Getting ready for a move is never easy. You have to rent a truck or hire a moving company. If you’re moving items from multiple homes to a single home, you need to organize a time and place, and path for the day of the move. Hardest of all, you need to figure out what you want to keep and what you’re willing to let go of prior to the move. In this way, moving often involves a lot more waste than you might imagine, but there are a number of eco-friendly movers and waste-saving options that can help make it an easier and greener process.   What is eco-friendly moving?   Moving is not an eco-friendly process by design. Moving boxes are cardboard and are therefore recyclable, but bubble wrap sure isn’t and neither are most plastic bags. On top of that, moving trucks use a lot of gasoline. And while these things are almost certainly necessary for some heavy or long-distance moves, there are plenty of moving companies and procedures designed to cut down on environmental impact during this process.  

Who are eco movers?

  Eco movers are eco-friendly moving companies who aim to cut down on the more wasteful aspects of the moving process. Some things to look for when choosing a moving company is one that works to eliminate waste, take more efficient routes, and moves you in fewer trips. Green moving companies may also use trucks that run on biofuel rather than gasoline, and set up clients with reusable moving boxes so that they don’t have to worry about collecting cardboard or buying more plastic storage bins.   There are plenty of eco-friendly moving companies across the U.S. For example, Eco Movers out of Seattle uses reusable moving boxes recycled packing materials.   Gentle Giant in Somerville, Mass. reuses and recycles moving boxes and packing supplies whenever possible, uses biodegradable foam peanuts and oxo-biodegradable bubble wrap, and uses FSC-certified products.   Rabbit Movers in New York City is powered by biodiesel fuel, uses reusable bins, and wraps your fragile items in biodegradable bubble wrap.   All of these companies will help you make a reduced impact with your move while also assisting with some of the heavier lifting you otherwise might have had to rope your friends into.  

What are some ways to make my move more eco-friendly?

  Besides hiring a green moving company, there are a number of ways to make your individual move more eco-friendly. Some of these are as simple as making the move in fewer trips — an easy trick if you happen to rent a larger truck or if you save the bulk of your boxes for moving day. Some people might opt for more trips to save on effort, but one big trip will save you way more in gas and time than you might realize.   Packing things in recyclable cardboard boxes is a great place to start, but even these containers should only be used if you have exhausted other options. For example, you could pack quite a lot of your stuff (clothes, plates, cups, silverware, collectibles, books, and the like) in containers you already have. Perhaps you have a bunch of extra plastic storage bins you have been waiting to use, or some old suitcases, duffel bags, or reusable grocery bags. All of these items are perfect for carting things to your new place, and they won’t cost you a dime.   You can also rent reusable and durable plastic bins from national companies like U-Haul, which help reduce the need for any single-use boxes on moving day.   Cardboard boxes are still a viable option though. After all, you can’t fit everything you own in your five or six suitcases. You can get these boxes used from supermarkets, chain pharmacies, or other retail stores, and most will give you them for free just to take them off their hands. If you know you’re going to be moving ahead of time, begin collecting these boxes here and there. That way you won’t be forced to buy any when the time comes.   Polystyrene packing peanuts, bubble wrap, plastic wrapping — these things are all best avoided when it comes to wrapping your fragile items. Try to use old newspapers, paperwork you were going to get rid of, sheets, pillowcases, or clothing, instead. These items are either recyclable or washable, and they will probably protect your stuff better than that toxic polystyrene crap you get at office supply stores.  

How do I know what to get rid of before a move?

  Even if you’re being careful about your environmental impact, chances are good that you’ve accumulated a lot of stuff in your lifetime. Sorting through all that while you’re packing can feel a bit overwhelming for several reasons. Many keepsakes we hold onto have special meaning attached to them. Even when we try to downsize, we still like to hold onto those special knick-knacks, baubles, pieces of clothing, stuffed animals, and things that are dear to our hearts.  

How do I get rid of things I don’t want to keep?

