CommissionerSam.com - Livability & Environment

The Bag Dilemma

Lisa Libby — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 12:08:22 -0700

"Paper or plastic?" The question may seem simple, but the answer is not.

Over 100 people filled Council Chambers Monday night to attend a forum hosted by Recycling Advocates to discuss the impacts of the estimated 170 to 340 million plastic grocery bags and 62 million paper bags that Portland uses each year.

21 pounds of plastic: This installation, created by Leave No Plastics Behind, will be on display at City Hall through the end of September.

Single use paper and plastic bags increase our dependence on foreign oil, generate greenhouse gas emissions, create harmful litter, and use unnecessary energy and resources.

Sam is looking for a way to reduce single-use shopping bags that is "good for the environment, good for business and good for the consumer."

The most obvious way to break our "bag habit" is to use a reusable bag. Much like separating our recyclables from our trash or returning bottles for a deposit, it will require a change in our usual behavior.

Education and outreach on this issue is critical, but is it enough? Some cities, states and countries around the world have imposed bans and fees to address this issue. What is the right approach for Portland?

Our Draft Discussion Guide outlines some of the perceived concerns and potential program elements for a Reusable Bag Strategy. We welcome your comments and feedback.

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Bicycle Industry Helps Portland's Economy

The Office — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 16:53:30 -0700

Not only does growth in bicycle ridership ease the burden on our city's infrastructure and the natural environment as well as increase the health and wellness of our citizens, the industry also contributes to our local economy. In fact, a new report released by Alta Planning + Design, finds that the total economic activity in Portland related to the bike industry is approximately $90 million!

Alta's report expands on a 2006 study sponsored by the Portland Office of Transportation. The report, Alta says, only etimates DIRECT bicycle-related business activity in Portland, and does not include bicycle-related benefits to residents' health, traffic congestion, air quality, or quality of life.

Still, the facts are impressive:

There has been a 38% increase in the value of the bicycle-related industry sector in Portland since 2006.
The fastest growing sector is manufacturing and distribution, currently 20% of the total.
The total number of companies in the bicycle-related sector rose from 95 in 2006 to 143 in 2008, a growth rate of 50%. New businesses are primarily small and locally-owned, with the notable exception of Rapha Performance Roadwear, a national company that relocated to Portland.
The bicycle economy provides between 850 and 1150 jobs in Portland.
Hand0built bicycle manufacturers increased from 5 to 17 (340% growth). This sector of the economy is growing fast and gaining significant media attention.
Portland is currently home to nearly 4000 annual races, rides, events and tours (an average of one ride every 27 minutes). This has nearly doubled since 2006, when the number of rides was 2100.

Read an overview of the report and download the summary report here.

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2008 Portland Bicycle Industry Growth Brochure.pdf	102.41 KB
Bicycle Industry Growth Brochure.pdf (2006 study brochure)	1.26 MB

Always wanted an ecoroof? Now is your chance!

Lisa Libby — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 09:57:21 -0700

Portland Building EcoroofThe rain has returned and with it comes billions of gallons of stormwater washing over our roofs and picking up pollutants along the way...

...unless, of course, you have an ecoroof.

An ecoroof is a vegated roof system that soaks up rain and allows it to evaporate back into the natural system, reducing the need for expensive piped infrastructure.

Portland currently has about nine acres of ecoroofs scattered among more than 90 buildings across the city. But Sam's Grey to Green initiative will work to increase that number - by a lot!

The Grey to Green goal is to add 43 acres of new ecoroofs in five years. The Bureau of Environmental Services will offer grants as incentives to install new ecoroofs on rndustrial, residential, commercial and mixed-use projects are eligible for the incentive program. . The grants will pay up to $5 per square foot for new ecoroof projects. Ecoroofs in Portland typically cost between $5 and $20 per square foot.

The city will spend about $300,000 on grants in this fiscal year, and will make grant funds available over the next five years.

The city will begin accepting grant applications on October 28. An Environmental Services committee will review applications quarterly and award grants.

The grant application packet will be available on October 28 at www.portlandonline.com/bes/ecoroof or by calling 503-823-7914.

