August 15th, 2026 | by James Harris
James Recycling is a Portland-based nonprofit and independent recycler that accepts hard-to-recycle items, such as styrofoam and plastic bags, which aren't allowed in standard city curbside bins. Founded by James Harris, a young man with autism, the organization empowers adults with developmental differences by employing them in meaningful recycling operations.
James Recycling is a Portland-based nonprofit and independent recycler that accepts hard-to-recycle items, such as styrofoam and plastic bags, which aren't allowed in standard city curbside bins. Founded by James Harris, a young man with autism, the organization empowers adults with developmental differences by employing them in meaningful recycling operations.
We are working with James Recycling this summer through our planned activation at the MADE handmade bike show in Portland this week. Bring plastic cycling bottles to recycle and you might get a custom MADE Bivo bottle! More details on the activation below:
Thanks to James Recycling for helping us make recycling easy and possible for Portlanders. We interviewed Kathi, James’ Mom, about James’ work and their business!
We are working with James Recycling this summer through our planned activation at the MADE handmade bike show in Portland this week. Bring plastic cycling bottles to recycle and you might get a custom MADE Bivo bottle! More details on the activation below:
Thanks to James Recycling for helping us make recycling easy and possible for Portlanders. We interviewed Kathi, James’ Mom, about James’ work and their business!
The inspiration for James Recycling was based on James’ intense interest in garbage, recycling, and the environment, which started when he was a little guy. That interest never waned and grew into the James Recycling business we have today.
When James was younger, he would go through our garbage and pull out anything that could be recycled, and would have me drive him to the recycling depot near our house (which is now closed). When he was around 16, I suggested he do the same for a few neighbors so he could earn some spending money. Through word of mouth and some media attention, it grew from a few customers to over 300. We were the first door-to-door recycling pick-up service in our area. In 2023, we became a nonprofit organization and opened a recycling depot. There is no other recycling drop-off facility in our area that accepts the items we do, which makes us pretty unique!
The inspiration for James Recycling was based on James’ intense interest in garbage, recycling, and the environment, which started when he was a little guy. That interest never waned and grew into the James Recycling business we have today.
When James was younger, he would go through our garbage and pull out anything that could be recycled, and would have me drive him to the recycling depot near our house (which is now closed). When he was around 16, I suggested he do the same for a few neighbors so he could earn some spending money. Through word of mouth and some media attention, it grew from a few customers to over 300. We were the first door-to-door recycling pick-up service in our area. In 2023, we became a nonprofit organization and opened a recycling depot. There is no other recycling drop-off facility in our area that accepts the items we do, which makes us pretty unique!
The community has been very supportive of our program and inspired by the story behind it. People want to do the right thing and get pretty excited about the opportunity to recycle things that would normally go into a landfill. The fact that our business was co-founded by someone on the autism spectrum is also something that draws people in.
The community has been very supportive of our program and inspired by the story behind it. People want to do the right thing and get pretty excited about the opportunity to recycle things that would normally go into a landfill. The fact that our business was co-founded by someone on the autism spectrum is also something that draws people in.
James - I enjoy sorting recycling at the depot and teaching people about the different stuff we can take and why we can take it.
Kathi - My favorite part is working at the depot, answering recycling questions, and helping people find resources for the things we can’t take. Part of my longtime goal has been to hire other adults on the autism spectrum and give them the opportunity to grow their social skills and confidence. The depot has given me the chance to do this, which is personally very fulfilling.
Each month we collect around 8,000 pounds of plastic and styrofoam.
James - I enjoy sorting recycling at the depot and teaching people about the different stuff we can take and why we can take it.
Kathi - My favorite part is working at the depot, answering recycling questions, and helping people find resources for the things we can’t take. Part of my longtime goal has been to hire other adults on the autism spectrum and give them the opportunity to grow their social skills and confidence. The depot has given me the chance to do this, which is personally very fulfilling.
Each month we collect around 8,000 pounds of plastic and styrofoam.
City curbside recycling is based on size and shape, and municipal sorting technology is able to recover these items. We are able to collect things that don’t fall within the curbside parameters, such as plastic berry clamshells, takeout containers, lids, straws, plastic drink cups, plastic bags, etc. which are not picked up by the current sorting technology and/or jam up the equipment at municipal material recovery facilities. We fill the void that exists for things that can’t be recycled through city curbside programs.
City curbside recycling is based on size and shape, and municipal sorting technology is able to recover these items. We are able to collect things that don’t fall within the curbside parameters, such as plastic berry clamshells, takeout containers, lids, straws, plastic drink cups, plastic bags, etc. which are not picked up by the current sorting technology and/or jam up the equipment at municipal material recovery facilities. We fill the void that exists for things that can’t be recycled through city curbside programs.
Lots of people ask how we are able to collect the items we do and where we take them to be recycled.
Backstory - before 2017, the U.S. had been sending around 95% of plastic to China for recycling, but the problem was that we were including lots of garbage along with this recycling. After many warnings, China stopped accepting any plastic from the U.S. This is why most public plastic drop-off locations shut down. This left us in the same boat as other collectors; there was no market for post-consumer plastic.
The market has not improved much, but what “saved” us is our partnership with Denton Plastics, a local industrial plastic recycling facility. Industrial plastic recyclers do not normally take any post-household recycling because it is usually contaminated with food and other gross stuff, and not sorted by plastic type. We contacted Denton and they agreed to give us a “trial period”. We passed their test and for almost 10 years they have been accepting James Recycling plastic and supporting our cause.
They’ve been an important part of the James Recycling journey and their president, Nicole Janssen, is even on our board of directors!
Lots of people ask how we are able to collect the items we do and where we take them to be recycled.
Backstory - before 2017, the U.S. had been sending around 95% of plastic to China for recycling, but the problem was that we were including lots of garbage along with this recycling. After many warnings, China stopped accepting any plastic from the U.S. This is why most public plastic drop-off locations shut down. This left us in the same boat as other collectors; there was no market for post-consumer plastic.
The market has not improved much, but what “saved” us is our partnership with Denton Plastics, a local industrial plastic recycling facility. Industrial plastic recyclers do not normally take any post-household recycling because it is usually contaminated with food and other gross stuff, and not sorted by plastic type. We contacted Denton and they agreed to give us a “trial period”. We passed their test and for almost 10 years they have been accepting James Recycling plastic and supporting our cause.
They’ve been an important part of the James Recycling journey and their president, Nicole Janssen, is even on our board of directors!
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