  For everything you want to keep, there are bound to be tons of things you’re willing to part with. Recycle these things, donate them, do anything you can that does not end up with your old stuff rotting in a landfill somewhere. Start by dividing things into a donate pile and a recycle pile. Now, there are bound to be some things that you cannot save, cannot donate, and cannot recycle. With these, make a toss pile, but do try to make that pile as small as it can be.   Any unwanted items that are still in good condition can be donated to a variety of national organizations, as well as local thrift shops (though always check to make sure the shop doesn't landfill items that don't get sold), charities, schools, libraries, and animal shelters.   Recycling is a bit more complicated, especially when it comes to old electronics, but you can always call your local municipal sanitation or recycling center to see what items they take. If they are less than helpful, check out websites like TerraCycle to recycle typically non-recyclable items. You might find some things you were ready to trash are actually recyclable.

We hear all the time about recycling plastic bottles and aluminum cans, but what about some of the lesser mentioned items? In response to reader queries, we’ve assembled a list of some odd items that may have you saying, “Wow, you can recycle that?”

Blue Jeans

You know the regular routine. When you no longer need, like, or fit into your jeans, you can always donate them to a charitable resale organization like Goodwill or The Salvation Army. You’ve heard it a million times, so let’s not make it a million-and-one. We’re actually talking about physically recycling your jeans. After all, some clothes are just too far worn or damaged to head to a resale shop and deserve a proper [recycling] burial. Enter pioneering companies like Blue Jeans Go Green and Bonded Logic, which manufacture insulation products from recycled denim and cotton fibers. Blue Jeans Go Green offers a variety of denim recycling options through selected retailer dropoff locations, mail-in programs, and denim drives.

Automotive Fluids

Are you a DIYer when it comes to car care? Many of the fluids that power your car are actually recyclable once you change them out, most notably used motor oil and antifreeze. Used motor oil can be re-refined into brand-new products that can go back into your car, recycled into clean lubricants, or burned as fuel. As long as the used oil hasn’t been contaminated with other fluids, most oil change service companies or auto parts stores accept used motor oil for recycling from the public. Used antifreeze can also be recycled by filtering out contaminants such as lead, then restoring the original properties through stabilizing additives. The recycled product is not only excellent quality, but it can also be less expensive to purchase and has a smaller carbon footprint. Antifreeze should never be left out or dumped as its sweet taste can poison animals and children.

Snack Wrappers, Drink Pouches, & Chip Bags

Any idea what material candy wrappers, drink pouches, and chip bags are made of? If you answered “no,” you’re not alone as this is a common question we get asked a lot. This confusion is usually what makes these wrappers and bags so difficult to recycle. These items tend to be made of mixed materials, making the recovery of useful plastics and other materials difficult and expensive. In other words, most recyclers don’t want to touch the stuff! But TerraCycle, a company dedicated to eliminating the idea of waste, has a recycling solution. You can recycle wrappers from candy, chips, granola bars, gum, and other snacks through their Candy and Snack Wrappers Zero Waste Box. Just order the box, save up your empty snack wrappers, and send it back to TerraCycle with the prepaid return label. Note that there is a fee for this recycling solution. (Check TerraCycle’s free recycling solutions for other waste streams.)

Cooking Oil

Cooking oil recycling has grown leaps and bounds in the last few years as its value to the biofuel industry has increased. While it may seem natural to pour your leftover cooking oil and grease down the drain, it can actually be harmful to wildlife and the environment and damage your pipes and local sewage systems. In fact, cooking oil and kitchen grease in our plumbing is the No. 1 cause of stopped-up sewer pipes. Commercial facilities already contribute substantial amounts of used oil to alternative fuel programs, but there are household cooking oil recycling programs as well. Make a designated waste oil container, label it, and add to it each time there is leftover oil from your cooking. Then search for a local recycling location with Earth911 Recycling Search or contact local restaurants to see if they accept the cooking oil for recycling.

Six-Pack Beverage Rings

Those plastic six-pack beverage rings have definitely received their share of criticism over the years. Like so many plastic packaging materials, they are often disposed of carelessly, polluting public spaces and waterways and endangering wildlife. The rings are made of plastic #4 (LDPE) and can be recycled in programs that accept low-density polyethylene resin. If your curbside recycling program is limited to plastics #1 and #2 or limits the types of LDPE accepted, consider getting a group collection together and participating in the Hi-Cone Ring Leader Recycling Program. Hi-Cone’s Ringleader program will accept the six-pack rings in large quantities for recycling through various school programs, as well as through the mail. The company has worked with more than 12,000 schools and groups to collected and recycle the used rings.

