In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the next recycling event has been tentatively set for January 2022.  However, James Recycling holds plastic collection events roughly monthly in the Portland Metro area. A July 24, 2021 event is scheduled in Hillsboro. Their event link will be updated with the July event once the June event has occurred. 

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day in April 2020, Team PlanetCon was created to participate in an online competition: the ​Drawdown EcoChallenge.  Although the EcoChallenge has ended, you can still join our team to participate in future challenges and to learn about existing climate change solutions. Watch our video on how to get started. 

PlanetCon: A Recycling, Reuse and Sustainability Fair

 Join us in late summer 2021 for a free community recycle and swap event in Hillsboro, Oregon.  
WHO:  Washington County residents with items to recycle, repair and swap. No businesses please.
When: TBD  2021  11am - 2pm  -TENTATIVE DATE, pending corona virus mitigation
Where:  TBD
BYOB:  Bring Your Own Bag to take home some free items from our Swap. You do not need to bring something to take something.
Donate: This event is free, but we are taking donations of personal products, eyeglasses, and bicycles for those in need. We would also appreciate small cash donations to help us pay for event expenses. No checks please.
Prepare:  To get ready for this awesome event, review the checklist below (not yet available).   You can also view the YouTube videos which cover more details with the plastic recycling.

Event Details


​​Back Closet Swap
Repair Fair 
Recycle
  • Polystyrene Foam (Styrofoam)
  • Rigid Plastics:  Plastic Caps, Lids, Containers, Beverage Handles, Outdoor Furniture, Nursery Plant Pots and Trays
  • Computers and Electronics
  • Automobile Tires
  • Candles and Candle Wax
Donate - Eyeglasses, personal products, and bicycles
What We Won't Take
Information Tables and Talks 
Have Fun!
​Learn More

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​Back Closet Swap
​Swap your clean and usable items from the following categories:
School supplies: used or new pencils, pens, notebooks, folders, ring binders, erasers. Please remove used pages from notebooks and recycle them. All items must still be usable. 
Puzzles and board games - Ensure usable condition. A few missing puzzle pieces is fine. Games such as rubix cubes and similar are fine. No electronic games will be accepted.
Selected arts and craft supplies - See list below:
o Jewelry making / beading supplies - beads, stones, wires/cords, tools, etc 
o Sewing notions/accessories  - elastic, thread, buttons, zippers, binding, ribbon, measuring tape, etc.  
o Scrapbooking and other paper-related art supplies - decorative papers, cardstock, construction paper, stickers, albums, associated tools like scissors, glue, stickers, embellishments, stencils, etc.
o Drawing and artist painting supplies - pens, pencils, markers, erasers, blending tools, templates, drawing paper, ink, paint, etc.  
o Rubber stamps and stamp pads. 
o Cookie cutters and/or clay tools
o Unopened craft kits (like ones made by Klutz, etc. you find at JoAnn or Michael's)
o Needlework supplies for embroidery, cross stitch, needlepoint, canvas work:  threads, linen/Aida fabric/canvas, hoops & q-snaps, charts, ribbons
  • 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.
  • Did you know?  The Westside Planet Alliance Local Resources page gives more info on ways to reduce, reuse and recycle items.

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​Repair Fair
​Bring your broken household or personal items for free repair. Acceptable items include small appliances like blenders or coffee makers, jewelry, bikes or torn clothing. Please do not bring items requiring fuel. Please register your item to be repaired. Limit to two items per person.
  • Did you know?  Repair Fairs are FREE events where volunteers with “fixing” skills help others fix broken items. You may have also heard them called fix-it clinics or Repair Cafes.  They are held roughly monthly in Washington County.  Signup for the repair fair e-news to keep updated on upcoming events.

