PlanetCon: A Free Recycling, Reuse and Sustainability Fair


​Next Event:  April 8th, 2023

We've rescheduled PlanetCon which was cancelled in January due to a power outage!  
To keep updated on future events, join our email list at the link above, or follow 'Westside Planet Alliance' on Facebook or Instagram.
When: April 8, 2023  11am - 2pm 
Where:  PCC Rock Creek campus at 17705 NW Springville Rd, Portland, OR 97229, parking lot E and building 9. PCC parking is free at this event. If taking Trimet public transit, it is stop ID 4429.

This event has an outdoor drop-off as well as an indoor location.  Enter the PCC Rock Creek Campus from Springville Road.  At the stop sign, continue straight and look for the event signs on the right.  Event parking is in Lot E and Lot C.

Event Details


PlanetCon checklist to help you prepare 
​​Shop the really, really, free table - Drop-off and/or pickup items with a "small household  item" theme.
Donate usable items - Bicycles, bike accessories, eyeglasses, hearing aids, and other items
Drop-off items for recycling and proper disposal
  • Batteries, CFL's, medications, and sharps (collected by Metro)
  • Computers, Electronics​ and other small corded items
  • Selected plastics. Read collection event details carefully.
  • Redeemable Cans and Bottles
What We Won't Take
Visit information tables 
Have fun!
​Learn More

**** Check back before the event for any last-minute additions! ****

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​Shop the really, really free table
​Bring in small household items and then browse the tables to find items you can use.
  • ​​Accepted items include kitchen utensils, cookware, silverware, small appliances (e.g. crockpots), small tools (hammers, screwdrivers), table linens, small lamps, wastebaskets.
  • 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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Drop off items for recycling or 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.
  • 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.
  • Labels are OK. ​
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example #5 containers
​Electronics, small appliances, string lights and printer ink cartridges
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
NO car batteries, but small lead-acid batteries can be accepted.
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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.
CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs) - No tubes or broken bulbs
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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 through the BottleDrop program 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.  Not accepted containers include wine, distilled spirits, infant formula, dairy and dairy alternatives.  (More info) 
An alternative way to support our efforts is to make a small, optional donation to our  Paypal account using a credit card.
Picturechildren's and adult bicycles
Donate Usable Items
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​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.  A bike technician will also be on hand to make minor bike repairs on your personal bike if needed.
Picturehearing aids and eyeglasses
​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. These items will be collected by the Lions Club to be given to people in need worldwide.
Donate new, unopened packages of menstrual products. - These will go to the Domestic Violence Resource Center, which provides free services for people experiencing family violence.

Donate items from the list below to assist Home Plate Youth Services. They support youth aged 12-24 who are experiencing any type of instability.
  • New and gently used blankets, sleeping bags, tarps, tents, and reusable water bottles
  • New men and women's underwear, size M-2XL
  • New and gently used bras
  • New and gently used shoes 
  • Teenager and adult sized clothes, M-2XL (winter/summer clothes accepted)
  • Teen and adult jeans/pants: all sizes
  • individually wrapped snacks, including vegan

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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. 
  • There will not be a Repair Fair at this event.  See this link for upcoming Repair Fair events in Washington County.
  • 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 styrofoam or #6 plastics will be accepted. These can be taken to Agilyx in Tigard.
  • No #2, #3, #4, #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 torn or dirty clothing. If you can't make our event to donate clothing, 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, Facebook Marketplace or another online forum.  In addition, Just Porch It is a business that will pickup used clothing on your doorstep whether it is still wearable or not.
  • 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!
  • Reduce, Reuse and Repair tips
  • Preventing and reducing wasted food with Eat Smart, Waste Less
  • Recycling at home
  • Reducing your use of single-use items
  • Learn how to make your own Green Cleaners to reduce toxics in the home
  • 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 ​​
  • ​and more!!

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​Fun for the whole family!

Explore the gardens at PCC
Self-guided tours between 11 am and 2 pm: Check out the PCC Learning Garden and the Washington County Master Gardener area on your own or follow the self-guided tour.
 
Garden tour at 1:30 pm: Join PCC staff at the Learning Garden to learn more about soil fertility, natural garden methods and to discover the different areas of the garden.

Other Fun Activities
  • Find an item at the free table that your family could use at home
  • Talk with the bird experts at the Audubon Society table.
  • Scrap Creative Reuse will be at PlanetCon where attendees of all ages can try their hand at a creative reuse craft.
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PlanetCon posters (pdf format) - English    Spanish
This FREE event is brought to you by the Westside Planet Alliance with the support of Portland Community College, Washington County Solid Waste & Recycling, Metro, and Computer Drive Connection.

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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.