Gift Cards, Hotel Key Cards, & Other Plastic Cards

A five-minute clean-out of your wallet, purse, or junk drawer is likely to yield a lot of plastic, from used gift cards to old library cards. Insignificant as they may seem, those cards are typically made of a plastic resin called polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which is infinitely recyclable. Yet it’s most often landfilled, contributing to more than 75 million pounds of PVC entering the waste stream each year. Although you likely can’t recycle these cards in your curbside bin, TerraCycle offers a solution for recycling these items with its Plastic Cards Zero Waste Box. Note that there is a fee for this recycling solution. (Check TerraCycle’s free recycling solutions for other waste streams.)

Tennis Balls

Rebounces accepts old tennis balls for recycling and refurbishing. Those brightly colored tennis balls should still be of reasonable quality, and you should wait until you’ve saved up a large amount.

Ski Equipment

When your skis just aren’t cutting (or carving) it anymore, consider recycling them instead of tossing them. Vermont-based Green Mountain Ski Furniture will convert your old skis into a custom chair, bench, table, rack, or another custom-built piece. What a great way to preserve those memories! Custom orders typically take 10 to 14 weeks for completion.

How to dispose of razor blades – In most instances, it is okay to dispose of razor blades with your household trash.  However, you must take special safety measures into account to prevent injury to yourself or others.  Always check with your local municipality prior to disposal.   For this guide, we will cover some safe ways to prep your used razor blades for disposal along with places that can take your used blades should local laws prohibit household disposal.   Let’s take a look:   Note: Modern razor systems like those from Gillette or Schick, specifically disposable (hence the name) and cartridge razors can be thrown into the trash.  For additional safety, wrap the head of the razor in paper and staple shut.  

5 WAYS TO DISPOSE OF RAZOR BLADES

  Here’s how you can get rid of your used razor blades:  

1. SHOULD YOU TRASH’EM OR RECYCLE’EM?

  In most cases, razor blades should be safely disposed of in the trash rather than recycled.   But to ensure compliance and safety, always check with state and local guidelines.   To help you find accurate and relevant results, try searching in your preferred search engine the following:  

• Sharps disposal in [INSERT STATE or CITY]
• Razor blade disposal in [INSERT STATE or CITY]

  To give you an example of what to look for, this is what I found for New York, LA, and Wisconsin:  

• NYS Sharps Disposal
• NYC Sharps Disposal
• LA Sharps Disposal
• Wisconsin

  For NYC they go so far as to explicitly state that sharps/razor blades are thrown away “in a leak-proof, puncture-resistant container” with regular household trash.   We will touch on some solutions to ensure safe disposal in just a minute.   Interesting Fact: In 1990 the EPA estimated that Americans throw away 2 billion disposable razors and blades each year (source – page 11).  

2. CHECK YOUR LOCAL PHARMACY OR MEDICAL CENTER

  If you are hesitant about throwing used razor blades into the trash, then check with your local pharmacy, doctor’s office, or medical center.   Many, if not all of them should have a sharps disposal container for needle disposal.  Here you can simply ask if you can throw out your used razor blades – which they likely won’t have an issue with.   Again, just like city and state disposal guidance, some medical centers may actually encourage that you drop off your razor blades on your next medical visit as we found here.  

3. SHARPS COLLECTION DRIVE

  Some areas of the country may hold sharps or medical waste disposal drives regularly.  Again, a quick online search here may find some local results in your area that are worth checking out.   For example, here’s the collection schedule for Rockland County.  

4. PRIVATE COMPANY RECYCLING PROGRAM

  Some companies such as Gillette and BIC contract with the private recycling company TerraCycle where you can dispose of their used blades.   Depending on where you live, you may have a drop-off center not too far away:       If you don’t find anything nearby, then you can pay to have a box sent to you and dispose of your blades.  What’s unique about this company when compared to others is that the razor blades are recycled rather than completely disposed of.   You can learn more about TerraCycle here.  

