THE BIG SWAP & DROP
REUSE, RECYCLE AND DITCH THE REST!
NEIGHBORHOOD DUMPSTER DAY, RECYCLE & FREE SWAP EVENT
SATURDAY MAY 30, 2026
Dumpsters, haz waste & recycling: 9 AM - 12 PM
OR UNTIL THE DUMPSTERS ARE FULL
swap: 9 am - 2 pm
Dumpsters, Haz Waste & Recycling CLOSE at 12 PM
SEI PARKING LOT / UNTHANK PARK (3920 N KERBY AVE)
Check before event for details. We are lining up vendors 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!
WE NEED VOLUNTEERS: EMAIL BOISENA@GMAIL.COM
Click HERE to see details about specific items partners accept for reuse or recycling.
Thank you to all of our partners for this event:
Sponsored by Metro
Community Warehouse
Green Century Recycling
Reclaim It
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:
Desktop computers, laptops and tablets
Keyboards, mouse and peripherals
Printers and scanners
Routers and modems
Small electronics (ie. DVD player, gaming consoles)
Mobile phones and accessories
Cables, chargers and adapters
METAL is excepted for recycling.
MATTRESSES in good or bad condition. Reusable mattresses can go to the swap area, all other mattresses will be recycled at Bye-Bye Mattress.
TIRES are accepted for recycling by Les Schwab Tires. NO tires in the dumpster.
Jump to -> RECYCLE / SWAP / HAZARDOUS WASTE / DUMPSTER / PARTNERS
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 household items.
Furniture
Clothing
Decor
Home goods
Small appliances (blenders, toasters, etc)
Mattresses in good condition
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.
Metro Acceptance List:
Batteries
Sharps
CFL 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.
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.
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 MetroPaint’s Swan Island location.)
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. 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
Reclaim It and Habitat for Humanity will be at our event to take reusable items. Below is more information about them:
ReClaim It
ReClaim It is a nonprofit retail store where creative people of Portland can find unique materials to reuse, repair & reimagine. Through salvaging materials at the Metro Central Transfer Station & various events, we are devoted to reducing waste & promoting creative reuse in the community.
The majority of our inventory is sourced from the dump or community partners, but we accept pre-approved donations on a limited basis. Find our donation guidelines here: https://www.reclaimitpdx.org/material-donations
Habitat for Humanity Portland Region ReStores
Proceeds generated from the ReStores support local Habitat for Humanity homebuilding and home repair programs.
We accept new and gently used furniture, appliances, lighting, décor, housewares, building materials, and more for donation.
Donation Guidelines: https://pdxrestore.org/donate/guidelines/
Accepting gently used, upcycled pet supplies.
Caring Closet, provides FREE durable medical equipment (DME) — walkers, wheelchairs, shower chairs — to people who can’t afford them.
Accepting walkers, wheelchairs, shower chairs.
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.