Where to Dump Junk in Portland: Complete Guide

Portland Metro Dumps & Transfer Stations

If you're doing a DIY junk removal project in Portland, knowing where to take your stuff is half the battle. The Portland metro area has several transfer stations and recycling facilities, each with different rules, hours, and accepted materials.

Oregon's recycling laws are among the strictest in the nation, which means you can't just throw everything into one pile and dump it. Transfer stations have separate areas for general waste, recyclables, yard debris, and hazardous materials. Sorting before you go saves time in line and can significantly reduce your fees since recyclable materials cost less to dispose of than general garbage.

Here's your complete guide to every dump, transfer station, recycling facility, and disposal option in the greater Portland metro area — including what they accept, what they charge, and tips for making your trip as efficient as possible.

Metro Central Transfer Station

Address: 6161 NW 61st Ave, Portland, OR 97210. Located in the NW Industrial district, Metro Central is the primary transfer station for Portland proper and the most-visited facility in the region.

Hours: Monday–Saturday, 8 AM–5 PM (last load accepted at 4:30 PM). Closed Sunday and major holidays. Arrive early on Saturdays — lines can stretch past the gate during spring and summer cleanup season.

General disposal fees: The minimum charge is approximately $30 for loads up to 300 lbs. Beyond that, fees are calculated per ton. Mixed solid waste runs over $100 per ton. Yard debris is cheaper at roughly $55–$65 per ton. Clean wood and recyclable materials have their own lower rates. Cash, checks, and all major credit cards are accepted.

Material-specific fees: Appliances with refrigerant (fridges, freezers, AC units) carry an additional surcharge for refrigerant recovery. Tires cost approximately $5 each. Electronics are accepted under Oregon's E-Cycles program at no charge. Mattresses are accepted at the standard per-ton rate with no special surcharge.

What they reject: Metro Central does not accept explosives, radioactive materials, large quantities of asbestos, or industrial hazardous waste. Household hazardous waste (paint, pesticides, solvents) is accepted only through a separate appointment-based program — you cannot simply show up with hazardous items during regular hours.

Tips for first-timers: Follow the signs once inside the facility — there are separate lanes for general waste, yard debris, and recyclables. Keep your load tarped or secured per Oregon road safety requirements. Bring gloves and sturdy shoes. Staff are on hand to direct you, but having your materials pre-sorted speeds everything up considerably.

Metro South Transfer Station

Address: 2001 Washington St, Oregon City, OR 97045. Located just off Highway 213, Metro South serves the southern metro area including Milwaukie, Lake Oswego, West Linn, Clackamas, and Oregon City.

Hours: Monday–Saturday, 8 AM–5 PM (last load at 4:30 PM). Closed Sunday and major holidays.

Accepts: General garbage, yard debris, recyclables, appliances, electronics, construction debris, tires, and clean wood. The facility layout is similar to Metro Central with designated areas for each material type.

Fees: Pricing mirrors Metro Central — minimum charge around $30 for up to 300 lbs, then per-ton rates. Yard debris and recyclables are cheaper than mixed waste. Appliance and tire surcharges apply the same as at Metro Central.

Metro South tends to have shorter wait times than Metro Central, especially on weekdays. If you're coming from the east side or south Portland, it's often worth the slightly longer drive to avoid the Saturday morning rush at Metro Central. The facility also has a paint and household chemicals drop-off area operating on a seasonal schedule.

West Van Materials Recovery Center (Vancouver WA)

Address: 6601 NW Old Lower River Rd, Vancouver, WA 98660. This is the primary facility for Clark County residents and the closest disposal option for anyone in North Portland near the Columbia River.

Hours: Monday–Saturday, 8 AM–5 PM. Check holiday schedules as they differ from Oregon Metro facilities.

Accepts: Municipal solid waste (MSW), yard debris, clean wood, appliances, tires, scrap metal, and concrete. They also have a recycling area for cardboard, paper, and other common recyclables.

Fees: Minimum charge starts at approximately $25 for small loads. Per-ton rates for mixed waste are competitive with Portland Metro stations. No Washington state sales tax applies to disposal fees, which can make this a slightly cheaper option for cross-border haulers.

West Van has a well-organized layout with clearly marked lanes. If you're hauling from Vancouver, Camas, Washougal, or Battle Ground, this is your most convenient option. The facility sees less traffic than Portland's Metro Central, and weekday visits are typically quick with minimal waiting.

