Free workshops and classes

City residents can take free workshops to learn about regional recycling systems, curbside composting through the organics service and preventing food waste.

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RecycleU

City of Vancouver residents can take free workshops to learn about regional recycling systems, curbside composting through the Organics service and preventing food waste. These classes are offered through a partnership with Vancouver Solid Waste, Clark County Green Neighbors and Waste Connections. Read below for workshop descriptions, upcoming dates and registration.

Earn $120 for your neighborhood association by attending a workshop or taking a tour.

Current class list

Review the current RecycleU schedule and sign up for a free class today.

Clark County’s Composter Recycler program also offers free workshops on backyard composting, worm bins, toxic-free cleaning and more.

Recycling 101: Curbside Recycling Done Right

Live in an apartment? Rent? Own? Everyone is invited to join this informative Recycling 101 class. Get all the details about our regional garbage and recycling system.

• Learn the basics about what to recycle curbside and why, and where do the items go after being picked up.
• If you are unsure if certain items can be recycled, bring those questions to this class!

Organics 101: Curbside Composting

If you live within Vancouver or Ridgefield city limits, you can add food scraps to your yard debris cart. During this class, learn about this optional program including:

• What is and is not accepted in the organics cart and why.
• The benefit of keeping food scraps out of the garbage.
• How to maintain your cart and pail to keep them clean.
• Where the yard debris and food scraps go after leaving the curb.

Recycling 201: Beyond Curbside Recycling

Take the next step! Go beyond the basics of curbside recycling.

• Discover a variety of convenient recycling and reuse options locally for plastic bags, appliances, bulky items and more.
• Learn to identify household hazardous waste (HHW) and how to safely dispose of this material.
• Please note: Prior attendance in Recycling 101 is requested for this class.

Recycling walking tours

Contact recyclehelp@wasteconnections.com to schedule.

Join a walk-and-talk tour at a local, regional transfer station and material recovery facility. Discover how your recycling gets sorted and prepared for markets.

• Participants must provide their own transportation to the site. Parking is limited, and carpooling is encouraged.

$120 RecycleU grant for Neighborhood Associations

Earn $120 for your Neighborhood Association! By attending a workshop or taking a tour, your Neighborhood Association may be eligible for a $120 grant. This is available only to officially recognized Neighborhood Associations in the City of Vancouver. Follow these steps:

1. Attend a RecycleU or Composter Recycler workshop.
2. Share what you learned with your neighborhood

• Use one of the pre-written articles or write your own. If you create your own, please have Solid Waste Services review it by contacting 360-487-7160 or email solidwaste@cityofvancouver.us.
• Submit one article to your neighborhood newsletter OR,
• Share two postings on NextDoor.

3. Send copies of these postings or submissions to solidwaste@cityofvancouver.us for your grant request to be processed. A check will be sent to your Neighborhood Association’s Treasurer or designee.