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Recycling Requirements for Businesses

As of February 16, 2010, with the passage of the Business Recycling Requirements, all businesses within Washington County, except those within the cities of Banks and North Plains, are required to collect for recycling all recyclable paper, cardboard and containers.

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Meeting the requirements is easy as 1-2-3:

  1. Place recycling receptacles throughout the workplace.
  2. Post signs at collection areas that identify materials to be recycled.
  3. Recycle all recyclable paper, cardboard and containers (metal cans, plastic bottles and tubs, and glass bottles and jars)

These requirements apply to businesses, schools, public agencies, non-profit organizations as well as property management firms with business tenants.

*Home-based businesses are exempt from these requirements.  

 

The Washington County Recycle at Work Program offers free assistance and resources to help businesses meet the Business Recycling Requirements.  

 

Electronic Waste - Oregon E-cycles!OregonecyclesLogo

Effective January 2010, televisions, monitors and computers are banned from Oregon landfills. Luckily, the Oregon E-Cycles program provides free recycling of computers, monitors and televisions. The program is financed by electronics manufacturers and jointly implemented with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).

What items are covered under the program? Desktop and portable computers (laptops), monitors and televisions are all covered electronic devices.  

What is not covered?  Fax machines, cell phones, printers and other peripherals are not covered under the current program.  

Who can recycle their electronics via the Oregon Ecycles program?  Households, small organizations of ten or fewer employees and anyone else delivering seven or fewer covered electronic devices to a collector at any one time. 

For a list of local drop-off facilities and to learn more about the program, go to the Oregon Ecycles website. 

 

Put Leftover Paint to Good Use!

paintcanOn July 23, 2009, Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski signed into law the nation’s first Product Stewardship program that requires paint manufacturers to safely manage leftover latex and oil-based paint from consumer and contractor painting jobs. The PaintCare Program began July 1, 2010 and will provide State residents and businesses with a convenient option for paint disposal and recycling.

The PaintCare Program is offered by a host of participating paint vendors throughout the State of Oregon. The proposed list of Washington County vendors is provided below and a comprehensive list will be available online at www.PaintCare.org. As the program matures, more paint collection sites will be established.

Residents and businesses seeking environmental and affordable ways to dispose of paint are encouraged to contact one of the participating locations listed below for site specific details. Disposal will be free of charge for all paints included in the program. Visit www.PaintCare.org for a complete list of included paints.

Washington County Participating Vendors:

  • Suburban Ace Hardware Inc. - 3470 SW 185th Ave., Aloha, OR 97006 - (503) 649-5555
  • Rodda Paint - Progress - 8614 SW Hall Blvd., Beaverton, OR 97008 - (503) 644-6188
  • Washington County ReStore - 13475 SW Millikan Way, Beaverton, OR  97005 - (503) 906-3823
    West Tuality ReStore - 4115 24th Ave., Forest Grove, OR 97116 - (503) 357-1201
  • Miller Paint - 8703 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy., Portland, OR 97225 - (503) 292-4444
  • Miller Paint - 1040 NW Murray Rd., Portland, OR 97229 - (503) 574-4411
  • Sherwin Williams - 19390 SW 90th Court, Tualatin, OR 97062 - (503) 691-0500


Regional Green Building Hotline Offers Free Technical Assistance! greenbuild_magnet

Residents of Washington County have access to the Green Building Hotline to get technical help with their projects. Simply call the hotline at (503) 823-5431 for free information about green building strategies, materials, financial incentives and educational opportunities. Tour green buildings, attend free or low-cost classes about green building concepts, talk with designers and learn how to get a free Energy Trust of Oregon energy audit.

Learn more at www.BuildGreen411.com or e-mail GreenHotline@portlandoregon.gov.

 

21 Tips to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

Solid Waste

  • Purchase in bulk to reduce packaging or bring your own containers to fill.
  • Bring durable bags to pack groceries home.
  • Set up an area in your home to set recyclable materials for collection.
  • Compost yard clippings, vegetable and fruit peelings and more!
  • Reduce junk mail by removing your name from 3rd class mailing lists. www.directmail.com/junk_mail
  • Locate a recycler for materials not accepted in your recycling program. www.oregonmetro.gov/FindARecycler

Water                                                     

  • Install low-flow showerheads and keep showers to 5 minutes or shorter.
  • Install low-flow toilets when upgrading/remodeling your bathroom.       

Energy

  • Turn off lights and electronics when not in use.
  • Wash full loads of clothes and dishes and choose cold water selections.
  • Clean your dryer lint-catch every time before drying a load to reduce energy consumption and drying time.
  • Set your thermostat to 65-68 F during the day and 55-58 F at night or install a programmable thermostat to these figures to take care of it automatically.
  • Select energy-efficient appliances when shopping for new electronics.
  • Set your water heater to 120 degrees F and set it to 'off' when on a trip.
  • Use compact fluorescent lights for light bulbs in use at least 3 hours each day.
  • Contact your energy utility to find out how to shift your electric energy to green power.

Transportation

  • Group errands to save time and energy when out and about.
  • Carpool to work, games, practices or school.
  • Use alternate transportation when possible; biking, walking, public system, etc.
  • Turn off your engine when idling in line for over a minute (e.g. gas station, school, railroad crossing, bank drive-up). It's a myth that it's more fuel-efficient to leave your engine running instead of turning it off and restarting it. 

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