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​We are taking an indefinite break from hosting PlanetCon events. 
​Below are some links to help you recycle items that PlanetCon events accepted in the past.
 
PLASTICS
  • Take your #1 clear transparent (no color) plastic containers such as cups, clamshells take-out containers and trays to New Seasons. The recycling bins are located outside in front of the store for free drop-off. There must be a #1 PET/PETE resin code marked on the container.
  • James Recycling is a small company that hosts collection events in the Portland area including Washington County. Sign up for their email list to receive updates on their events. They charge a fee for the materials they accept including specific plastics marked #1, #2, #4, #5, or #6. Their recycling center is tentatively set to open in September 2024.
  • Drop off recycling centers such as Far West Recycling, Pride Recycling Station (Sherwood), and Forest Grove Transfer Station accept plastic bottles. Please check with the facility for details.
  • Recycle+ and Ridwell are 2 options for residents to pay for a pickup service of selected plastics and other items such as textiles and plastic bags.  Check their websites to see if your home is in their collection area.
BATTERIES
  • Metro accepts batteries at their collection events and their transfer stations.
  • Household batteries can be dropped off for a small fee at places like Batteries Plus Bulbs or Interstate Batteries.
  • Home Depot and Lowes take rechargeable batteries for free.
  • If you have standard, curbside garbage and recycling collection, and live in most cities in Washington County, OR, you can set out batteries for collection with your glass recycling.
MEDICATIONS
  • Many pharmacies will accept medications for proper disposal as part of a statewide take-back program.
  • Investigate medication take back locations by entering your zip code on this website
MEDICAL SHARPS
  • Metro accepts medical sharps at their collection events and their hazardous waste facilities.
COMPACT FLUORESCENT LAMP (CFL) BULBS
  • Metro accepts CFLs at their collection events and hazardous waste facilities.
  • Lowe’s will accept CFLs in the bins at their in-store recycling center. Ask at the customer service desk.
BICYCLES
  • Bicycles and bike accessories can be donated 7 days a week to the non-profit WashCo Bikes which is located in downtown Hillsboro. It is fine if the bikes need repair. The bikes are fixed up before they are donated to those in need.
EYEGLASSES AND HEARING AIDS
  • The Lions Club takes eyeglasses and hearing aids at many eyeglass stores and pharmacies, etc. Find a donation location.
ELECTRONICS AND SMALL APPLIANCES REPAIR FAIR
Check out the schedule of repair events in the region using the webpages below: ClOTHING & HYGIENE DONATIONS
One option for donating hygiene items and clean clothes in wearable condition is Project Homeless Connect which serves the houseless in Washington County. 

OTHER RESOURCES
  • To find out how to recycle, donate or properly dispose of hundreds of items, check out the What to Recycle and Where (WTRW) lookup tool on the Washington County Garbage and Recycling Day website. Use the tool on the website or download the app to your device. Besides helping you find a place to recycle items, the app can remind you of your garbage pickup day as well as upcoming special events.
  • Another resource for finding out about how to recycle and properly dispose of things is Metro’s Find a Recycler website or call Metro’s Recycling Information Center at 503-234-3000.
  • See the Westside Planet Alliance web page for more information on local resources and tips for your Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle efforts.

PlanetCon Recycling, Reuse and Sustainability Fair


​Event Details from April 2024 event


PlanetCon Checklist to help you prepare
Shop the really, really free table -  Drop-off and/or pickup items with a "Spring Cleaning" theme.
Repair Fair - Signup items to be fixed by skilled volunteers. Preregistration is required.
​Drop-off items for recycling and proper disposal 
  • Selected plastics:  #1, #5. Read collection event details carefully.
  • Batteries, medications, sharps, and CFL's (collected by Metro)
  • Computers, Electronics​ and other small corded items
  • Scrap Metal (large and small pieces)
  • Redeemable bottles and cans to help support the Westside Planet Alliance
Donate Usable Items Bicycles, bike accessories, eyeglasses, hearing aids, gently used adult clothing
What We Won't Take
Visit information tables 
Have Fun! - Listen to music, explore the PCC Learning Garden, and more!
Signup to Volunteer - We welcome your help to make this event successful
View Event Posters - View event posters in English and Spanish, in .pdf or .jpg format
​Learn More
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**** Check back before the event for any last-minute additions! ****

