2023.02.07 The BNA Clean & Green Team's focus has helped to keep our neighborhood litter free, pretty by organizing professional landscaping for the triangle entry at Gantenbein and by promoting, advocating for a healthy environment in the Bridgeton neighborhood.
 
In 2020, we started working with Cascadia Action mostly to partner with surrounding neighborhood associations support in asking industries to maintain the highest quality standards for clean emissions. 

Last year, in 2022, we started partnering with the City of Portland's Adopt One Block program. Volunteers choose a block near their residence and spend a few hours each month keeping it litter free. We're getting to the point of full coverage of our whole neighborhood!

This year, 2023 we are helping to collect air samples, then advocating for ways to reduce diesel pollution in our neighborhood. This report from Portland Clean Air describes how our own immune system deals with the deleterious effects of diesel pollution. It tells us that we better focus even more now.

Join Bridgeton Neighbors (at a proper social distance) at our entry triangle
DIY Spring Triangle Spruce Up 

Saturday, April 11, 2020
10:00a, - 12:00 pm

BYOT - Bring Your Own Tools!

• Clean up - Pick up litter and debris
• Dead head flowers & bushes
• Weed removal
• Sweep
• Plant summer & fall bulbs

We'll keep our social distance and spruce up the triangle!

​Recycling curbside in Portland is pretty simple and hasn’t changed much since 2018 with more efforts around ‘recycling right’ and keeping unwanted materials out of the recycling due to changes with international markets. Check below for ways to recycle right*
 
*The BNA has instituted a Blue Bag Bottle Fundraiser that allows for bottle deposit money to add to our Neighborhood Clean Up fund. Get your bags and start “recycling for a cause” from Peg Molander. More details here: http://www.livebridgeton.com/bottle-drop-fundraiser
 
Metro Recycling Information Center is the best bet for up-to-date information. They have a Find a Recycler tool that offers many resources for disposal, recycling and reuse. They also have a new campaign called Recycle or Not that includes a game and Instagram option.
 
CURBSIDE RECYCLING BASICS

• Recycling pickup is every week. We recommend setting out the blue roll cart and yellow glass bin when they are at least half full.

·       Containers at the curb by 6 a.m. Empty containers should be removed from curb within 24 hours.
·       Don’t over pack your blue roll cart. Contents must fall out easily.
·       Weight limit is 135 lbs.

• Recycle properly. See the list of acceptable materials to put in your blue recycling roll cart. Ask Metro how to recycle items not accepted at the curb.

 
YES! Put these paper items together in your blue recycling roll cart:
Newspapers, magazines, catalogs, phone books, scrap paper, junk mail, cartons (milk, juice, soup), shredded paper (must be in paper bag), cardboard boxes. (Flatten small boxes for the blue roll cart. Flatten and bundle large boxes using twine or tape and place them next to the blue roll cart. Bundled cardboard must measure 36 in or less in any direction.)







YES! Put these plastic items together in your blue recycling roll cart:
Plastics recycling in the Portland Curbside Collection Service is based on size and shape not number. Put only these types of plastics in your blue recycling roll cart: bottles with neck smaller than base (6 oz or larger), tubs (6 oz or larger), plant pots (4 in or larger), or buckets (5 gal or smaller). Remember, no caps or lids.

​YES! You can recycle motor oil at the curb:
Put motor oil in a clear plastic bottle with a screw-on lid. Place next to roll cart or bin. Don't mix with other liquids.
 
 
NO! These common items cannot be recycled:
Plastic bags, diapers, propane cylinders, coffee cups/lids/pods, rigid plastics including "clamshells," plastic containers under 6 oz., prescription medicine bottles, latex gloves, disposable utensils, produce baskets, plastic lids and caps, plastic bottles that have come in contact with motor oil, pesticides and herbicide bottles, Tupperware, Rubbermaid, other reusable dishware, freezer and refrigerator boxes, hard copy books, light bulbs, drinking glasses, flower vases, ceramics, broken glass.
 
Redeemable*:
As of Jan. 1, 2018, more types of beverage containers carry a 10-cent deposit. These include bottles and cans for tea, coffee, fruit juice, coconut water, hard cider and kombucha, as well as beer, soft drinks and water containers. These are accepted at some grocery stores and all BottleDrop Centers. Not accepted at BottleDrop Centers: Wine, liquor, dairy or plant-based milk, infant formula and metal cans that require a can opener.
 
 
BNA Fundraiser
The BNA has instituted a Blue Bag Bottle Fundraiser that allows for bottle deposit money to add to our Neighborhood Clean Up fund. Get your bags and start “recycling for a cause” from Tom Hickey (west end) or Bridget Bayer (east end). More details here: http://www.livebridgeton.com/bottle-drop-fundraiser
 

The BNA worked on starting a community-based conservation program using our beloved triangle entry to Bridgeton neighborhood as a model. During our annual Spring Clean Up, the BNA Green Team organized a landscape improvement project. Nine neighbors contributed sweat equity to remove invasive species, clean debris and weeds, and create a welcoming look. We distributed METRO print materials about the benefits of sustainable plants, gardening methods and conservationism in the Columbia River slough environment. 

Shortly after, BNA neighbors installed a boat delightfully painted to welcome people to our neighborhood. The native-only flowering plants were donated by neighbors. We didn’t plan on the fact that the boat, made of aluminum, would be so valuable to scrappers, and it disappeared not long after the plants took hold. Our generous neighbors rallied and not only found another boat, wood this time, but donated almost all the materials to secure it firmly in place the second time. The second round of improvements were partly purchased but did include some donated plants. Another neighbor group took advantage of the long Fall season to add more plants and spring bulbs to enhance the beauty of our triangle.

Neighbors learned about our work in person, on our website, LiveBridgeton.com, on social media and at two neighborhood-wide meetings. Participating volunteers received a ball cap that recognized them for their community service and environmental practices.
We thank East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District 2018-2019 SPACE Small Projects and Community Events grants for kick-starting this valuable project!