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Recycle
Recycle Polystyrene Foam (often called Styrofoam®) - Look for resin code #6. This includes block foam, packing foam, foam clamshells, foam coolers, egg cartons, coffee cups and foam meat trays of any color. 
  • Items must be clean and dry with no food residue. 
  • Separate packing peanuts from the rest of the foam in a plastic bag or other container. 
  • Other polystyrene items accepted include CD jewel and cassette tape cases (remove the CDs and tapes), plastic cutlery, and broken plastic hangers. These will likely not be marked with #6 resin code, but they may be marked as PS-6. Separate these items from the foam items. ​
  • Crinkly plastic planter pots that are clearly marked #6 or PS will be accepted. Remove all soil and dirt residue and place with other #6 non-foam items. 
  • Did you know?  Polystyrene can be recycled into new products. A 24 hour drop-off box for polystyrene is at Agilyx in Tigard. Some mail stores can reuse your plastic bubble wrap and styrofoam peanuts.
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polystyrene foam products
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crinkly, easily crushed planting pots and trays
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CD jewel case
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plastic cutlery
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casette tape case
Picturethreaded plastic caps
​Rigid Plastics:  Plastic caps, lids, Containers, Beverage Handles, Outdoor Furniture, Nursery Plant Pots and Trays

Rigid plastic must be CLEAN, DRY, SORTED, and FREE OF LABELS, FOIL and METAL

We will accept the following rigid plastic:
  • Threaded plastic caps from bottles, jugs, and jars. There should be no food residue or mold and remove any paper/metal inserts from inside the cap if possible. It is not necessary to have a resin code on the threaded plastic caps. Examples: plastic caps from household containers such as detergent jugs, food bottles and jars, milk jugs, drink containers, shampoo and medicine bottles.​​
  • Plastic containers, lids, and beverage handles with resin codes #2, #4, #5 or #6.  Wash the items well and remove any adhesive labels (adding very warm water to containers for several minutes helps melt the adhesive). Important Note: Your mixed recycling bin at home allows plastic bottles, tubs and jugs over 6 fluid ounces, rigid plastic buckets less than 5 gallons and pots over 4 inches, so there is no need to bring what can be recycled at home.  Examples of what to bring: lids from tubs (eg dairy products) and coffee cup lids. Plastic containers including medicine bottles of any size, drink cups, take-out containers, trays, and bowls.
  • Rigid nursery plant pots with the resin codes #2, #4, #5, #6. Remove all soil and labels and wash well. If there is no resin code then do not bring to PlanetCon. 
  • Plastic lawn furniture: tables and chairs.  Wash the items well and remove all dirt and glued labels.  There will likely not be a resin code.
  • ​​All plastic must be washed well and must be free of adhesive labels (small residual from glued labels are OK).  Scrape off any glued foil. Cut off any glued film (such as on tofu containers). Sort and separate plastic items according to type:  #2 HDPE, #4 LDPE, #5 PP, #6 PS, and threaded plastic caps.
  • ​​NOT ACCEPTED:  NO #1 PETE plastic, NO #3 or #7 plastic, NO plastic toys, NO containers missing resin codes #2 HDPE, #4 LDPE, #5 PP or #6 PS.
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plastic resin codes accepted
Examples of #2, #4, #5, #6 plastic that will be accepted at PlanetCon:  Lids, cups, trays, beverage handles, take out and other containers that are not accepted in home mixed recycling bins.
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Paktech beverage handle

​Computers & Electronics - Drop off unused and non-functioning electronics from the list below - at no charge.  
        Any small appliance with a cord.
        ​Desktop Computers
        Laptops/Hard Disk Drives/Floppy Disk Drives
        Flat panel monitors and televisions. No CRTs
        Printers/Typewriters
        CD Roms/Modems/Networking Devices
        Circuit Boards/Circuit Board Components
        Wire
 ​       headphones and charging cords
        Keyboards/Mice/Power Supplies
        Test Equipment/Point of Sale Equipment
        Aluminum Sheet/Cast or Unclean
        Telephone Equipment/ Cell Phones
        Radios/VCRs/Projectors
        Inkjet and Toner Cartridges
 ​       String lights (holiday, garden lights) with a cord

