The Portland Curbsider

Summer 2012 edition

Inside this issue:

New curbside collection service: A six-month report

Portlanders have been using their new curbside collection service (weekly food scraps/yard debris, weekly recycling and every-other-week garbage collection) for just over six months. During this time, the City has been evaluating progress and gathering data. Adapting to new changes takes time but the efforts residents are making are already paying off. Read more about what we’ve learned and get tips for using the new system.

E-schedule

Never forget another garbage day with easy online collection schedules and weekly reminders. You can also sign up for weekly email reminders on your computer or mobile device. Check your composting, recycling and garbage schedules online at www.portlandonline.com/bps/eschedule.

Look inside for solutions to these common curbside challenges:

• Don’t have much garbage?
• Have occasional extra garbage?
• Don’t have much composting or recycling?
• Want a clean green cart but no time to wash it?

Include the Food

Collect food scraps when preparing meals, scraping plates or cleaning leftovers from your fridge. Find out what goes in and what stays out of your green compost roll cart inside the Curbsider.

2012-13 Rate Information

Starting on July 1, 2012, many residents will see an increase of $1.20 per month on their bill. A significant percentage of this rate increase is due to rising labor and fuel costs as well as garbage and recycling companies’ investment in newer, safer, less-polluting trucks. At the same time, the recent changes to curbside collection services have reduced other costs. By diverting food scraps from the landfill and turning them into a valuable product, composting and every-other-week garbage service are reducing disposal costs and keeping rates lower than they otherwise would be. If you have questions about rate changes, call the Curbside Hotline at 503-823-7202.

PORTLAND has a PLAN.

Over the past two+ years, with more than 300 public meetings and 20,000 comments from residents, businesses, neighborhoods and nonprofits, Portlanders imagined thePortlandof 2035. And together, we created the roadmap to get there. This April, Portland City Council unanimously voted to adopt The Portland Plan. Read more inside, or at pdxplan.com.