The wildfires and smoke that recently impacted large swathes of Oregon, including Washington County, were a reminder to all of us to be prepared in case of emergency. Please visit the Oregon Office of Emergency Management's website for information on disaster preparedness, putting together an emergency kit and more.

The fires and associated air quality concerns also caused delays to garbage and recycling collection in many parts of Washington County. And as we move into the winter months, there is a chance of disruptions as a result of inclement weather.

Here's where you can go for more information about service alerts and changes to collection schedules:

*Please note, addresses within Beaverton city limits may not be able to sign up for service alerts or collection schedule reminders via the app.

Do you live in an apartment or condo? Metro is proposing changes to improve garbage and recycling collection at multifamily properties, and they want YOUR feedback!

Garbage and recycling collection often varies from one community to the next. Different colors and shapes of bins, faded or missing stickers and crowded enclosures can cause a lot of confusion.

Regional service standards set the base level of service for garbage and recycling collection in the Portland Metro area. Proposed changes include more service, new bins and updated stickers and signs.

Learn what this means for you and let Metro know what you think by October 15.

Fall means cool mornings, cozy sweaters, pumpkin everything...and leaves, lots of leaves.

One option for dealing with leaves is to request delivery of an extra yard debris bin. Contact your collection company for more details.

Clean Water Services has discontinued their leaf pick-up services and expanded their disposal events instead. Check out their website for more information and the full schedule of events. You can also receive alerts about upcoming events when you download the Garbage and Recycling Day app.

And you can always leave the leaves! Run over the leaves a few times with a mulching mower (or take the bag off your regular mower) and leave them where they are, or gather them up and spread them over garden beds. This natural compost will benefit your lawn and garden.

Tuesdays have gotten a little "Trashier".

Join us every week for our new program, Trash Talk Tuesday! We'll be using fun videos and Facebook Live to answer your questions about garbage and recycling, share ways to save money by extending the life of your food, show you how to make non-toxic cleaning and skin care products and more! Follow us on Facebook to make sure you don't miss an episode.

If you're looking for ways to engage your Green Team, afterschool program or community group, we'd love to (virtually) share our *new and improved* Recycling 101 presentation with you! Learn more about what can and can't go in your mixed recycling and why those chasing arrows don't mean what you might think. Email us at recycle@co.washington.or.us for more details. Presentations are available in English and Spanish.

Meet Chris Abosamra, our new Waste Reduction Educator, who has been placed with Washington County Solid Waste & Recycling as part of the Confluence Environmental Center's AmeriCorps service program.

Chris is a recent graduate from Pacific University, where he majored in Environmental Science with an emphasis in sustainability. He also played soccer for several years and worked with the Center for a Sustainable Society. While at Pacific, he coordinated a compost initiative and started a new mug exchange program at the campus Starbucks.

Chris is most excited about providing easy and accessible information regarding food waste prevention and food pantry resources to the Washington County community during his AmeriCorps term. He will also be providing recycling outreach and technical assistance to multifamily communities. In his free time, Chris is a big supporter of the Trailblazers, loves to snowboard and kayak, and makes his own clothing at home.

Just a reminder that you're receiving this email because you have interacted with Washington County Solid Waste & Recycling. Don't forget to add recycle@co.washington.or.us to your address book so we'll be sure to land in your inbox!