5. WALL DISPOSAL INTO YOUR MEDICINE CABINET

  Some older homes or apartments will have a blade disposal slot in the back of the medicine cabinet.  Should your medicine cabinet have this, then you can simply slide the used blades into this slot.   However, if you ever do a bathroom renovation project or need to call a plumber just make sure that they are aware of this prior to doing any work to prevent accidental injury.   Should the disposed blades need to be removed, a good trick is to use a magnet or broom to pick them up rather than individually by hand.  Just make sure you wear appropriate safety gear as the blades will likely be rusty and still sharp.  

5 WAYS TO PREP SAFETY RAZOR BLADES FOR DISPOSAL

  Here are a few ways you store your used blades and prep them for safe disposal:  

1. WRAP THEM IN THE PAPER THEY ORIGINALLY CAME IN

    When you get a fresh set of blades, they will come individually wrapped.  Rather than throwing out that paper, hold onto it for disposal once your blade has started to dull.   Once wrapped into the paper, just take a piece of scotch tape or masking tape and go around it once to ensure that the blade doesn’t slide out:         While this method isn’t the safest, it is one that can work in a quick pinch, especially if you don’t have an empty container handy.  

2. BLADE BANKS ARE SPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR THIS PURPOSE

      Many razor blade brands make disposable containers that can safely store your used razor blades.  They feature a thin slot on the top of the container and can hold 100+ razor blades before they are full:         You can pick up a blade bank for less than $10 online.    

3. REPURPOSE AN OLD CONTAINER

  If you have children in your household or have children that visit often, then consider using an old medicine bottle or prescription pill bottle that has a child safety cap:       Many of these containers are wide enough to fit a razor blade with no issue.  Should the bottle be a bit more narrow, then you can simply snap the razor blade in half (make sure to wrap it in paper first), and then it should be able to fit easily.   Another DIY solution is taking an old plastic peanut butter jar and cutting a slit in the top and gluing the lid to the jar.   Other ideas of containers that can be used include the following:  

• Altoids tin
• Shaving cream tub (like a Taylor of Old Bond Street type)
• Soda can
• Soup can

    Generally, it’s best to avoid glass as it could break if thrown into the trash can.  

4. YOUR RAZOR BLADES MAY HAVE COME WITH A BLADE BANK

    Some razor brands will ship their blades in a small plastic container that fits about 10 blades (pictured above).   On the back of these containers, there is a thin plastic slot that you can slide used razor blades into.  Once fully loaded with your used blades, you can safely dispose of them.  If you want to be extra safe, put a piece of tape over the opening so no blades can slide out.  

5. REGARDLESS OF DISPOSAL METHOD – LABEL CLEARLY

  Whether you bring your used razor blades to a special disposal facility or they are thrown out with your household trash – make sure that you clearly put a label on the container by stating “SHARPS” or “USED RAZOR BLADES” with a bold permanent marker.  

WRAPPING IT ALL UP

  Shaving is fun, however, disposal of the blades must be done responsibly.   I hope that this article was helpful in providing some guidance so that you prevent injury to yourself and others.