CHINA BLOG: Pan Yue, V. Minister: “They…transfer…polluting industries to developing nations…the rich consume and poor suffer…”

Sam Adams — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 12:45:21 -0700

Noon, Monday, September 8, 2008
Ministry of Environmental Protection, Beijing, People's Republic of China

Listening to him speak to our delegation today I kept thinking, "Isn't this guy going to get into trouble for saying that?" His moxie is inspiring in taking on China's bureaucracy and ruling communist party.

Pan Yue is Vice Minster of the Ministry of Environmental Protection - the equivalent of our EPA. He is known for being a passionate and critical leader for a greener China. And he pulls no punches in offering his views about the developed world's responsibility for they way things are as well. Here is a sampling of his views:

"Developed countries account for 15% of the world's population, yet use over 85% of its resources. They raise their own environmental standards and transfer resource-intensive and polluting industries to developing nations; they establish a series of green barriers and bear as little environmental responsibility as is possible..." www.chinadialogue.net

"...Pan surprised much of China when he ordered 30 projects -- with $14 billion in investment, ranging from thermal power to hydroelectric plants -- shut down for not filing proper environmental-impact statements. The projects included several under construction by Three Gorges Development Corp., the politically powerful company that is building the controversial Three Gorges Dam..." www.businessweek.com

"...The faster the economy grows, the more quickly we will run the risk of a political crisis if the political reforms cannot keep pace. If the gap between the poor and the rich widens, then regions within China and the society as a whole will become unstable. If our democracy and our legal system lag behind overall economic development, various groups in the population won't be able to protect their own interests..." www.opendemocracy.net

"...This miracle will end soon because the environment can no longer keep pace. Acid rain is falling on one third of the Chinese territory; half of the water in our seven largest rivers is completely useless, while one fourth of our citizens do not have access to clean drinking water. One third of the urban population is breathing polluted air, and less than 20 percent of the trash in cities is treated and processed in an environmentally sustainable manner. Finally, five of the ten most polluted cities worldwide are in China..." Spiegel

Solving the Bag Dilemma: A Forum - September 22nd

Lisa Libby — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 09:16:53 -0700

Join Us at Portland City Hall on Monday September 22

Solving the Plastic Bag Dilemma: Is Oregon Ready?
A forum hosted by Recycling Advocates

Recycling Advocates' event of the summer has been rescheduled and relocated to accommodate the anticipated large turnout for this important and topical meeting. The meeting will focus on the debate raging around the use, recycling, and banning of plastic and paper bags.

When: Monday September 22, 2008
6:30 pm - Reception
7-9 pm - Annual Member Meeting & Public forum
Where: Portland City Hall, Council Chambers, 1221 SW 4th Ave.
RSVP: info@RecyclingAdvocates.org

Countries as diverse as Ireland, China, Bangladesh, Uganda and South Africa have all passed laws that in some way restrict the free distribution of plastic check-out bags and many more are currently considering it. Closer to home, last year San Francisco became the first major US city to pass a bill that will eventually ban all plastic bags from grocery stores and pharmacies. Los Angeles followed suit and Seattle's City Council voted to implement a 20-cent fee for plastic and paper bags at grocery, drug and convenience stores.

Sam recently announced his interest in bringing a resolution forward before the end of 2008 that will charge a fee on both paper and plastic check-out bags.

What are the implications of the massive and widespread use of plastic and paper bags? Doesn't Oregon do a good job with recycling them? How will Portland's proposal compare with Seattle's or San Francisco's? Why aren't we proposing an outright ban? How will grocery stores and
consumers handle the fee? Where do compostable bags fit into the equation? Now that Portland is considering a solution, when can the rest of Oregon expect the same?

The panel includes:
• David Allaway, Waste Prevention Specialist, Oregon DEQ
• Tom Watson, King County Recycling Specialist and Seattle-Times columnist
• Sam Adams, Portland City Commissioner and Mayor-Elect
• Brian Rohter, CEO, New Seasons Market

This forum is FREE and open to the public.
Please be sure to RSVP to info@RecyclingAdvocates.org

If you have already sent an RSVP for September 15th, please take a moment to reconfirm your RSVP for the new date of September 22nd . . .

Stormwater Management Manual Update

Lisa Libby — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:00:57 -0700

2008 Stormwater Management ManualThe City of Portland has revised its Stormwater Management Manual. While the intent of the manual has stayed the same, it has been reorganized to make it easier to read and use.

