Residential Garbage Rates

How Rates are Set

Rate review

Every year the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability conducts a rate review to establish fair and equitable rates for franchised garbage and recycling companies to charge the public for residential collection services.  These services include collection of garbage, recycling and yard debris.

The rate review includes analysis by an economist and an independent CPA.  A range of impacts are evaluated to determine the cost of providing service — including labor, equipment and fuel costs, the average weight of garbage in each can size, disposal charges for solid waste and yard debris and the market value of recyclables (revenues which partially offset costs). These factors are summarized in the annual Rate Study.  See the 2009-2010 Rate Study.

The proposed rates are then reviewed by Portland Utilities Review Board (PURB). PURB is a citizen advisory panel appointed by City Council to review rates for solid waste as well as water and sewer services. Following their review, the rates are forwarded to City Council who has final determination on rates charged to customers.

Container size and collection frequency determine cost

There are different levels of service based on container size. The smaller your garbage can, the less expensive your garbage and recycling pickup costs. Similarly, it is cheaper to have monthly, instead of weekly, garbage collection.   

You may be able to offset the cost of your service by recycling more and switching to one of these service packages: 

• weekly 20-gallon mini-can garbage collection
• once-a-month garbage collection

Both packages still include weekly recycling and every-other-week yard debris collection. 

If you have questions about your rate or your service level, please call your garbage and recycling company's office.

Terrain charges

In most of the southwest and northwest portions of Portland, a "terrain charge" is included in the rate. The topography in these areas creates conditions that lead to higher service costs. This includes narrow and dead-end roads, hills, non-grid street layouts and greater distance between houses.

2009-2010 Eastside Rates

2009-2010 Westside Rates