GERMANTOWN — Germantown Laundromat, a solar- and wind-powered laundromat and sustainable shop, has teamed up with TerraCycle to offer the community a solution to recycle traditionally unrecyclable waste through the Zero Waste Box program.   As a business, Germantown Laundromat is committed to helping customers explore what it means to live a cleaner life, to combat throwaway culture and to make more sustainable and ethical choices. With the Bathroom Separation Zero Waste Box, customers can conveniently drop off all non-recyclable waste generated in their bathrooms, including bath and shower accessories and health and personal care packaging. After they have recycled their empty products, shoppers can purchase zero-waste alternatives in the laundromat’s sustainability shop.   A Safety Equipment and Protective Gear Zero Waste Box is stationed by the shop’s front doors to collect and recycle all PPE used by customers, staff and community members. Germantown Laundromat also installed TerraCycle’s Cigarette Receptacles outside for smokers to responsibly dispose of their extinguished cigarettes.   “We provide TerraCycle boxes for products that are not compostable or recyclable through regular channels. This helps address the final stage of a product’s life cycle in order to keep it out of the landfill,” said Tracy Martin, owner of Germantown Laundromat. “Businesses and consumers need to consider the full life cycle of everything they purchase in order to reduce, reuse, and recycle as much as possible.”   The conventionally unrecyclable waste collected through the Zero Waste Boxes would have otherwise been landfilled, incinerated, or may have even contributed to the pollution of marine habitats. The collected packaging will now be recycled into a variety of new products such as park benches, bike racks, shipping pallets and recycling bins.   TerraCycle, the world’s leader in the collection and repurposing of complex waste streams, created the Zero Waste Box program to provide solutions for difficult-to-recycle waste that cannot be recycled through TerraCycle’s brand-sponsored, national recycling programs or via standard municipal recycling.   In addition to employing the Zero Waste Box program, Germantown Laundromat offers eco-friendly washers and dryers, mending and repair services for damaged clothes, a clothing donation program, and a bulk refill station to decrease packaging waste. The laundromat prides itself on ensuring its commitment to the environment while educating the community on ways to adopt a zero-waste lifestyle.   “Our business spends a lot of time thinking about the full life cycle of the products we use in our day-to-day lives -- from laundry detergent, to toothbrushes and toilet paper. We sell only items made to last that will not fuel the throwaway nature that we have all grown accustomed to in this country,” said Martin. “By learning about the impact our buying choices can have on our earth and bodies — we can begin to make more sustainable and ethical choices together.   More information regarding Germantown Laundromat can be found by visiting their website, www.germantownlaundromat.com. All collected materials from the Zero Waste Box program are sent to TerraCycle for recycling, where they undergo a series of treatments before getting turned into new items. For more information on TerraCycle, please visit www.TerraCycle.com.   TerraCycle offers Zero Waste Boxes for nearly every category of waste. By purchasing Zero Waste Boxes, companies and consumers save trash from landfills and help reach TerraCycle’s goal of creating a waste-free world.

Alguma teoria de qual material embalagens de doces, sacos de bebidas e sacos de chips são feitos? Se respondeu não, não está sozinho, pois é uma pergunta frequente que nos é feita. Muitas vezes, essa confusão é o que torna essas embalagens e sacos tão difíceis de reciclar. Esses itens geralmente são feitos de materiais mistos, tornando difícil e custoso restaurar plásticos e outros materiais úteis. Em outras palavras, a maioria dos recicladores não quer tocar nas coisas. Mas a TerraCycle, empresa que se dedica a varar a teoria de desperdício, tem uma solução de reciclagem. Você pode reciclar embalagens de doces, batatas fritas, barras de granola, chicletes e outros lanches por meio de seus Embalagens de doces e lanches Zero Waste Box. Basta fazer o pedido da caixa, salvar as embalagens vazias e enviá-la de volta para a TerraCycle com a etiqueta de reembolso pré-paga. Observe que há uma taxa para esta solução de reciclagem. (Veja o de TerraCycle soluções de reciclagem gratuito para outros fluxos de resíduos.)

SOLVE, Portland Business Alliance, and Portland Lodging Alliance with the support of Ethos Commercial Advisors held their last Downtown Volunteer Litter Cleanup Day of 2020 on Friday. More than 226 volunteers attended the event, and many brought warm clothing to donate to Transition Projects’ ‘Keep Portland Warm’ winter clothing drive, adding to the spirit of giving back. In total, more than 3,100 pounds of litter and debris was removed from city sidewalks, parks, and business fronts. The totals from Friday add to the already impressive results from the last three Downtown Portland Volunteer Litter Cleanup Days. With today’s event being the last of the year, SOLVE is happy to report that more than 1,200 volunteers have removed over 13,000 pounds of litter from downtown Portland since these monthly events began in early September. The popularity of these events shows that Portlanders have a sincere pride in where they call home and are willing to come together as a community take care of it through the simple act of picking up litter. Volunteers who attended today’s event also were given “Here for Portland” stickers, a campaign that supports shopping small and local this holiday season. With so many people working from home, many Portlanders do not visit downtown as frequently as they used to. The Downtown Portland Volunteer Litter Cleanup Day helps to bring community together in a place that has been hit hard economically by COVID-19. During the event, volunteers received heavy duty garbage bags, vinyl gloves, a safety vest, and a litter grabber before spreading out to clean the Rose City. Common items found include cigarette butts, disposable masks, and take-out containers. The cigarette butts collected at this event are recycled by Terracycle, and in-part due to the popularity of these events, SOLVE was able to reach more than half a million cigarette butts recycled with Terracycle. The next Downtown Portland Volunteer Litter Cleanup Day will be held on January 18, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Anyone who is interested in joining SOLVE’s cleanup efforts should visit www.solveoregon.org to learn more and get involved. Disposal for the Downtown Portland Volunteer Litter Cleanup Days is donated by Central City Concern.