Note that Washington and Oregon have different regulations around certain materials. Electronics recycling rules, for example, differ between the two states. Check the Clark County website for current accepted items and any material-specific restrictions.

Clackamas Transfer Station

Address: Located in the Clackamas industrial area, this privately operated facility serves as an alternative to Metro South for residents of Clackamas, Happy Valley, Milwaukie, and Damascus.

Accepts: General household waste, construction debris, yard waste, and bulky items. Some locations in the Clackamas area also accept clean fill dirt and concrete at reduced rates.

Fees: Pricing varies by operator but generally runs close to Metro rates. Minimum charges are typically $25–$35. Always call ahead to confirm current pricing and accepted materials, as private facilities update their policies more frequently than Metro-operated stations.

Private transfer stations can be a good alternative when Metro facilities are busy or closed. They sometimes offer extended hours or Saturday afternoon availability that the Metro stations do not. Check for any specific sorting requirements before loading your vehicle.

Forest Grove Transfer Station

Address: Located west of Hillsboro, serving the western Washington County communities of Forest Grove, Cornelius, Banks, and North Plains.

Accepts: General garbage, yard debris, and recyclables. This is a smaller facility best suited for residential loads rather than large commercial jobs.

Fees: Minimum charges start around $20–$30 for small loads. The facility follows Metro regional pricing guidelines for per-ton rates on mixed waste and yard debris.

For residents on the west side of the metro area, Forest Grove Transfer Station saves a significant drive compared to hauling all the way to Metro Central. If you're cleaning out a property in Hillsboro, Forest Grove, or Cornelius, check this facility first for convenience.

Scrap Metal Yards in Portland

Scrap metal is one of the few materials you can actually get paid to dispose of. Portland has several scrap metal yards that buy ferrous metals (steel, iron) and non-ferrous metals (copper, aluminum, brass) by the pound.

Pacific Scrap Metal operates multiple locations in the Portland area and is one of the largest buyers. They accept old appliances (with refrigerant removed), automotive parts, structural steel, copper wire, aluminum cans, and more. Prices fluctuate with commodity markets, but expect roughly $0.05–$0.10 per pound for steel and $2.00–$3.50 per pound for clean copper.

Schnitzer Steel is another major Portland-area recycler with industrial-scale operations. They handle everything from individual loads to large commercial demolition scrap. Their facility on NW Front Ave has been a Portland fixture for decades.

Before visiting a scrap yard, separate your metals — keeping copper, aluminum, and steel in different containers maximizes your payout. Remove non-metal attachments like plastic, rubber, and wood when possible. Bring a valid ID, as Oregon law requires identification for scrap metal transactions to deter theft.

For items like old water heaters, metal shelving, exercise equipment, and metal furniture, a trip to the scrap yard is often better than paying disposal fees at a transfer station. You turn a disposal cost into a small payday.

E-Waste & Electronics Recycling

Oregon's E-Cycles program provides free recycling for covered electronic devices including computers, laptops, monitors, TVs, and printers. Drop-off locations are scattered throughout the Portland metro area, including at Metro transfer stations and participating retailers.

Free Geek in SE Portland (1731 SE 10th Ave) is a beloved local nonprofit that accepts computers, laptops, tablets, monitors, and peripherals for refurbishment and redistribution. Working equipment is rebuilt and given to community members in need. Non-working equipment is responsibly recycled. Free Geek is an excellent option if you have bulk electronics to get rid of.

Best Buy and Staples both accept small electronics for recycling at their Portland-area stores. Best Buy takes TVs up to 32 inches, computers, tablets, phones, cables, and small appliances. Staples accepts similar items. Both programs are free for most items, with a small fee for TVs and monitors at Best Buy.

Do not put electronics in your regular curbside trash. Oregon law bans covered electronics from landfills, and responsible recycling ensures that toxic materials like lead, mercury, and cadmium are safely handled rather than leaching into the environment.

Mattress & Furniture Recycling Options

Mattresses and large furniture are among the most common items Portland residents need to dispose of, and they're also among the most awkward to handle yourself. A king-size mattress won't fit in most vehicles, and furniture requires disassembly or multiple people to move.

