Schedules • Recycling • Wind and weather
Bins, lids, rollcarts etc. • Payment Options
Large loads and unusual items • General information

How do I sign up for new garbage service?

Use our online form or call us at the office at 503-531-6330. If you call and get the answering machine, please leave a message, we check the machine frequently and will get back to you right away.

How do I change or stop my garbage service?

Use our online form or call us at the office at 503-531-6330. If you call and get the answering machine, please leave a message, we check the machine frequently and will get back to you right away.

Schedules

What is your holiday schedule?

Walker Garbage Service collects your garbage on every holiday except Christmas Day and New Years Day. For people whose normal collection day would fall on either of these days, your collection will be delayed by one day. For example, Thursday regulars will be picked up on Friday, and Friday regulars will be picked up on Saturday.

I can never remember my yard recycling day. Can you help?

We have a schedule on our website. You can download the PDF file and print and post it to help you remember. See our yard debris page.

Recycling

I just moved and have a lot of cardboard boxes to recycle. Should I leave them at the curb?

No, give us a call or email us and we will make a special trip. Normally there is no charge for this, but we may have to charge depending on the situation.

What happens to my recycling if I don’t sort it correctly?

In some cases we will leave it at your curb with a note explaining the problem. In some cases we will take it anyway. We usually fix the problem and recycle it but sometimes it has to become trash – especially if the material is contaminated with food or other substances.

My recycling was left in the bin or rollcart? Why?

Common problems include glass in the commingled rollcart; non-recyclable material included; material contaminated with food waste or other contaminant. See our recycling page for detailed information about recycling.

What happens to my recycling materials?

All the material we collect for recycling is sent to Far West Fiber (farwestfibers.com/hillsboro.htm)

It is placed onto huge conveyor belts and sorted through a combination of mechanical and human processing.

Can you mail me a yard recycling calendar?

We have a calendar on this website which you can print. Washington County distributes a schedule in their newsletter, “Wastelines,” which is sent to every postal customer in our area once a year and you can also find information on the county's website recyclewise.org.

I live in an apartment and there’s no recycling facility/
I manage an apartment, can I get help setting up a recycling facility for my tenants?

Yes, we will come and help you set up your recycling area. Just call us or email us.

I can never remember my yard recycling day. Can you help?

We have a schedule on our website. You can download the PDF file and print and post it to help you remember. See our yard debris page.

What items can I put in my yard debris bin?

See our yard debris page for complete information about what can be included.

Can I recycle my Christmas tree along with my yard debris?

Yes, just put it out by the curb on your next yard debris recycling day. See the calendar if you don't know your day.

What happens to my yard debris?

Several companies recycle yard debris into compost for gardens and agriculture. This is why we ask you to be careful not to contaminate your yard debris with chemically polluted material.

I want a yard debris cart. How do I get one and what does it cost?

If you live in Washington County your yard debris rollcart is free. Just call or email us.

If you live in the City of Portland, we have to charge you $3.30 for a yard debris bin. Again, just call or email us.

Wind and weather

When will my garbage be collected if it snows?

Our trucks can get through most snowfalls, but if the snow is really deep, garbage will be collected on the next day possible. From that point, each route will be collected on the following day including Saturday and/or Sunday until all routes have been caught up.

The lid from my can is missing. Why didn't you secure it when you collected trash?

We make every effort to secure your container and lid. On windy days your containers may be blown over despite everything we do. We cannot be responsible for losses due to weather. Our rollcart bins have attached tops. You may wish to consider getting this service if you continue to have problems.

Be sure to search for your missing lid or bin “downwind” where it might have blown. It’s also a good idea to put your name, address, and phone number on the bin and lid so it can be returned to you.

The best way to avoid lost bins and lids is to retrieve them shortly after they are emptied. If it’s a particularly windy day and you’re not going to be home, you might want to ask a neighbor to put your bins away.

My garbage wasn't collected on a very cold day, what happened?

Occasionally garbage becomes frozen inside the bin. We cannot remove it without risk of cracking your container. Just set out a double load the following week and you won't be charged.

It's raining, can I still put out my recycling?

Being wet doesn't hurt recycled materials at all. Just be sure everything is secured against wind, which often accompanies rain!

Bins, lids, rollcarts etc.

The lid from my can is missing. Why didn't you secure it when you collected trash?

We make every effort to secure your container and lid. On windy days your containers may be blown over despite everything we do. We cannot be responsible for losses due to weather. Our rollcart bins have attached tops. You may wish to consider one of these if you continue to have problems.

Be sure to search for your missing lid or bin “downwind” where it might have blown. It’s also a good idea to put your name, address, and phone number on the bin and lid so it can be returned to you.