SOLVE, Portland Business Alliance, and Portland Lodging Alliance with the support of Ethos Commercial Advisors held their last Downtown Volunteer Litter Cleanup Day of 2020 on Friday.   More than 226 volunteers attended the event, and many brought warm clothing to donate to Transition Projects’ ‘Keep Portland Warm’ winter clothing drive, adding to the spirit of giving back. In total, more than 3,100 pounds of litter and debris was removed from city sidewalks, parks, and business fronts.   The totals from Friday add to the already impressive results from the last three Downtown Portland Volunteer Litter Cleanup Days. With today’s event being the last of the year, SOLVE is happy to report that more than 1,200 volunteers have removed over 13,000 pounds of litter from downtown Portland since these monthly events began in early September.   The popularity of these events shows that Portlanders have a sincere pride in where they call home and are willing to come together as a community take care of it through the simple act of picking up litter. Volunteers who attended today’s event also were given “Here for Portland” stickers, a campaign that supports shopping small and local this holiday season. With so many people working from home, many Portlanders do not visit downtown as frequently as they used to. The Downtown Portland Volunteer Litter Cleanup Day helps to bring community together in a place that has been hit hard economically by COVID-19.   During the event, volunteers received heavy duty garbage bags, vinyl gloves, a safety vest, and a litter grabber before spreading out to clean the Rose City. Common items found include cigarette butts, disposable masks, and take-out containers. The cigarette butts collected at this event are recycled by Terracycle, and in-part due to the popularity of these events, SOLVE was able to reach more than half a million cigarette butts recycled with Terracycle.   The next Downtown Portland Volunteer Litter Cleanup Day will be held on January 18, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Anyone who is interested in joining SOLVE’s cleanup efforts should visit www.solveoregon.org to learn more and get involved. Disposal for the Downtown Portland Volunteer Litter Cleanup Days is donated by Central City Concern.

SOLVE, Portland Business Alliance, and Portland Lodging Alliance with the support of Ethos Commercial Advisors held their last Downtown Volunteer Litter Cleanup Day of 2020 on Friday.   More than 226 volunteers attended the event, and many brought warm clothing to donate to Transition Projects’ ‘Keep Portland Warm’ winter clothing drive, adding to the spirit of giving back. In total, more than 3,100 pounds of litter and debris was removed from city sidewalks, parks, and business fronts.   The totals from Friday add to the already impressive results from the last three Downtown Portland Volunteer Litter Cleanup Days. With today’s event being the last of the year, SOLVE is happy to report that more than 1,200 volunteers have removed over 13,000 pounds of litter from downtown Portland since these monthly events began in early September.   The popularity of these events shows that Portlanders have a sincere pride in where they call home and are willing to come together as a community take care of it through the simple act of picking up litter. Volunteers who attended today’s event also were given “Here for Portland” stickers, a campaign that supports shopping small and local this holiday season. With so many people working from home, many Portlanders do not visit downtown as frequently as they used to. The Downtown Portland Volunteer Litter Cleanup Day helps to bring community together in a place that has been hit hard economically by COVID-19.   During the event, volunteers received heavy duty garbage bags, vinyl gloves, a safety vest, and a litter grabber before spreading out to clean the Rose City. Common items found include cigarette butts, disposable masks, and take-out containers. The cigarette butts collected at this event are recycled by Terracycle, and in-part due to the popularity of these events, SOLVE was able to reach more than half a million cigarette butts recycled with Terracycle.   The next Downtown Portland Volunteer Litter Cleanup Day will be held on January 18, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Anyone who is interested in joining SOLVE’s cleanup efforts should visit www.solveoregon.org to learn more and get involved. Disposal for the Downtown Portland Volunteer Litter Cleanup Days is donated by Central City Concern.