​Please do NOT bring any items with refrigerant (refrigerators, freezers, A/C units) or any cathode ray tube (CRT) televisions and monitors. Instead, contact Computer Drive Connection for drop-off as charges may apply.
  • Did you know?  Computer Drive Connection is a Cornelius company that disassembles donated electronics. Reusable items are resold and most of the remaining is recycled. Data information is wiped or destroyed on all hard disk drives.
  • Did you know? Goodwill and Salvation Army locations are just a few of the Oregon Ecycles drop-off centers that will accept computers, monitors and televisions (working or non-working) for reuse and recycling at no charge. Find a drop-off location near you using the What to Recycle and Where tool.
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​Tire Collection - Drop off worn out automobile tires. Tires may be either on or off the rim.
Requirements:
  • Limit of 6 standard size passenger car or light truck tires per household.
  • No agricultural, business or oversized tires.
  • Must be clean - no mud or caked dirt.
  • Washington County residents only.
Did you know?  Improperly stored tires can become a breeding ground for mosquitoes which can carry life-threatening diseases.
Did you know?  There are several locations in Portland to recycle your tires for economical rates. This includes RB Recycling and Tire Recycling and Disposal.
Many thanks to Metro and Washington County for providing funding to support the tire recycling at PlanetCon!
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Candles and candle wax - Drop off unused or used candles and candle wax in the Swap area.  It is fine if they are in glass containers. Anyone can take them for reuse or recycling. What doesn't get taken at the end of the event will be given to boutique recycling efforts.
 
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Donate
​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 personal products including shampoo, liquid soap, lotion, lip balm (chapstick), aerosol deodorant, baby wipes, travel tissue packs, band-aids, antibiotic ointment, menstrual products, adult diapers and socks & underwear for all ages. All personal products must be newly purchased, however used bras, towels and reading glasses are also accepted. The Severe Weather Shelter Network in Washington County distributes personal products.

Donate bicycles from children's to adult sizes. It is OK if they need repair or are missing parts.  They will be collected by Washco Bikes in Hillsboro, a local nonprofit that repairs bikes and runs an Adopt A Bike program.
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eyeglasses, sunglasses, readers, safety or swim goggles
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hearing aids, and their usable batteries

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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 toys, NO dirty plastics, NO plastics with adhesive labels.
  • No plastic bags will be accepted. These can to taken to many local stores including Safeway/Albertsons, Fred Meyers, Winco, and New Seasons.
  • No batteries will be accepted. These can be taken to Metro Hazardous Waste locations , Batteries plus Bulbs or Interstate Batteries for a small fee.
  • NO torn or dirty clothing. Clothing in good condition is accepted at several non-profits including Goodwill and Salvation Army.
  • Please be prepared to haul away items you bring that can't be accepted

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​
Have Fun!
  • ​Purchase a delicious lunch from a food vendor.
  • Enjoy music from a local musician
  • Did you know? ​  A vegetarian diet is better for the environment than a meat-based one. Listening to music provides many health benefits.

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​Information Tables and Talks
Learn more about important topics to boost your knowledge!

We will be hosting Power Talks on sustainable topics to enhance your superpowers.  Details TBD
 
Learn more about Electric Vehicles! (EVs) 
Volunteers will bring their electric vehicles to show in the parking lot and to answer questions.

Information tables will be available on many sustainable living topics:
  • ​Washington County and Portland area Repair Fairs
  • Hillsboro food composting program
  • Shake and Fold - a way to reduce paper towel use in public restrooms
  • Food waste prevention 
  • Food storage and purchasing tips
  • Reduce Holiday Waste
  • General recycling
  • Plastics and disposables reduction
  • composting and worm bins (vermicomposting)
  • Learn to make your own Green Cleaners to reduce chemicals in the home
  • Learn how personal products have chemicals and how you can check if they are safe to use
  • Buying food in bulk at grocery stores to reduce packaging and save money
  • Recycling Advocates and the Bring Your Own Cup campaign
  • Eco Schools Network 
  • Portland Audubon
  • Hillsboro Food Coop
  • ​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 ​​
  • Master Gardeners
  • Tualatin Soil and Water
  • Nature Conservancy
  • GoBox
  • Solar Oregon
  • New Seasons sustainability
  • National Wildlife Federation
  • and more!!
This FREE event is brought to you by the Westside Master Recyclers with the support of Washington County Solid Waste & Recycling, the City of Hillsboro, and the Hillsboro School District.

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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 that have 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. 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, 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 Fairs help fix broken items at no charge. 
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.