Portland Dump — Metro Transfer Station Hours, Fees & Rules
Portland has no public landfill. Self-haul loads go to Metro's two public transfer stations: Metro Central in Northwest Portland and Metro South in Oregon City. Both are open to the public every day, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. A small load of garbage costs the $51 minimum (up to 240 lbs), and recycling, metal appliances, electronics and up to four mattresses a day are free.
Metro weighs every load and prices it by material, so sorting before you go saves real money. Here are both stations, the hazardous waste drop-offs, the fees and the rules.
Disposal sites in Portland
Metro Central Transfer Station
Transfer Station
Metro (Portland-area regional government)
6161 NW 61st Ave., Portland, OR 97210 Directions ↗
Free for households, up to 35 gallons a day (measured by container size)
Businesses: apply for a permit, book an appointment and pay a fee
Accepts: Paint, stains, solvents, cleaners, yard chemicals, automotive products, batteries, fluorescent bulbs, propane and other gas cylinders, medical sharps, pool chemicals, small ammunition
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Boxes and containers, fuel cans included, are not returned.
Free for households, up to 35 gallons a day (measured by container size)
Businesses: apply for a permit, book an appointment and pay a fee
Accepts: Paint, stains, solvents, cleaners, yard chemicals, automotive products, batteries, fluorescent bulbs, propane and other gas cylinders, medical sharps, pool chemicals, small ammunition
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Boxes and containers, fuel cans included, are not returned.
Metro charges a minimum for loads up to 240 lbs. Heavier loads pay their share of the per-ton rate plus a $30 transaction fee at the staffed scales. Metro adjusts the fees every year.
Recycling: anything that goes in a curbside bin, plus scrap metal and some rolled wire fencing (barbed wire is charged as garbage).
Metal appliances without coolant: washers, dryers, stoves, ovens, dishwashers, water heaters, microwaves.
Electronics: computers, laptops, monitors, TVs, printers, tablets, keyboards and mice, up to seven items a day. Metro is an Oregon E-Cycles site.
Mattresses and box springs: up to four a day. Futons, sofa beds, crib mattresses, waterbeds and air mattresses are charged as garbage.
Motor oil and antifreeze: up to 20 gallons a day, in unbreakable containers of a gallon or less with screw-on lids.
Items with their own flat fee:
Item
Fee
Limit
Fridges, freezers, A/C units, dehumidifiers
$30 each
5 a day
Car and motorcycle tires
$30 for the first, then $2 each ($4 on rims)
15 a day
Christmas trees (no flocking, 12 ft max)
$30
Up to 3 trees
How to pay less at Metro
Sort out your recycling. Metro gives a $3 rebate for recycling up to 100 lbs of material and $6 for more.
Cover your load. An uncovered load costs $25 a ton extra ($3 on a minimum load), and it can draw a littering fine.
Make one trip, not three. The $30 transaction fee applies to every load over 240 lbs, so bigger loads cost less per pound.
Separate yard debris and clean wood. Mixed in with garbage they're charged at the $176.70 garbage rate.
Pay cash, debit or check to skip the 2% credit-card fee.
What Metro won't take
Neither station accepts vehicles (including motor homes), asbestos, burned material or wildfire ash, flat or built-up roofing, loads of liquids, petroleum-contaminated soil, radioactive metals or electric-vehicle batteries. If you leave something prohibited, you're responsible for it: Metro can charge for asbestos testing and removal, and those fees can top $3,000.
Small boats (under 12 by 8 feet) and campers without a chassis are accepted at the garbage rate once the fuel tanks and appliances are out; campers older than 2004 need an asbestos test first. Railroad ties four feet or shorter are taken in small numbers.
Find a disposal site near you
Enter your city or ZIP for the nearest sites across Oregon, then call ahead — hours and access rules vary a lot here.
Portland's public dumps are Metro's two transfer stations: Metro Central at 6161 NW 61st Ave. in Northwest Portland and Metro South at 2001 Washington St. in Oregon City. Both are open to the public every day, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call (503) 234-3000 with questions.
How much does it cost to dump at Metro?
Garbage costs a $51 minimum for loads up to 240 lbs. Heavier loads pay $176.70 a ton plus a $30 transaction fee. Yard debris is $37 minimum or $56 a ton, and clean wood is $42 minimum or $97.13 a ton.
Can I drop off a mattress for free in Portland?
Yes. Metro's transfer stations take up to four mattresses or box springs a day for free. Futons, sofa beds, crib mattresses, waterbeds and air mattresses are charged as garbage.
Where do I take hazardous waste in Portland?
To Metro's hazardous waste facilities: Metro Central is open Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Metro South is open every day, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Disposal is free for households, up to 35 gallons a day.
Does Metro take tires?
Yes, car and motorcycle tires, up to 15 a day: $30 for the first tire, then $2 for each additional tire without a rim or $4 with one. Tractor, heavy-equipment and semi tires are not accepted.
