Polk County

For information on Polk County, click the service-type listed below. To find out if we service your specific address, please use the online tool at the “Customer Service” link below.

Customer Service

OUR SERVICES:

Commercial Garbage Services

We provide a variety of commercial service options, each tailored to meet your specific needs.  From weekly service of steel containers for restaurants and mid-sized businesses, all the way up to roll-off type drop boxes for industrial applications.  Most service is billed on a monthly basis, and containers are scheduled to be dumped at least once every week on regular weekly schedules.

*Your monthly rate depends on your property’s current service designation and relates generally to your distance from the Salem City Limits; Urban, Rural, or Distant.  If you’re unsure about how your property is classified, contact our office for assistance.

The following rates are for the Urban service designation; Rural and Distant rates are higher.

Container Size:

1 yd.                        2 yd.                        3 yd.                        4 yd.**

Monthly charge; one dump per week:

$ 74.45                       $ 131.50                  $ 211.60                    $ 268.05

Monthly charge; two dumps per week:

$ 137.40                      $ 251.50                  $ 411.70                    $ 524.60

Rates are current at the time of publication and may be subject to change or may vary based on actual service type.  Please call our office for current pricing.

**Please note that containers over 3 yds. in size are not available with wheels.  Please do not overload the container.  Lids must close.  Extras may be placed next to the container for pick-up.  Additional charges will apply.  Prohibited items include: Appliances, tires, car batteries, paint, fluids, concrete, dirt, rock, TV’s, and computers.  We are able to collect these items separately for nominal fees.  Call our office for details.

Enclosures:

If you need to construct an enclosure for your garbage containers, please give us a call.  We appreciate the opportunity to offer feedback that will help you design an enclosure that is adequately sized and constructed.  Poorly constructed enclosures limit your user’s access, your ability to recycle, or even your ability to increase service at a later date as your location’s needs change.  You can also view our Enclosure Guidelines.

Recycling:

Based on cost/density issues, there is no commercial recycling in areas designated as Rural or Distant.  Commercial recycling in areas designated as Urban is limited.  We do, however, maintain a 24 hour recycling depot for drop off customers; located at 2525 Salem-Dallas Hwy. NW in Salem; on the highway just out of West Salem toward the beach.  Contact our office for details.

Recycling Depot Guidelines: (PLEASE ALSO READ THE INSTRUCTIONS AT THE DEPOT)

Mixed Paper: We can accept any print-quality paper, such as; Newspaper, magazines, junk mail, office papers, school papers, and books.  Please place loose into the mixed recycling bins.  We cannot accept anything contaminated with plastic, oil, paint, mud, wax, tissue, or photographs.  Clean papers only.  Please, NO shredded paper.

Cardboard & Grey-board: We can accept corrugated shipping boxes or cereal/tissue box type material.  Please open both ends, flatten, and place loose into the mixed recycling bins.  No waxy or frozen food boxes.  We cannot accept anything contaminated with paint, mud, grease, or food.

Rigid Plastic Bottles and Jugs:  We only accept bottles and jugs.  Please rinse clean.  Place loose into mixed recycling bins.  No Styrofoam, plastic films, or junk plastics of any kind.  (No toys or lawn furniture; no tubs, buckets, or salad trays.)

Tin & Aluminum Cans Only: Please rinse clean and place loose into mixed recycling bins.  No need to remove labels, but if you do take the time to separate the labels, they will wind up being recycled with the mixed papers.  Leave lids attached to cans or place them inside cans and fold the can shut to keep them inside.  No foil or scrap metal of any kind.

Food-Grade Glass Bottles & Jars: PLEASE KEEP SEPARATE FROM THE MIXED RECYCLING AND PLACE INTO THE APPROPRIATE GLASS CONTAINER.  It’s OK to mix colors, but please rinse clean.  No need to remove labels.  We cannot accept any other type of glass.  No window glass, Pyrex, vases, dishes, cups, light bulbs, or florescent tubes.

Used Motor Oil: Must be placed in a plastic jug with a screw-on lid.  DO NOT EMPTY YOUR CONTAINERS INTO THE DEPOT’S EMERGENCY SPILL BASIN!  We cannot accept oil that is contaminated with water or anti-freeze.

Questions and Answers:

If you have any questions about your existing service, or if you’d like to set up service, please call our office staff at (503) 585-4300, or send us an email at billing@valleyrecyc.artcolab.co.

Residential Garbage Services

For Contact Info, Hours of Operation, Holiday Schedules, and Billing Information click here.

We provide a variety of service packages based on your property’s current service designation, which relates generally to your distance from the Salem City Limits; Urban, Rural, or Distant.  If you’re unsure about how your property is classified, contact our office for assistance.  Garbage service is tailored to meet your specific needs.  Recycling is only available within the Urban designation, but we do maintain a recycling depot for drop off customers, open weekdays from 6am to 5pm; located at 2525 Salem-Dallas Hwy. NW in Salem, on the highway just out of West Salem toward the beach.  (See “Recycling Depot Guidelines” below.)

