Never Miss Garbage Day Again
More counties and cities turn to apps to help.
Perhaps you are the type of person who always remembers to take your garbage to the curb on garbage day. For me living in Portland where my garbage is only picked up every other week, I often had to look at my neighbors’ bins to see if it was garbage week or not.
For many, taking out the garbage and recycling is a chore rather dealt with by the wave of a magic wand. While we still wait on that technology, a few cities and counties in the area have turned to day-before reminders via email, text, phone calls, and even an app you can download onto your iOS or Android phone. You can even sign up for multiple reminders and encourage others in your household to sign up as well.
Some of these programs will also notify you of changes to your schedule (such as due to a holiday or weather), upcoming recycling drop-off events, and quick tips to clear up recycling confusion.
Best of all, many of these programs are available in other languages, such as Spanish, Vietnamese, Simplified Chinese, Russian, and more.
So, who has what?
Portland
Portland has had email reminders for a long time, but now has the Portland Garbage Day app for people who live in a house, duplex, triplex, or fourplex. You can download the app using the QR codes, or by visiting www.portland.gov/garbageday. If apps are not your thing, you can visit the same webpage to sign up for text, email, or phone reminders (or give them a call at 503-823-7202). More features will come to this program over time, but it’s not applicable for people living in apartments or for businesses.
Washington
Washington County has the Garbage and Recycling Day app, which you can download by searching the AppStore or by visiting https://webapps.washingtoncountyor.gov/garbage-and-recycling-day/. Washington County is using the app a lot for event promotion, and also has the Waste Wizard where you can look up how to properly discard, donate or recycle hundreds of items.
Clackamas
Clackamas has a similar notification system, but they do not have an app. You can sign up for text, email, or phone notifications by visiting https://www.clackamas.us/recycling/garbage/company.html
The cities of Beaverton and Gresham do not have these programs.