Keeping Toxins out of Landfills and Waterways
It is a bit alarming to think about the amount of household items we have in our home that have the words “caution”, “poison” and “warning” on the label. What substances are lurking in your garage, your utility room, and under your kitchen sink that you don’t plan to use in the future?
Portland’s Metro has a no-cost recycling program for safely disposing of toxic substances like paint, batteries, household cleaners, and pesticides. The best part is they will come to you – to your local neighborhood that is.
I live in Murrayhill in Beaverton, Oregon. This weekend Metro created a round up site at Southwest Bible Church on Murray Blvd and Weir Road. My husband and I gathered up several gallons of paint collecting dust in our garage, and a lunchbag full of used batteries. I drove up to the site and friendly Metro volunteers dressed in white Tyvek suits and blue rubber gloves unloaded my car. Dang that was easy!
Our shelves in the garage dedicated to paint storage now only house the current paint colors in the house. (As an interior designer, I admit I change my decor colors every few years. Would you expect anything else from me?) I feel good on so many levels. We have less clutter in the garage, more space, and as a family we kept something hazardous from reaching waterways and the landfill.
What do you have to take to Metro? If you don’t want to wait for your next neighborhood round-up, Metro has two drop off sites open Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 4:00pm.
Metro Central Station
6161 NW 61st
Portland
Metro South Station
2001 Washington Street
Oregon City
To learn more about the 2008 and 2009 scheduled round-up sites, or to learn about materials accepted, please visit http://www.metro-region.org/
Angela Todd
Owner & Principal Designer
Angela is the principal designer at her boutique interior design firm in Portland, Oregon. She is known for creating memorable backdrops that tell the story of fascinating and intricate lives.
