Portland Emphasizes Recycling
Published Mar 06, 2007
When Oregon’s governor hosted a luncheon for former Vice President Al Gore in Portland in fall 2005, Grace Pae’s company, Artemis Foods, was asked to cater the event not only because of its reputation for serving great gourmet natural food, but also because the 7-year-old business is one of Portland’s best examples of commercial recycling.
Artemis Foods was among the first companies to become a certified member of the BlueWorks recycling program sponsored by the city’s Office of Sustainable Development.
According to Pae, all employees at Artemis Foods are trained in recycling, with one worker serving as a “sustainability captain” to ensure that recycling remains among the company’s top priorities on a daily basis.
Pae says Portland is an ideal city for businesses concerned about preserving the environment. “It is reassuring to me that our values of sustainable, organic and local are supported across the socioeconomic strata here.”
Artemis Foods, in the process of catering for more than 500 people each week, yields just five to 10 gallons of non-recyclable or non-compostable garbage.
Since the city began its BlueWorks program in 2003, hundreds of local businesses have become certified by implementing waste-reduction practices.
Local food service companies also can take part in Portland Composts, a program that connects businesses with waste haulers to collect food waste and food-soiled paper for composting.
Amy Stork, a spokeswoman for the Office of Sustainable Development, says nearly 85 percent of Portlanders participate in recycling, making Portland one of the most environmentally conscious cities in the United States.
“In 2005, Portland residents and businesses recycled 560,000 tons of paper, glass, metal, plastics and other materials, saving almost 8.1 trillion BTUs of energy – enough to power half the homes in Portland for a year,” Stork says.
Story by Valerie Pascoe
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