Within the Urban designation, service packages are designed to encourage recycling by providing the largest possible container for recyclables, and charging a rate for the whole package based on the size of the garbage cart.  Urban service packages include weekly service of the garbage and every other week service of the blue recycling cart and red basket.  At the time of delivery you will receive a handy recycling brochure that explains what can go in the blue cart and red basket; as well as a Salem/Polk calendar that tells you which weeks to set them out.  You can also click the “Resources” tab under the “Customer Service” banner to locate the most up-to-date recycling flyer and calendar for your area.

Service Guidelines:

  • All carts and bins need to be at the curb, with lids opening toward the street, no later than 6:00 a.m. on the regular collection day.
  • Please allow a minimum space of 4 ft. between containers or other obstacles, to allow for our automated grippers.
  • Please tightly seal lightweight items such as packing peanuts, tissues, or ashes to prevent blowing.
  • Please observe applicable weight restrictions per container: 60 lbs. per 35 gal., 120 lbs. per 65 gal., and 180 lbs. per 95 gal.  The rates for service are based upon the size of the garbage container.  Overflow may result in extra charges.
  • Please carefully observe all guidelines for recycling, as the viability of Oregon’s recycling markets depends on the processor’s ability to generate a clean, usable product.

Service Packages:

The rate for service is based on the size of the garbage cart and placement to the nearest County-maintained road.

Trash Size:      20 gal.                  35 gal.                    65 gal.                       95 gal.

Urban:         $ 16.65/mo.         $ 17.30/mo.           $ 22.95/mo.               $ 27.95/mo.

Rural:                N/A                 $ 16.90/mo.            $ 22.40/mo.              $ 28.90/mo.

Distant:             N/A                 $ 18.50/mo.             $ 24.05/mo.             $ 32.60/mo.

Rates are current at the time of publication and may be subject to change or may vary based on actual service type.  Please call our office for current pricing.

Starting Service:

Just give our office a call at (503) 585-4300.  We’ll ask a few simple questions to set up the account, and then help you decide which size garbage container will best suit your needs.  We do require two months payment in advance to start service.  Payment can be made by credit card over the phone, by mailing a check or money order to our office; or you can pay us a visit during normal business hours.

Recycling Depot Guidelines: (PLEASE ALSO READ THE INSTRUCTIONS AT THE DEPOT)

Mixed Paper: We can accept any print-quality paper, such as; Newspaper, magazines, junk mail, office papers, school papers, and books.  Please place loose into the mixed recycling bins.  We cannot accept anything contaminated with plastic, oil, paint, mud, wax, tissue, or photographs.  Clean papers only.  Please, NO shredded paper.

Cardboard & Grey-board: We can accept corrugated shipping boxes or cereal/tissue box type material.  Please open both ends, flatten, and place loose into the mixed recycling bins.  No waxy or frozen food boxes.  We cannot accept anything contaminated with paint, mud, grease, or food.

Rigid Plastic Bottles and Jugs:  We can accept bottles and jugs only.  Please rinse clean.  Place loose into mixed recycling bins.  No Styrofoam, plastic films, or junk plastics of any kind.  (No toys or lawn furniture, no tubs or salad trays.)

Tin & Aluminum Cans Only: Please rinse clean.  Place loose into mixed recycling bins.  No need to remove labels, but if you do take the time to separate the labels, they will wind up being recycled with the mixed papers.  Leave lids attached to cans, or place them inside the can and fold the can shut to keep them in.  No scrap metal of any kind.

Food-Grade Glass Bottles & Jars: PLEASE KEEP SEPARATE FROM THE MIXED RECYCLING AND PLACE INTO THE APPROPRIATE GLASS CONTAINER.  OK to mix colors.  Please rinse clean.  No need to remove labels.  We cannot accept any other type of glass.  No window glass, pyrex, vases, dishes, cups, light bulbs, or florescent tubes.

Used Motor Oil: Must be placed in a plastic jug with a screw-on lid.  DO NOT EMPTY YOUR CONTAINERS INTO THE DEPOT’S EMERGENCY SPILL BASIN!  We cannot accept oil that is contaminated with water or anti-freeze.

Special Removal and Clean-Up Services

Are you cleaning out your garage?  Removing an old freezer from the basement?  Or clearing brush from your backyard?  We’ve been the Valley’s waste removal experts since 1957. Efficient and economical, we can handle nearly anything: Appliances, furniture, tires, e-waste, junk, and piles of demolition or yard waste up to 10 yds…we do it all! Call today for a free estimate: (503) 585-4300.