A few highlights of the changes include an explanation of the manual's hierarchy for managing stormwater, new design details, all new forms and guidelines, and a new Presumptive Approach Calculator (PAC) to help determine the appropriate size for vegetated facilities.

The 2008 Manual requirements go into affect October 1, 2008. Until then, the development community will be able to use either the 2004 Manual or the 2008 Manual.

The manuals are available for free on CD. Printed 2008 Manuals are also available for $25 each. You can purchase a paper manual or pick up the free compact disc version at the Development Services Center, 1900 SW 4th Avenue in Portland. To get a free CD by mail, please call 503-823-7103.

From Mount Tabor to the Willamette River... on Two Wheels

Lisa Libby — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 11:16:49 -0700

Bike & Swale

Take a ride through the Brooklyn Creek Basin on Saturday, September 6, 2008. Portland's Bureau of Environmental Services and Office of Transportation will lead a southeast Portland bicycle tour of sustainable stormwater management facilities, new bike boulevards, and related art projects.

What: Tabor to the River Bike Ride

When: Saturday, September 6
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Where: Participants will gather at SE 55th and Belmont and bike west

Why: To see how Portland will use rain gardens, swales and ecoroofs in the Tabor to the River-Brooklyn Creek Basin Program, and to learn about new bicycle transportation programs for more livable neighborhoods and healthier watersheds

The Oregonian: Portland May Ban Plastic Bags

The Office — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 09:09:32 -0700

by Mark Larabee, The Oregonian

Thursday July 24, 2008, 4:45 PM

The next thing you might hear at the cash register is: "Paper or plastic? That'll be extra."

On the heels of San Francisco, Seattle and Los Angeles, Portland may impose a fee on grocery bags by next year to reduce waste and encourage people to shop with reusable sacks.

"It's a simple behavioral change that we have to ingrain in ourselves," said City Commissioner Sam Adams.

He first brought up the idea more than a year ago and now is pushing for a City Council vote, but hasn't decided how much to charge: He's discussing anywhere from 5 cents to 20 cents per bag.

The switch would represent a big lifestyle change for consumers, Adams acknowledged. They'll have to remember to bring their own bags or risk the fee, but he said many people already carry cloth bags in keeping with Portland's "green values."

"This is a totally avoidable fee," he said.

Part of the money raised from the fee would help provide free cloth bags to low-income people. Some would go toward city recycling programs and some would go to stores for administration and programs to educate consumers about the fee.

Adams hopes the fee will be in place by the time he takes over as Portland's mayor in January.

Even though both paper and plastic bags are recyclable, both present environmental problems.

Only 52 percent of the paper and 5 percent of plastic grocery bags given out in the United States are recycled, said Stephanie Barger, executive director of the Earth Resources Foundation in Costa Mesa, Calif.

Plastic bags are made from oil. They don't biodegrade and are considered a serious litter problem because they're lightweight and blow around. They also kill marine mammals who mistake them for food.

Grocery stores collect the bags and send them to be made into plastic "lumber" or flower pots -- Portland doesn't allow them in the city's new blue recycling carts because they gum up the machinery used to sort recycling.

Paper bags easily decompose, but it takes trees to make them. They're also heavier than plastic, so for every truckload of plastic bags shipped to a grocery store, it takes three trucks to ship the same number of paper bags, said Joe Gilliam, president of the Northwest Grocery Association, a lobbying group working on the issue.

"It's consumption without thinking of the resources we're taking and the impact we're having on our planet and our future," Barger said. "If you have a reusable bag, you've eliminated that waste of energy in transporting that bag all over the place."

Gilliam, who represents most major and some smaller grocery chains, said they'll support some kind of bag fee program as long as they can help shape it because they'll have to enforce it.

It's important that the city notifies shoppers about the fee before they're asked to pay, Gilliam said, so clerks can offer the cloth bags instead. Most of the stores in the region have been selling cloth bags for more than two years, he noted.

"Making our customers angry does not motivate them to work with you," Gilliam said. "Our clerks don't need to be the referees of tax policy."

Other U.S. cities are ahead of Portland. In March 2007, San Francisco became the first city to ban the use of plastic shopping bags, allowing grocery stores to give out paper bags or biodegradable film bags that look like plastic but are made of corn. Those bags caused their own trouble.

