‘This is gross’: Urine bottles left in Portland yards, trash cans baffle police

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Residents in the greater Portland area have been finding bottles full of urine in their yard and trash bins for months now, and local police aren’t sure where they are coming from.

According to Oregon Metro officials, these bottles have been reported on several private properties in more than one neighborhood since April.

“We get reports like this regularly, so it’s not something that jumps out at us,” Metro RID Patrol manager Stephanie Rawson said. “With so many people surviving outside with limited or no access to bathrooms, jugs of urine and containers of human waste is common.”

A recent report came in from the Roseway neighborhood, and RID Patrol was able to remove the urine jugs because they had been dumped in a public space. Bottles left on private property, however, cannot be removed by Metro. 

Garbage removal services may even refuse to collect the jugs, as liquids of any kind are not allowed inside bins due to possible environmental or safety risks. 

“In those instances, our advice is for people to take as much precaution as possible and dump the contents into a toilet or in their yard if they have one,” officials said. “We know some people may not be comfortable with this option, but it is the easiest solution.”

Meanwhile, Portland Police Bureau’s Sgt. Kevin Allen said he has heard several anecdotal reports of urine being disposed of on private property since September 2024. He said it’s a “strange crime.”

“We understand how unsettling this could be,” Allen said. “People can report this on our website online reporting tool, as I know that sometimes police non-emergency is too busy to get through.”

He also asked that residents who experience these unexpected drop-offs to check their home security cameras, because it’s possible that the person responsible could face a penalty for improperly disposing of human waste.

Nearby in Washington County, Officer Matt Henderson said the crime could constitute “theft of services,” though each case may vary. He noted that charges would depend on the city and district attorneys.

“This is gross,” Henderson said. “We want the public calling us on these cases.”