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Shop the Free Table (also known as Swap)
"Spring ​Clean" your home and garage and bring the household items you no longer use to PlanetCon. Then browse the tables to find items you can use.
  • Accepted items include kitchen utensils, cookware, silverware, small appliances (e.g. crockpots), table linens, décor (including holiday items), wastebaskets, small lamps, small tools (hammers, screwdrivers), yard and garden tools, planter pots
    • The PCC Learning garden is happy to accept usable hoses and wheelbarrows
  • Items must be clean, in working condition and with no broken or cracked parts.
  • Please put breakable glass/ceramic items in boxes to minimize breakage risk and to keep any sets together. Please limit to what you can carry in with your arms in one trip from the car. No over-sized or heavy items.
  • It is not necessary to bring something in order to take something home. There is no limit to what you can take.

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Repair Fair
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Bring up to 2 small household items to be repaired for free.  Preregistration is required.
Examples include clothing and other textiles, tools, jewelry, décor, small furniture items, toys, bicycles, electronics
  • Do not bring any items that are leaking, dangerous, dirty or have a strong odor. No weapons or items with fuel.
  • Items must be clean. Wash clothing and vacuum, dust and wipe down items before bringing them in for repair.
  • Guests are expected to stay with their items and be active participants so they can learn the repair process.
  • If you know what part is needed for the repair, please order it and bring it with you to the event.
  • Each attendee may bring up to two items to each event. If you have two items, submit one registration per item.
Register your item for repair.  

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Drop off items for recycling and proper disposal
Recycle #1 PET/PETE Plastic
Look for the resin code PETE or PET #1 and separate them into two categories:
  1. Clear plastic (no colors or opaque plastic) clamshells, trays, cups, egg cartons, salad and pastry boxes and take-out containers. 
  2. Bottles and tubs marked with #1, PET or PETE that are smaller than 6oz. This includes small bottles/tubs of any color, including prescription bottles and hotel sized shampoo containers.
  • Items must be clean and dry with no food residue.
  • ​Remove all caps/lids from containers.
  • Labels are OK.
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Clear #1 PETE examples
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Colored #1 small PETE bottles
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Recycle #5 PP Plastic  
​Look for resin code #5 or PP. Accepted items include cups, trays, lids, tofu containers, planter pots, storage bins, DVD cases (with paper/plastic film removed), prescription medication bottles, small toiletry bottles and other items stamped with #5 PP.
  • Items must be clean and dry with no food residue.
  • ​Remove all caps/lids from containers.
  • Labels are OK. ​
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Example #5 containers
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​Electronics, small appliances, and string lights
Computer Drive Connection will be accepting the following items​
  • Any small appliance with a cord.      ​
  • Desktop and laptop computers
  • Flat panel monitors and televisions. No CRTs
  • Printers/Typewriters
  • CD Roms/Modems/Networking Devices
  • Circuit Boards/Circuit Board Components
  • Wire, cables and charging cords
  • Keyboards, mice, power supplies, headphones
  • Telephone Equipment/ Cell Phones
  • Audio and video equipment
  • Inkjet and Toner Cartridges
  • String lights (holiday, garden lights) with a cord
NO items that contain coolant/refrigerant (refrigerators, freezers, A/C units) . NO cathode ray tube (CRT) televisions or monitors. ​
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Batteries
Please sort your batteries into the following groups:
1) alkaline (AAA thru D, 9-volt)
2) button/coin cell
3) rechargeable batteries (up to the size of power tool batteries) 
NO car batteries, E-bike, or scooter batteries please. Accepted batteries are anything that is a power tool battery size or smaller (max. 15 volts).
Important Notes:  Please use your curbside service to recycle batteries if you have standard, curbside garbage and recycling collection, and live in Banks, Forest Grove, Tigard, Sherwood, King City, Durham, Hillsboro, Beaverton, or unincorporated Washington County. You can set out batteries in a closed plastic bag on top of your glass containers. Battery recycling at PlanetCon is mainly for people in multi-family housing or the few Washington County areas where batteries are not collected with glass containers.
Medical sharps 
Medical sharps including needles, syringes, lancets, and epi pens. These must be contained in an approved sharps containers.
  • Free sharps containers will also be given out.
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Medications
Its OK to bring meds in a plastic baggie and bring their containers separately for recycling if #1 or #5.
  • Do not flush unused medications down the drain.
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CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs) - No tubes or broken bulbs
Metals
Calbag Metals will be accepting miscellaneous household items that are metal. This includes items such as metal bed frames, nuts,  bolts, screws, nails, umbrellas, metal lighting fixtures, foil, bells, broken metal shelving or outdoor furniture, metal kitchen items such as bakeware.  
  • Please remove as much non-metal material as possible (e.g. the cloth from the umbrella)
Redeemable Cans and Bottles
Support the Westside Planet Alliance (WPA) by bringing your deposit/redeemable bottles and cans to PlanetCon. The WPA, a non-profit organization, is raising funds to cover the costs of coordinating community events like PlanetCon.
  • Redeemable bottles and cans include containers for water, beer, cider, seltzer, kombucha, soda, fruit juice, energy drinks, and cocktail mixers.  
  • NO wine or hard liquor containers
​Donate Usable Items