Gilliam said the compostable bags are too thin, so stores were triple bagging. That promoted the use of paper bags, he said. And he said the corn bags look and feel like plastic, so they were getting mixed in with plastic recycling. But the corn ruins the plastic during recycling, so contaminated loads of recycled plastic ended up going to the landfill.

Los Angeles voted Tuesday to ban plastic shopping bags from stores beginning in July 2010. Shoppers can either bring their own bags or pay 25 cents for a paper or biodegradable bag.

On Monday, the Seattle City Council will vote on a proposal to ban the use of foam containers by restaurants and implement a 20-cent fee at grocery stores on plastic bags. Portland has already banned foam containers.

With the high price of oil, grocers are bracing for a three-fold increase in the cost of plastic bags next year, Gilliam said. "Grocers are already thinking about the bagless store," he said.

Still, it's not as if Adams' proposal will sail through without opposition. Bag manufacturers are gearing up to make sure their interests are protected. Both paper and plastic bag makers stress that their products are recyclable and that the most appropriate government policy would push more recycling.

Paul Cosgrove of the American Forest and Paper Association, a national trade association for forest product companies, said the group is ready to discuss the fee idea. He's concerned about local job losses tied to a possible declining demand for paper bags.

"Our position is that paper bags are highly recyclable and made with recycled content as well," he said. "There are paper bag plants as well as recycling facilities in Oregon. We would like to have them not adversely affected by what the city is thinking."

Tim Shestek, state affairs director for the American Chemistry Council in Sacramento, said his industry is urging cities to increase plastic bag recycling rather than "unnecessarily taxing or prohibiting the use of carryout bags."

"The city's idea is to push reusable bags," he said. "We don't oppose the idea. I don't know if that's an option for everybody."

READ THE ORIGINAL ONLINE ARTICLE HERE

READ ABOUT HOW PLASTIC BAGS CLOG UP RECYCLING CENTERS HERE

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Oregon Cities Plan More Bikeway Projects

The Office — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:43:15 -0700

THE OREGONIAN

Sunday, July 20, 2008

JEFF MAPES

The Oregonian Staff

Weird road-rage incidents involving motorists and cyclists have dominated the local news lately, but they're just signs of the bigger story: Bicycling has grown into a vital part of the region's transportation system.

The recent run-up in gas prices has only accelerated the decadelong growth in cycling sparked in large part by Portland's decision in the early 1990s to build a bikeway network.

The big increase in cycling -- which has made interaction with cyclists a daily occurrence for most motorists in Portland -- could be just the beginning.

[READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE]

Making a great bridge, even with an airport

Sam Adams — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 09:41:29 -0700

As The Oregonian noted today, in building a new bridge across the Columbia River that will serve as a gateway between two states and two cities, I am serious about making that bridge something to behold.

It ought to embody everything that our region is and wants to be--ecologically sound, multi-modal and beautiful.

So what could that look like, in spite of air and navigation constraints? Well, PORT's Jeff Jahn sent me to his posting on just what that could look like.

This one stands out, but there are other great inspirations. What do you think?

A Creek Runs Through It

The Office — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:45:07 -0700

Now that the non-native species have been removed, the Sylvan Area Natural Park is ready for some locals. PCC Sylvania students and teachers uncovered the hidden treasures of this park by removing invasive plants over the last several years. Enjoy the creek that runs through it and a new interpretive sign while showing some support for the volunteers who are continuing to work to restore natuarl areas.

The greenspace will be shown on an upcoming tour by one of its most esteemed admirers. This Saturday, June 28 at 10 a.m., meet PCC biology teacher April Fong for a public introduction to the park near taped-off Parking Lot 10 at PCC Sylvania (Parking Lot 10 is the most northeastern parking lot on campus).

This guided walk is free and appropriate for adults and families. No pre-registration is necessary. Call Sue at 503-823-6303 for more information.

PCC Sylvania

12000 SW 49th Ave.

Portland, OR 97219

Saturday, June 28 at 10 a.m

Parking Lot 10

Tearing it up on Depaving Day

Guest Author — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:01:15 -0700

By Jenn Bildersee, BES

Depave at work

Bands played and concrete crumbled as the Towards Carfree Cities Conference kicked off last Monday with Depaving Day. With pry bars and shovels, 150 volunteers began the transformation of a 3000 square foot asphalt parking lot into a community greenspace.

