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THE BIG SWAP & DROP
REUSE, RECYCLE AND DITCH THE REST!
NEIGHBORHOOD DUMPSTER DAY, RECYCLE & FREE SWAP EVENT
SATURDAY MAY 30, 2026
Swap: 9 am - 2 pm
Dumpsters, Haz Waste & Recycling: 9 AM - NOON
***Dumpsters, Haz Waste & Recycling CLOSE at NOON***
OR UNTIL THE DUMPSTERS ARE FULL
SEI PARKING LOT / UNTHANK PARK (3920 N KERBY AVE)
Check before event for details. We are lining up partners now.
Donations encouraged, but not required.
Suggested donations: $10 for small Loads, $20 dresser, large rug or couch, or other heavy item, $40+ for pickup load
No trailer loads/large rental vehicles accepted. We reserve space for people who can’t make it to the dump or can’t justify a dump run for a few bulky items.
For reference, the dump charges a minimum of $45 and much more, $150+ for a small truckload.
NO ONE WILL BE TURNED AWAY FOR LACK OF FUNDS
NOT EVERYTHING IS ACCEPTED
Please review acceptance lists for recyclables and dump before lugging big items to the event!
Click HERE to see details about specific items partners accept for reuse or recycling.
Thank you to all of our partners for this event:
Community Warehouse / Green Century Recycling / Reclaim It / Community Cycling Center / Metro Hazardous Waste / Second Hand Pet Supply / Habitat for Humanity / A Caring Closet / Repair PDX / Les Schwab Tires
Jump to -> RECYCLE / SWAP / HAZARDOUS WASTE / DUMPSTER / PARTNERS
Enter the Unthank/SEI parking lot on N Failing and Exit on N Kerby. Check in with volunteers before driving through. Walk ups welcome, but still need to check in.
Dumpster Day, Recycle & Swap Event is a volunteer-organized service to the neighborhood. Neighbors bring their bulky trash and non-curbside recycling to the drop-off place, for a fee for its disposal (but is not required). The fee is much lower (plus it’s more convenient) than going to depots and the Metro Transfer Station. Funds raised go toward community events and projects.
There is a Yes/No List of accepted and not accepted waste. (The dump transfer station doesn’t accept all waste which means we cannot accept all waste).
RECYCLING:
Green Century Recycling will be taking electronics, metals. (No styrofoam this year.)
Recycling Acceptance Full List:
ELECTRONICS:
Cables, chargers and adapters
Printers and scanners
Routers and modems
Desktop computers, laptops and tablets
Keyboards, mouse and peripherals
Small electronics (ie. DVD player, gaming consoles)
Mobile phones and accessories
METAL is excepted for recycling.
NO MATTRESSES this year. Mattresses for recycling or reuse can be accepted year round at Community Warehouse on MLK and Shaver. Check Community Warehouse hours for drop off times.
TIRES are accepted for recycling by Les Schwab Tires. NO tires in the dumpster. NOTE: We need a volunteer to drop tires off at Les Schwab after 12pm. Email boisena@gmail.com or sign up on the signup sheet at the top of this page.
Jump to -> RECYCLE / SWAP / HAZARDOUS WASTE / DUMPSTER / PARTNERS
FREE SWAP:
You don’t need to donate to take items. All items in swap area are free!
Bring items you’d be proud to share! There will be a swap area for donating reusable items. At the end of the event, our partners will pick up the leftovers.
Tools
Arts & Crafts
Pet supplies in reusable condition
Durable medical equipment
Furniture
Clothing
Decor
Home goods
Jump to -> RECYCLE / SWAP / HAZARDOUS WASTE / DUMPSTER / PARTNERS
HAZARDOUS WASTE:
This is a separate station from the dumpster. Do NOT throw haz waste in dumpster.
No Chemicals, paints, solvents, freon, asbestos, etc.
