February 17, 2004
Waste Not, Want Not
It was garbage pickup day outside the PORTLAND COMMUNIQUE global headquarters in southeast Portland, so it's somehow appropriate that waste and refuse figured prominently in today's papers.
Over in The Oregonian, there's a look at the controversy surrounding an Oregon Department of Parks and Recreation test program to use waterless urinals:
In a test program, Oregon's parks agency has replaced 21 traditional urinals with models that do not use water. In the past two years, parks officials estimate, the pilot program in 13 state parks has saved 2.5 million to 3 million gallons, an advantage in rural and desert areas where water is scarce.
Critics, however, have raised concerns. The chemical used in at least one model poses environmental hazards, they say, and the no-water devices could result in higher maintenance costs.
According to the article, Ron Murray, business agent for Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 290, says the waterless urinals literally stink, while Parks officials claim tests dispute accounts of "greater odor" and also report that "flushing aerosolizes urine, possibly spreading microbes."
Meanwhile, the latest bit of muckraking over at the Portland Tribune finds that TriMet pays as much as three to four times more for its trash cans than does the City of Portland:
The concrete cans -- with stainless steel lids -- cost $915 each. That's nearly four times what the city of Portland pays for its trash receptacles, which also are made of concrete but come with galvanized tin lids instead.
...
But even TriMet's basic trash cans, with no recycling basket and a two-piece metal lid, cost $645 each. About 750 of them can be found throughout the area, Fetsch said.
In contrast, the Portland Office of Transportation's bureau of maintenance has installed hundreds of their surprisingly similar version for $238 each.
TriMet, says the Tribune, was "surprised to learn about the cost difference" and will see if the City -- which makes its own trash cans -- might be able to help save them some money.
Barring another unforeseen confluence of timing, we don't expect to have another special Garbage Pickup Day item for you in the future. Please be sure to thoroughly wash your hands after reading this one.
Comments (2)
The One True b!X on 17 Feb 2004
For what it's worth -- and yes this is entirely irrelevant -- if you're not going to be at tonight's Camper Van Beethoven show, you're a loser!
Jack Bog on 18 Feb 2004
After I finished reading your post, a few extra characters dribbled down onto my task bar.