Portland city rules require that recycle be put in bins for pick up. Paper bags are not acceptable. Why? Recycle placed out in paper bags often tips over or blows down the street changing well intentioned recycle into litter. Rain and snow destroy paper bags, creating a mess of loose recycle all over the sidewalks and streets. The intent of plastic bins is to contain the recycle. Paper bags are a problem not a solution. Portlanders now recycle about 35% of total solid waste. Recycling saves on blue bags and is good for the earth. Litter looks terrible, depreciates a neighborhood, and costs the taxpayer money. The State of Maine has a recycling goal of 50% by 2020.

There are basically two trash rules to follow:
1. Put trash and recycle in correct container; (blue bags and recycle bins).
2. Put trash and recycle out no earlier than 3 p.m. the day before your pick up.

Recycling Tips: You can recycle your old computer equipment at Goodwill. They accept monitors, scanners, hard drives, ink and toner cartridges, keyboards, mice etc. They work with Dell Reconnect accepting and recycling computer materials thereby reducing carbon emissions.

Portland recycle bins are available for $7.00 at Public Services at 55 Portland Street Monday thru Friday 8-4:30 and at The Riverside Recycling Facility, 910 Riverside Street (797-6200) Monday thru Saturday 7-4.

Proper and efficient Solid Waste Management is vital to the financial and environmental future of our City.

Please share your ideas for ways to make it work for all of us. Contact the Sanitation Compliance Officer 756-8166.

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Photos courtesy of Greater Portland Landmarks