Temporary Containers

We can deliver 1, 2, or 3 yd. commercial containers for special clean-up projects. All rates are based on a monthly rental with four dumps included. Delivery fee will apply.  Delivery of commercial containers in residential areas is subject to commercial safety guidelines and restrictions, including a flat level work surface for both truck and container. (See the “Special Removal and Clean Up Services” tab above for information about our other options. Call us for a free estimate on the most economical disposal options.  Please do not overload the container.  Lids must close.  Extras may be placed next to container for pick-up.  Additional charges will apply.  Prohibited items include: Appliances, tires, car batteries, paint, fluids, concrete, dirt, rock, TV’s, and computers. We are able to collect these items separately for nominal fees.  Additional charges may apply.  Call our office for details, at (503) 585-4300.

 

Drop Boxes

For industrial-sized jobs, like roofing, we offer a variety of drop-box, or roll-off, containers.  They are available in 10, 20, and 30 yard sizes.  (If you don’t know how much material you have, the comparisons listed below may be helpful.)  Rates for service include one dump and 2 weekdays rent.  We do not charge rent over the weekend.  We may also be able to offer special rates for clean loads of wood, yard debris, or inert materials such as cement, bricks, etc.)  Drop boxes have doors on the back for easier loading.  All boxes have a load-weight limit of 20,000 lbs, and must be no more than level-filled.  Items cannot extend above the top rail of the box.  Prohibited items include: Appliances, tires, batteries, paint, liquids, concrete, dirt, rock, TVs and computers.  We are able to collect these items separately.  Additional charges may apply.  We do require 24 hrs. notice for weekday delivery or hauling of drop boxes.

How much material do I have?

Sometimes it’s hard to plan for, or describe over the phone, just how much material you have.

Below are some common container sizes with comparisons that may help a little:

20 gallon:            The size of the average kitchen trash can.

35 gallon:            The size of the average personal curbside garbage can.

95 gallon             The size of the blue recycling carts that you see within the UGB.

1 yd.                     Roughly the volume of 2 – 95 gallon roll carts.

2 yd.                     The size of the average, American-built, pick-up truck bed.  (Level full)

10 yd.                   The average size of a regular dump truck body.

20 yd.                   A box with the following measurements: 16 ft. long, 7.5 ft. wide, 4.5 ft. tall

30 yd.                   A box with the following measurements: 20 ft. long, 7.5 ft. wide, 5.5 ft. tall

Calculating Roof Tear-Downs:

(These figures are based on asphalt shingles and need to be multiplied by the number of layers.)

In general, 100 sq. ft. of roofing = 1 Square.

Up to 30 Squares (3000 sq. ft.) = 10 yd. Drop Box

Up to 60 Squares (6000 sq. ft.) = 20 yd. Drop Box

Up to 90 Squares (9000 sq. ft.) = 30 yd. Drop Box

Medical Waste Containers / Sharps

Medical Waste:

Oregon law prohibits the disposal of medical waste sharps such as; syringes, lancets, and needles, in with the regular waste.  These items need to be handled separately in a specially designed, sealed, 1-gallon, “Sharps Container”, which will be incinerated at the Covanta facility in Brooks, OR.  For the safety of pets and children, we deliver and collect these containers directly to and from your front porch.

For service, just call our office at (503) 585-4300.

RECYCLING:

General Recycling Information

Curbside Recycling Guide

Within the Urban service area, residential service packages include a 95 gallon blue cart for mixed recycling, a small, red basket for items that require special handling (glass bottles and jars, used dry-cell batteries, usable paint, and used motor oil, cooking oil, and anti-freeze); and a grey cart for garbage.  The rate for the whole package is based on the size of the garbage cart.  Garbage collection is weekly and recycling collection is every other week.  The red basket is always collected on the same day as the blue cart.  At the time of delivery, we provide you with a convenient, color-coded calendar that tells you which weeks to set out the recycling.  Even if you’re not a regular, weekly garbage customer, you may be able to take advantage of curbside recycling for a small monthly fee.  We also provide you with a convenient recycling guide to let you know what can go into each container, or you can click the “Resources” tab under the “Customer Service” banner to locate the most up-to-date recycling flyer for your area.

The Importance Of Doing It Right:

The viability of recycling programs depends on your careful observance of the guidelines regarding what can and cannot go into each container, and how materials need to be prepared.  Plastic bags or glass containers contaminating the materials in the blue cart cause equipment breakdowns and the loss of otherwise usable materials.  Un-rinsed containers create a biological hazard and can result in DEQ levying fines against the facilities that process those containers.  At the very least, contaminants result in waste and inefficiencies that are harmful to the recycling system and commodity markets as a whole.  Your attentive observance to recycling guidelines protects one of the most effective recycling programs in the country, and helps to preserve Oregon’s precious natural environment for generations to come.  Thank you for doing it right!