RID Patrol: Report dumped garbage

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Metro's RID Patrol tackles the problem of dumped garbage on public property and provides other cleanup services. Report dumped garbage at 503-234-3000 or online.

Online tools

Report dumped garbage online using the RID Reporter.

Report a dump

Check status of past reports and view real-time data about the RID Patrol on a data dashboard.

View the dashboard

View RID Patrol cleanup maps covering the years 2022 and 2023.

View cleanup maps

Trash, old appliances, torn mattresses, used tires, broken furniture, oil, antifreeze and pesticides are a few of the things dumped on public lands, sidewalks, alleyways and waterways, putting human health and wildlife at risk.

RID Patrol cleans up dumped or abandoned garbage sites. It also investigates evidence found in dumped garbage and eye-witness accounts of dumping incidents on either public or private property.

Report rather than confront

If you see dumpers in the act, do not confront them. Note the vehicle's license plate number, make and model, items dumped and location. This information can be provided to Metro's RID Patrol to investigate.

Prevent dumping

If you plan to offer furniture, tires, construction materials or other items to the community, do not abandon them on street corners for “free.” Instead, keep items in your yard and list them on reuse sites such as freecycle.org or craigslist.org.

Hire only licensed businesses or haulers to take your garbage and bulky items. Get the person's name and license plate number, pay by check instead of cash, and get a receipt. If your garbage ends up dumped, you may be subject to fines.

Find recycling or disposal options near you

Resources

Answers and resources for common questions

Garbage on your property	Contact RID Patrol to request investigation of a dump on your property, including parking lots, easements, or driveways or next to your dumpster or trash can. Please provide evidence with our request, such as mail, surveillance video, labels on prescription medications, or vehicle description with license plate numbers. Do not move the items to public property. You could be cited for dumping.
Abandoned vehicles	In Portland, visit the city’s website. In other areas, contact the local nuisance or code enforcement department in your city.
Dumped yard debris	Dispose of dumped yard debris in your yard debris disposal can or compost bin. You can also deliver it to a local yard debris facility, or call your hauler for removal of extra bags (fees may apply). ). Contact Metro’s RID Patrol if the volume of dumped yard debris is blocking access to an alley or a sidewalk.
Stockpiled items or trash	If you’re concerned about a property storing large numbers of items in their yard, or see stockpiled trash spilling into public areas like the street or sidewalk, contact the local nuisance or code enforcement department in your city.
Homeless camps	Contact the property owner or call your local police non-emergency number. In Portland: Report online In Gresham: Report online In other areas, contact the local code enforcement department in your city.
Liquid spills	In Portland: The Bureau of Environmental Services’ Spill Hotline at 503-823-7180 responds 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In other areas: Call 911 for emergency and public safety assistance from the local fire, police and medical services. Otherwise contact your local nuisance or code enforcement department or local non-emergency police.
Dumped hazardous waste	Contact the nuisance or code enforcement department in your city.
Needles and syringes (also known as sharps)	If you find a syringe or other sharps, don’t pick them up with your bare hands. With gloves on, use tongs to place sharps in a sealable, puncture-proof container (heavy plastic not glass). To avoid accidentally sticking yourself, do not hold the container while placing the syringe inside. Tape the container shut and label it: “Sharps Container DO NOT Recycle.” Do not place sealed sharps in garbage or recycling containers. Find sharps disposal options and locations Multnomah County Syringe Disposal
Removal of locked items	For the removal of items locked to a sign, telephone pole, bike rack, or bus stop, contact the local nuisance or code enforcement department in your city.

Tags warn dumpers and encourage proper disposal

You may have spotted a bright orange tag on an abandoned mattress at the end of your street or taped to an old washer in an alley. The tags:

educate neighbors that abandoning bulky items on public property is illegal
warn dumpers that they must dispose of items properly or risk prosecution
reduce cleanup cost to Metro’s ratepayers by urging those who have left abandoned items to retrieve them or be fined.

If the tagged item has not been removed in approximately a week, Metro's crew will collect and dispose of it properly.