My red bin or recycling rollcart is missing. Can I get another one?

Replacement Red Bins and Recycling Rollcarts (Washington County) are free. Replacement Yellow Bins (Multnomah County) are free. Just contact us (check the box that says "I need a recycling bin") and we'll deliver a new bin on your next regular pickup day.

If I move, can I take my red bin or my recycling rollcart with me?

No. The bin belongs to the lot you are on. You should leave your bins or rollcarts for the next resident. Bins should be available wherever you move. Contact your new hauler if they’re not.

I want a yard debris cart. How do I get one and what does it cost?

If you live in Washington County your yard debris rollcart is free. Just call or email us.

If you live in the City of Portland, we have to charge you $3.30 for a yard debris bin. Again, just call or email us.

Payment Options

Can I set up auto-pay with my bank to pay your bill?

Yes. You can download our form and send it to us with your bank account information, and we will set up an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) that will pay your bi-monthly bill automatically.

Can I pay you with my credit card?

We are not able to accept credit card payments at this time. Check back with us soon as we are working on this.

Large loads and unusual items

What should I do with my hazardous waste?

See our section on hazardous waste disposal.

I'm disposing of some heavy items. Do you have a weight limit?

Yes, a 35-gallon roll cart can not exceed 60 lbs. The 60-gallon roll cart can not exceed 120 lbs and the 90-gallon roll cart can not exceed 180 lbs.

How can I dispose of leftover paint?

Metro accepts paint for recycling at the Hazardous Waste Facility, located adjacent to the Metro Central Station. More information is available at:
www.metro-region.org/article.cfm?articleID=570

Metro Central Hazardous Waste Facility
(503) 234-3000
6161 NW 61st Avenue, Portland

Metro sells the re-mixed recycled paint through it's Metro Paint program:
www.metro-region.org/article.cfm?articleid=521

I need a drop box. Do you provide them?

Drop boxes are available through our partner, Washington County Drop Box.

Washington County Drop Box
www.washingtoncountydropbox.com
For Multnomah County customers: www.multnomahcountydropbox.com
(503) 531-8843
P.O. Box 5069
Aloha, OR 97007

We have some 2- and 3-yard containers for smaller loads. Rates are $75 per pickup for the 2-yard and $100 for the 3-yard. We can also haul pickup-loads at $30-$50 for half a load. Call the office at 503-531-6330 or email us for more information.

I have some large items to dispose of (e.g. refrigerator, couch)

We may be able to help you with this. Please call the office at 503-531-6330 for information on disposing of large items.

I have some broken glass to throw away, and I don’t want your haulers to get hurt. How should I wrap it?

If you are concerned, wrap it in a paper bag or some newspaper. Our haulers make every effort not to touch any of your trash, but we do appreciate your effort.

Do I need to do anything special with messy items?

Please contain ashes, cat litter, sawdust, shredded paper, packing peanuts (or any other type of trash that's likely to blow around) in a paper or plastic bag. This will help us keep the neighborhood clean.

We have a person in our household who must receive injections. How should we dispose of our “sharps?”

Call Metro or visit their web page about “sharps” disposal: www.metro-region.org/article.cfm?articleid=582

General Information

I just moved into your area and want to sign up for new service. What do I do?

You can use our online form to sign up for service. If we have any questions about your service, we'll phone you to get the details.

Who regulates garbage haulers in our area?

The regional government Metro regulates solid waste disposal in the tri-county area (Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas Counties are part of Metro.) metro-region.org

What happens to my garbage after you pick it up?

Your garbage is taken to the Metro Central Station in Portland. From there it is compacted and loaded onto semi trucks and shipped to Waste Management Inc.’s Columbia Ridge Recycling and Landfill in Arlington, Oregon. wmnorthwest.com/landfill/landfillcities/columbia.html

In 1990, Metro began a 20-year contract to dispose of waste from Metro transfer stations at this landfill. This contract was subsequently extended to the year 2014. Columbia Ridge has a designated facility agreement with Metro to accept non-putrescible and special wastes, petroleum contaminated soil and asbestos from inside the Metro region.

My garbage wasn’t picked up? Why not and what can I do?

Occasionally we miss a can, but the most common reason for a missed pickup is that you did not get it to the pickup location early enough. It must be curbside (or wherever we usually pick it up) by 6 am on your collection day.

Another cause of missed pickup is a dog- or wind-caused mess, which we cannot clean up.

In any case, if you call the office right away, we may be able to pick it up that day or the next. A small fee may apply. See below.

I missed getting my trash out in time? What can I do?

Usually if you miss a week, you can put out a double load the following week and you will not be charged extra. Our drivers keep track of these things.