SOLVE, Portland Business Alliance, and Portland Lodging Alliance with the support of Ethos Commercial Advisors held their last Downtown Volunteer Litter Cleanup Day of 2020 on Friday.   More than 226 volunteers attended the event, and many brought warm clothing to donate to Transition Projects’ ‘Keep Portland Warm’ winter clothing drive, adding to the spirit of giving back. In total, more than 3,100 pounds of litter and debris was removed from city sidewalks, parks, and business fronts.   The totals from Friday add to the already impressive results from the last three Downtown Portland Volunteer Litter Cleanup Days. With today’s event being the last of the year, SOLVE is happy to report that more than 1,200 volunteers have removed over 13,000 pounds of litter from downtown Portland since these monthly events began in early September.   The popularity of these events shows that Portlanders have a sincere pride in where they call home and are willing to come together as a community take care of it through the simple act of picking up litter. Volunteers who attended today’s event also were given “Here for Portland” stickers, a campaign that supports shopping small and local this holiday season. With so many people working from home, many Portlanders do not visit downtown as frequently as they used to. The Downtown Portland Volunteer Litter Cleanup Day helps to bring community together in a place that has been hit hard economically by COVID-19.   During the event, volunteers received heavy duty garbage bags, vinyl gloves, a safety vest, and a litter grabber before spreading out to clean the Rose City. Common items found include cigarette butts, disposable masks, and take-out containers. The cigarette butts collected at this event are recycled by Terracycle, and in-part due to the popularity of these events, SOLVE was able to reach more than half a million cigarette butts recycled with Terracycle.   The next Downtown Portland Volunteer Litter Cleanup Day will be held on January 18, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Anyone who is interested in joining SOLVE’s cleanup efforts should visit www.solveoregon.org to learn more and get involved. Disposal for the Downtown Portland Volunteer Litter Cleanup Days is donated by Central City Concern.

SOLVE, Portland Business Alliance, and Portland Lodging Alliance with the support of Ethos Commercial Advisors held their last Downtown Volunteer Litter Cleanup Day of 2020 on Friday.   More than 226 volunteers attended the event, and many brought warm clothing to donate to Transition Projects’ ‘Keep Portland Warm’ winter clothing drive, adding to the spirit of giving back. In total, more than 3,100 pounds of litter and debris was removed from city sidewalks, parks, and business fronts.   The totals from Friday add to the already impressive results from the last three Downtown Portland Volunteer Litter Cleanup Days. With today’s event being the last of the year, SOLVE is happy to report that more than 1,200 volunteers have removed over 13,000 pounds of litter from downtown Portland since these monthly events began in early September.   The popularity of these events shows that Portlanders have a sincere pride in where they call home and are willing to come together as a community take care of it through the simple act of picking up litter. Volunteers who attended today’s event also were given “Here for Portland” stickers, a campaign that supports shopping small and local this holiday season. With so many people working from home, many Portlanders do not visit downtown as frequently as they used to. The Downtown Portland Volunteer Litter Cleanup Day helps to bring community together in a place that has been hit hard economically by COVID-19.   During the event, volunteers received heavy duty garbage bags, vinyl gloves, a safety vest, and a litter grabber before spreading out to clean the Rose City. Common items found include cigarette butts, disposable masks, and take-out containers. The cigarette butts collected at this event are recycled by Terracycle, and in-part due to the popularity of these events, SOLVE was able to reach more than half a million cigarette butts recycled with Terracycle.   The next Downtown Portland Volunteer Litter Cleanup Day will be held on January 18, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Anyone who is interested in joining SOLVE’s cleanup efforts should visit www.solveoregon.org to learn more and get involved. Disposal for the Downtown Portland Volunteer Litter Cleanup Days is donated by Central City Concern.