VOICES FROM THE COMMUNITY:
The visionPDX Input Report

ENVIRONMENT:
Solid Waste and Recycling

  


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Portlanders take pride in our city’s emphasis on recycling.

Section Summary

Recycling, reducing waste and reusing materials are deeply held values for many Portlanders. Many community members express appreciation for the fact that Portland seems to embrace such practices. Portlanders welcome local businesses that facilitate the reuse of materials, and are pleased with the common practice of composting in homes and businesses around the city.

Many have ideas for how to expand recycling programs to accept more materials that currently cannot be recycled, at least not on a large scale, such as toxics. People believe that recycling should be made easier and more accessible to residents who live in apartments, housing developments and outside of the city center. They also want more education about environmental lifestyle practices, and believe there should be research funding available for effective recycling methods, which could work for Portland.

Summary of Main Ideas

  1. Conservation of the environment through reducing, reusing and recycling waste is key to Portlanders’ lifestyle.
  2. People want to see efforts to keep Portland clean and litter free increased.
  3. Businesses should do more to incorporate recycling and other sustainable practices.

MAIN IDEAS

  1. Conservation of the environment through reducing, reusing and recycling waste is key to Portlanders’ lifestyle.
  • Many Portlanders embrace the concept and practice of reducing waste, reusing materials and recycling.
  • Respondents like that Portlanders recycle and that the practice of recycling is fairly mainstream.
  • People a hold high expectation of cleanliness for the city, and they are upset when they see trash because it contradicts Portland values.
  • Many people believe that Portland is unique in its many efforts to reduce waste and to recycle.
  • Local businesses that incorporate recycling into their primary mission are respected.
"...I value it's beauty. I like living in a clean city and hate when I see trash in the streets it makes me feel like we don't care about the city we live in.”

"[I would like to see] a more environmentally sustainable metropolitan: mass adherence to recycling programs.”

Sample Strategies:

  1. “I would love to see a curbside compost pick-up in addition to trash, recycling and yard waste -- food waste adds a lot to landfills and it could be much more valuable when composted and turned into dirt!”
  2. “...Establish a recycle bill for all bottles and cans, not just for soda and alcoholic beverages.”
  1. People want to see efforts to keep Portland clean and litter free increased.
  • There should be recycling bins and trash cans in public areas, lining downtown streets, in shopping districts and in all neighborhoods.
  • Some believe there should be a system for public recycling bins and that, eventually, they could replace trash cans.
  • Expand recycling programs to all types of residences, including all apartment complexes.
  • People ask for convenient recycling options for more types of plastics and other materials that currently cannot be recycled at the curbside.
  • In particular, people want to be able to easily recycle toxic materials such as:
    • Paints;
    • Batteries; and
    • Carpets.
  • Community members would like to see more public opportunities for composting in order to reuse food waste and yard debris that typically goes to a landfill.
  • People want to see policies that allow for residents to have composting toilets on their property.
  • Composting worm bins should be more widely known about and used.
  • Public education should increase to inform Portlanders of sustainable lifestyle options.
"More bins for recycling bottles and cans, especially items like water bottles that don't get a refund...”

"Enhanced recycling program that accepts some of the products that are currently excluded.”

“More recycling - especially of plastics & packaging.”

“Regarding recycling, so many people recycle here and are aware of the need, but there are not enough places downtown to put recyclables by trash cans (although there are some receptacles for cans). I think that there should be more."

Sample Strategies:

  1. “We can have more recycling campaigns.”
  2. “Promote recycling and reuse through support of places like Free Geek.”
  3. “Metro funding given to research on recycling, especially changing local manufacturing, so that products are at least 50% recyclable when they are produced.”
  4. More education in schools and research regarding best practices in recycling and sustainability.
  5. Tax businesses based on amount of waste, not profit.
  1. Businesses should do more to incorporate recycling and other sustainable practices.
  • All businesses should have separate systems for composting, recycling and trash.
  • They will use biodegradable or recycled materials when possible.
  • Businesses should become more resource efficient and have waste reuse programs.
“Less new construction and more reuse and renovations by local companies to raise our workforce in our local neighborhoods.”

“I also want to see stronger participation and commitment from businesses to use sustainable practices that do not harm the environment.”

Sample Strategies:

  1.  “Say a manufacturer of kitchen products decides to accept all the packaging they send out by return mail and agrees to responsibly recycle or reuse the packaging - they get a tax break for the effort."