Donate used bicycles from children's to adult sizes. WashCo Bikes, a non-profit in Hillsboro, will be accepting bikes and bike parts in any condition for donation and recycling. They also will take bike accessories including lights, pumps, gear, and bike racks.
Donate used eyeglasses and hearing aids - Accepted items includes prescription eyeglasses of any size, readers, sunglasses, clip on sunglasses, fit-overs, safety goggles and swim goggles.
  • Frames must be intact with no breakage but It is OK to have scratched lenses.
  • If a screw is missing but the lens/lenses are there, keep parts together.
  • Also collected are hearing aids, hearing aid batteries and other hearing aid accessories. The collected items will be given to people in need worldwide.
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Donate gently used clothing and shoes to Project Homeless Connect, a non-profit in Washington County empowering individuals experiencing houselessness.
  • Accepted items are adult-sized clothing and shoes in good condition (pre-washed with no holes or large stains).
  • Highly needed items include men’s pants (sizes 30-34) and men’s shoes.

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What We Won't Take
We cannot take any items that are not on the above list - Check with the Washington County What to Recycle and Where online tool which shows where to recycle items the closest to your address. ​
  • No plastic bags/film will be accepted. These can to taken to many local stores including Safeway/Albertsons, Fred Meyers, Winco, and New Seasons. Ask a store employee if you don't see the bin.
  • No #2, #3, #4, #6, #7 plastics and no plastics missing the #1 or #5 code, including caps. Find opportunities to recycle other rigid plastics by visiting the James Recycling website.
  • NO children's clothing or clothing in poor condition will be accepted. Children's clothing in good condition is accepted at several non-profits including Goodwill and The Assistance League of Greater Portland.  It can also be passed on to others through your Buy Nothing group, Nextdoor, or Facebook Marketplace.  In addition, Just Porch It is a business that will pickup used clothing on your doorstep whether it is still in good condition or not.
  • No fluorescent lamp tubes.  These can be taken to a Metro Hazardous Waste facility or event, or they can be taken to Batteries Plus Bulbs for a fee.  
  • Please be prepared to haul away items you bring that can't be accepted

