and owners and managers of apartment complexes and multi-unit housing will need to provide recycling for residents. The Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act will go into effect July 1, 2025, making it easier for Oregonians to recycle. It will establish new packaging fees for companies selling products in Oregon, based on the weight and recyclability of the material. Read more here.

All about plastic recycling 

Recycling plastic is important because it can be reused to make other plastic products. Recycling plastic reduces the need for new plastic, saves energy, and lowers harmful emissions contributing to climate change. After the plastic is collected for recycling, it’s sorted, cleaned, shredded, melted and turned into small pellets. These pellets are then used to make new plastic products. 

Reminder: When you put plastic items in the recycling bin, remember that it’s the shape that matters. The numbers and symbols tell us what kind of plastic it is. They do not indicate whether it can go in the recycling bin.

Accepted plastic packaging in the mixed recycling bin: Please rinse all containers.

• Plastic bottles, jugs, and jars: Six ounces or larger, any container with a threaded neck (for a screw-on lid) or neck narrower than the base. This includes milk jugs, peanut butter jars, personal care, and cleaning product bottles (shampoo, laundry soap, sani-wipes, etc.).
• Round plastic containers: Six ounces or larger, typically for salsa, margarine, cottage cheese, hummus, etc. (no drink cups).
• Planting and nursery pots: Larger than four inches in diameter and made of rigid plastic (not crinkly or flexible plastic). Remove dirt.
• Buckets: Five gallons or smaller. Handles are okay to leave on.

View the Recycling Guide and learn more on the Washington County Solid Waste & Recycling website.