The Role of Local Government in Improving the Environment

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The Role of Local Government in Improving the
Environment

• Bruce Walker
• City of Portland
• Office of Sustainable Development
• October 20, 2005

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Portland Profile

• 545,000 population
• 135,000 households
• 2,500 multifamily complexes
• 20,000 businesses

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Portlands Programs

• Leadership Establish Policies and Goals
• Partnership Businesses, Residents and Non-Profit
  Organizations
• Action Energy Conservation, Greenhouse Gas
  Reduction, Green Building, Solid Waste Recycling

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Energy Conservation

• City energy conservation measures save 2.3
  million annually22 of total energy costs
• Goal 100 renewable power for city facilities

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State Financial Incentives for Energy Efficiency
and Renewable Resources

• Residential Energy Tax Credit - 25
• Business Energy Tax Credit - 35
• 60 million annually available for energy
  efficiency and renewable resource investments

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Reductions in Greenhouse Gases

• Since 1990, Portland has achieved
• A 12.5 percent per capita reduction in carbon
  dioxide emissions.
• A 9 per capita reduction in gasoline use
• A 10 reduction in household electricity use
• Residential recycling has tripled

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Transportation
Transit ridership has increased 75 since 1990.
Bicycle commuting has tripled.
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Green Building

• More LEED Buildings than any U.S. city
• Key barrier was lack of good information, so
  program focuses on
• Technical assistance
• Training
• Resources

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Recycling Goals

• In 1998, City Council set a goal of 60 of solid
  waste being recycled by 2005
• Since 1998, the rate has been between 53 55

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Residential Recycling

• 30 franchised haulers
• Weekly, curbside collection
• Glass separate
• Paper, aluminum, plastic, cardboard, motor oil
• Yard Debris bi-weekly

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Commercial establishments generate by far the
larger portion of all garbage therefore have a
much larger impact on what goes to landfills
Residential
Commercial
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Commercial Recycling

• Free market system for garbage and recycling
• 58 permitted haulers
• Recycling carts are paid for by City
• Haulers
• required to provide recycling
• Businesses
• must recycle 50 of waste

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Commercial Recycling Containers
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Commercial Assistance

• 80 of businesses report recycling more than 4
  types of materials
• City launched GoBlue! program and BlueWorks
  recognition in Fall of 2004

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Regional campaign
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Multifamily Recycling

• 5 units apartments, condos, group living
  facilities
• City began recycling outreach in 1990s
• As of July 1, 2005 standardized 2-sort with
  glass separate

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Partnerships with Private Sector

• Businesses
• provide assistance to increase recycling
• Haulers
• assure service delivered to customers
• MRFs
• independent monitoring of residuals

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Future Steps

• New, higher recycling goal
• Changes in structure of commercial sector
• Residential roll carts
• Targeted waste streams
• Food waste
• Paper
• CD

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Lessons Learned

• Strong policy and political leadership is
  paramount
• Success requires action at every level
• Developing support from residential and business
  customers is essential

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Contact

• Bruce Walker City of Portland Office of
  Sustainable Development Solid Waste Recycling
  Program 721 NW 9th Avenue, Room 350 Portland,
  OR 97209
• bwalker_at_ci.portland.or.us
• http//www.sustainableportland.org