The empty lot on the corner of N. Williams and Fargo Street is now on its way to becoming Fargo Gardens, a pilot project of the nonprofit Depave that will soon feature vegetables, fruit trees, native plants, and a patio. Depave’s mission is to inspire and promote the removal of unnecessary concrete and asphalt from urban areas.

In addition to providing a new community space, removal of the parking lot will reduce pollution and provide new bird and butterfly habitat. The completed site will also be used to educate the public about pavement removal and storm water management.

Two Bureau of Environmental Services programs helped to set the stage for Fargo Gardens. Planting materials, tools, rental equipment, and project coordination will be funded by a grant from the Community Watershed Stewardship Program, which supports community groups and citizens in their efforts to protect and enhance watersheds. The program recently won the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Partnership Award for Campus Community Collaboration.

To ensure that there was no soil contamination on the soon-to-be garden, the Portland Brownfield Program provided environmental assessment.Commercial properties across the city receive support from the Portland Brownfield Program to assess and clean up contamination.

Now that the asphalt is gone, Fargo Gardens volunteers will begin site preparation and planting. Up-to-date information on progress and opportunities can be found at www.depave.org, and a video of Depaving Day is online at www.streetfilms.org.

BES Water Treatment Plant Taps into its own Renewable Energy

Lisa Libby — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:26:11 -0700

Columbia Boulevard Wastewater Treatment PlantEveryday Portland's Columbia Boulevard Wastewater Treatment Plant produces over one million cubic feet of biogas, a natural by-product of the sewage treatment process. Now, the City of Portland can use more than two thirds of that biogas as fuel to generate electricity and heat for the treatment plant operations.

The city dedicated two of the plant's generators to biogas, which will generate 1.7 megawatts of electricity per day - enough to power 1,000 homes! That much electricity will supply about half of the treatment plant's daily energy needs. By reducing the amount of electricity the plant purchases, the city is able to recover the project costs in 12 to 15 years.

Most of the funding for the $8 million project comes from sewer user fees collected by Portland's Bureau of Environmental Services. Energy Trust of Oregon is also providing the city with a $362,000 cash incentive to offset project costs. The city will also use the Oregon Business Energy Tax Credit program to offset about 25% of the project costs.

At peak capacity, the co-generation facility will use about 70% of the treatment plant's daily production of biogas. Which means the facility will generate enough power to reduce the plant's annual electric bill by about 40%.

Wanted: Environmental Staff Associate (Summer Internship)

Lisa Libby — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 10:16:49 -0700

As Sam's Environmental Policy Director, I work on initiatives aimed to improve watershed health. It's intriguing and complex work and I'm looking for someone intelligent, passionate and motivated to lend a hand.

Required:

Interest in local environmental issues
Strong writing, research, critical thinking skills
Ability to provide general office support, as needed
Flexibility, adaptability, and a decent sense of humor

Desired:
Background/experience in Urban Planning, Environmental Policy, Public Administration, Political Science, Sociology, or Urban Studies

Timeframe:
3 month duration

Please submit:

Cover Letter (1 page)
Resume
Writing Sample (5 page Max.)

Deadline: June 30th, 2008

This is a volunteer position.

~Lisa Libby
Senior Policy Director

lisa.libby@ci.portland.or.us
(503 823-4045
(503) 823-3017 (FAX)

1221 SW 4th Ave., Rm. 220
Portland, OR 97204

Go Paperless with PGE to Help Oregon Watersheds

Lisa Libby — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 15:07:57 -0700

Portland General Electric's new promotion, "Pick Paperless, Help Habitat" gives an extra boost to the environment when customers choose paperless billing.

Customers who opt to go "paperless" receive their bills through their e-mail addresses instead of receiving a hard copy bill in the mail. This saves paper, as well as the energy used to produce, transport and dispose of the paper.

To kick of this promotion, PGE is donating a total of $20,000 to four Oregon nonprofit groups that help with watershed protection and habitat restoration.

PGE customers will help determine the amount each organization receives by voting when they sign up for paperless billing from July 1 to August 15, 2008. The four organizations the donation will be divided among are:

Current paperless bill customers also have the opportunity to vote for their favorite organization by visiting the PGE website.