Mattress recycling is available through select facilities in the Portland area. Some recyclers break down mattresses into their component materials — steel springs, foam, cotton, and wood — for reuse. Metro transfer stations accept mattresses at the standard per-ton waste rate if a dedicated recycler isn't available.

Furniture in good condition should be donated rather than dumped. Community Warehouse, Habitat for Humanity ReStore, and Salvation Army all accept functional furniture and offer free pickup for large items in the Portland area. Donating keeps usable items out of the landfill and supports community organizations.

For broken, stained, or otherwise unusable furniture and mattresses, a junk removal service is typically the most practical option. Remove Scrap handles mattress and furniture removal starting at $75, including loading, hauling, and proper disposal or donation.

Household Hazardous Waste Disposal

Portland Metro operates a Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) program that allows residents to safely dispose of toxic and dangerous materials at no charge. This is the proper way to get rid of items that cannot go in your curbside garbage or at a standard transfer station.

Accepted items include: oil-based paint, pesticides, herbicides, solvents, antifreeze, motor oil, pool chemicals, fluorescent light tubes, mercury thermometers, aerosol cans, and household batteries. Latex paint is not hazardous — it can be dried out and placed in regular trash.

How it works: The HHW facility at Metro Central operates by appointment only. Schedule a drop-off time through Metro's website or by phone. Bring items in their original containers when possible, and keep them upright during transport. There are quantity limits per visit, so call ahead if you have a large volume.

Never pour hazardous chemicals down the drain, into storm drains, or onto the ground. Portland's storm drains flow directly to the Willamette River and Columbia Slough without treatment. Improper disposal is an environmental violation and can result in significant fines from Oregon DEQ.

For larger quantities of hazardous materials — such as during an estate cleanout or commercial property cleanup — contact Metro directly about scheduling a large-volume appointment or arranging commercial hazardous waste pickup.

Charity Drop-Off Locations

Donating usable items is often the best disposal option — it's free, it helps your community, and it keeps materials out of the landfill. Portland has an excellent network of charitable organizations that accept a wide range of household goods.

Habitat for Humanity ReStore has multiple Portland-area locations and accepts furniture, appliances, building materials, tools, lighting, plumbing fixtures, and home décor. They offer free pickup for large items. All proceeds fund Habitat's affordable housing projects in the Portland metro area.

Community Warehouse (SE Portland) furnishes homes for families transitioning from homelessness and poverty. They accept furniture, kitchenware, bedding, towels, lamps, and small household items. This organization has an enormous community impact and is a preferred donation partner for many Portland haulers.

Goodwill operates numerous drop-off locations throughout the metro area and accepts clothing, shoes, small electronics, books, kitchenware, and household items. They do not accept large furniture, mattresses, or large appliances at most locations.

Salvation Army accepts furniture, clothing, appliances, and household goods. They offer free pickup for large donations in the Portland area. Call to schedule a pickup at least a week in advance.

Always ask for a donation receipt for tax purposes. Charitable donations to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible, and the fair market value of donated items can offset your tax burden. Keep an itemized list of everything you donate.

When to Hire a Pro Instead

Self-hauling to a transfer station or drop-off site makes sense for small, lightweight loads that fit in your vehicle. But for larger volumes, heavy items, or mixed materials that need to go to multiple facilities, hiring a junk removal company is often more cost-effective and dramatically less stressful.

Consider the true cost of DIY hauling: your time (a full day for a large cleanout with multiple dump runs), gas ($10–$30+ per trip depending on distance), dump fees ($30–$100+ per load at Metro), vehicle wear and tear on your car or truck, and the physical toll of heavy lifting. Two or three dump runs can easily exceed $150–$200 in combined costs before factoring in your time.

Cost comparison example: A garage cleanout with two truckloads of mixed junk might cost you $80 in dump fees, $30 in gas, and an entire Saturday — totaling $110 plus your whole day. A junk removal crew handles the same job for $250–$350, completing it in about two hours while you relax. For anything more than one small load, the math favors hiring help.

A professional service like Remove Scrap also handles the sorting and compliance — electronics go to certified E-Cycles processors, appliances get proper refrigerant recovery, metals go to scrap yards, and usable items get donated to local charities. You'd need to make four or five separate stops to replicate what a single junk removal visit accomplishes.

Call (360) 83-TRASH for a free estimate. We'll often beat what you'd spend doing it yourself — and you won't have to lift a finger.