Metro Acceptance List: Batteries, Sharps, CFL light bulbs
Jump to -> RECYCLE / SWAP / HAZARDOUS WASTE / DUMPSTER / PARTNERS
DUMPSTER:
Bring your bulky waste items that are too big for your regular trash bin. No hazardous materials or construction materials. See below for list of accepted/not accepted materials. No large trailers or rented box trucks. We want to have space for those who can make it to the dump.
YES!
ACCEPTED ITEMS INCLUDE:
Household junk (ie. broken furniture, toys, bikes, dishes, unusable clothes, totes etc)
Yard debris, large stumps, branches, but NOT soil/dirt
Plastic (plastic film, bags and clamshells are always accepted for recycling at New Seasons)
Appliances (NOT containing freon), check metal recycling first.
Moldy mattresses that can’t be recycled.
NO!
NOT ACCEPTED ITEMS INCLUDE:
No Gas or Oils or Liquids of any sort
No Motors- car, lawn mower, trimmers, go kart
No Household garbage (no kitchen plastic bags full of household trash)
No food waste
No paints of any sort (Recycle paint at PaintCare)
No construction materials that may contain asbestos or lead. ig. textured drywall, felt paper, painted boards, etc.
No concrete, too heavy and can be recycled. Small piece, OK. Large amounts of concrete can be recycled at Fazio Landfill and Recycling at 8433 NE 13th Ave, Portland, OR 97211. $20 up to 4 tons, $5/ton after that.
No hazardous waste (ie, batteries, light bulbs, chemicals)
No soil/dirt
No freon appliances (ie. fridge, air conditioners)
NO TIRES (Dump charges $100/tire!) We do accept tires for recycling in the recycle area.
Jump to -> RECYCLE / SWAP / HAZARDOUS WASTE / DUMPSTER / PARTNERS
PARTNERS
A Caring Closet
Do you have new or gently used durable medical equipment (DME) you no longer need? Your donation can make a life-changing difference for someone in our community. Common equipment includes walkers, wheelchairs, shower chairs, and incontinence supplies (open packages are acceptable) and so much more for a full list please click here. If you have questions - email: info@acaringcloset.org
Community Warehouse
You’ve heard of a food bank? Our furniture bank mission is similar, except we focus on household goods and furnishings. What we most need right now and a full list.
We believe there are enough beds, blankets, pots and pans, and furnishings circulating in our community for everyone. We connect these donated household items to neighbors overcoming adversity, creating stronger homes and brighter futures.
Reclaim It
At ReClaim It, we source the vast majority of our inventory from the Metro Central Transfer Station (the “dump”) in an effort to keep reusable items from continuing on to the landfill. Material Donations we accept.
Community Cycling Center
Our vision: to help build a vibrant community where people of all backgrounds use bicycles to stay healthy and connected. We believe that all Portlanders—regardless of income or background—should have the opportunity to experience the joy, freedom, and health benefits of bicycling. This is the motivation behind everything that we do.
For a full list of items accepted for donation.
Second Hand Pet Supplies
Secondhand Pet Supply was created to save pet owners money on products they need while helping the environment. We are here to help eliminate unwanted clutter from pet products. Do you have something new, gently used or damaged you want to donate? Secondhand Pet Supply takes everything pet-related (even damaged items) except food that has expired past a year and expired medication.
ReStore Habitat for Humanity
Donating your items helps keep usable items out of our local landfill, and supports our mission of building strength, stability and independence through affordable homeownership. Donation Guidelines.
Repair PDX
Repair PDX has been organizing Repair Cafés where volunteers fix broken household items for free. We are also currently expanding our repair education programming by offering workshops to help people fix their own items - learn more here.
At this event, we will collect the following donated items for resale: fans, lamps, power tools, toasters, and air fryers.
Frog & Toad Hauling
At the end of the event, after the swap and all reusable items are taken by participants, Frog & Toad comes to take items that can be repaired or upcycled for a fee that we cover.