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​Information Tables
Learn more about important topics to boost your knowledge! There will be many information tables on sustainable living and resources in Washington County, including the following:
  • Reduce food waste
  • Reuse - Reduce your use of single-use items
  • Alternatives to Lawns
  • Toxics at home 
  • Recycling at Home
  • Green Personal Products
  • ​The ​Master Recycler program trains citizens on recycling and sustainable practices
  • ​350 Washington County, a local chapter of 350.org, an international organization dedicated to fighting climate change ​​
  • Waste Free Advocates is a non-profit that connects Oregon communities to minimize over-consumption and waste. 
  • PCC Sustainability - Learn about sustainability initiatives at Portland Community College
  • Tualatin Hills Parks and Recreation ​provides hundreds of classes, camps, lessons and other programs year-round at THPRD's sports, recreation, nature and aquatic centers in the Beaverton area 
  • Master Gardeners provide relevant, research-based education and outreach to the public about horticulture and household pests. This information promotes sustainable practices that minimize risks to human health and the environment. 
  • Dairy Creek Community Food Web provides educational programs, facilitates food harvests, cooks and shares food with the Forest Grove community.
  • Paint Care is Oregon's paint recycling program

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Have Fun! ​
Check back later for more fun happenings at PlanetCon 2024.

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Event Posters
View the event posters in both English and Spanish.  The pdf files are sized to 8.5x11 inches for printing.
English-April_2024_PlanetCon_poster_8x11_en.pdf
File Size: 548 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
Spanish-planetcon_april_2024_poster_8x11_es.pdf
File Size: 539 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
This FREE event is brought to you by the Westside Planet Alliance with the support of Washington County Solid Waste & Recycling, Metro, Portland Community College Sustainability, Computer Drive Connection, and Marc Grambo Homes.

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​Learn more about helping the Earth

REDUCE
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Reduce your consumption of nature's resources as much as possible. For example, reduce car trips by biking, taking public transportation or consolidating trips. Take shorter showers. Lower the heat and put on a sweater. Replace your lawn with low-water-use native plants. Buy products with minimum packaging. Cook at home more often and reduce fast-food and take-out which uses disposable items. Buy food in bulk and bring your own containers if possible. Don't buy items you don't need-take photos for a souvenir instead. Make your own cleaners instead of expensive cleaners with chemicals. Give gifts of experiences not just more "stuff".  
REFUSE unnecessary items including plastic straws, free junky items at events, paper napkins, and extra single servings of condiments (ketchup, hot sauce). 
REUSE
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Buy reusable products. Begin with a reusable water bottle and drink cup instead of buying beverages in single-use, disposable cups. Take reusable bags to the grocery store, including produce bags. Rent or borrow tools and items that you won't use frequently. The local libraries are wonderful sources of everything from books to movies, games, appliances, music, and more. Buy used items at thrift stores and garage sales instead of buying new. Participate in swap events.  Use cloth napkins, towels, and tissues at home to replace paper products.
REPAIR items that break: Metro area Repair/Fixit Fairs help fix broken items at no charge. Youtube has many "how-to-fix" videos. Learn how to mend your own clothes.
RECYCLE
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When items aren't reusable, try to recycle them.  Glass, clean paper products, metal cans and plastic tubs, jugs and bottles can be put in curbside containers at single-family residences. What can't be recycled curbside can often be recycled at other places. Far West Recycling takes everything from cooking oil to electronics. Use a worm or compost bin to turn food scraps into rich, natural fertilizer for your garden.
Get involved!  We have several ways you can help our effort.
  • Volunteer at a single event.  Opportunities may include collecting donations, staffing tables, and traffic control.
  • Assist with event planning.  Example tasks include social media, publicity, volunteer management, and graphic design.
  • Join our board to help direct our future.
If interested in any of these opportunities, send us an email and explain how you'd like to participate.
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