The Metro Council is considering a policy concept to require, over time, the separate collection of food scraps (separate from garbage) for larger restaurants, grocery stores and other food-oriented businesses. Food is the largest component of what the greater Portland area sends to landfills, where it decomposes and creates methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. Metro is looking to keep more food scraps out of garbage and put that waste to better use creating compost, energy and fertilizer. Requiring the separate collection of food scraps from certain businesses will have effects on commercial property management firms.
Metro staff will meet with BOMA members on Wednesday, July 19, from 7:30 to 9 a.m. in the lobby conference room of the 200 Market Building (200 SW Market St., Portland) to discuss the policy proposal, answer questions and gather feedback on how this policy may affect members and how its application can best serve the needs of BOMA members and their clients while keeping more food scraps out of landfills.
Additional information about Metro’s food scraps recovery efforts can be found online at www.oregonmetro.gov/foodscraps.