Being respectful is a PDX People core value, and that includes your actions toward travelers, other airport workers and even shared spaces. With that in mind, keeping the waste areas organized and sorting your trash properly is part of maintaining a clean and safe airport environment.

Sorting Glass, Trash and Food Waste

Additionally, following the waste area guidelines means we can continue to stay environmentally conscious and save money by avoiding fines.

• Use a plastic bin – we call them “curbies” – to take glass to the waste site. Don’t put plastic bags in glass recycling. If you need a curbie, request one from our waste minimization team.
• Hold on to all bulky, broken or unused items until the next airport-wide cleanup, held in the spring and fall. We’ll share the dates in this newsletter and on the PDX People website. In the meantime, if you need help with large items, email our waste minimization team.
• Only place food scraps in the food waste bin. Don’t put boxes, milk, unopened cans or other garbage in these bins, as contamination turns compost into garbage.
• Use Relay Resources for grease disposal. Buckets of grease should not be left in the bucket wash area.
• Dispose of liquids in your sinks. Don't dump liquids in the exterior water areas or in the compactor.

Using the Trash Compactor

Being mindful of the trash compactor guidelines keeps the area tidy, ready for the next use and keeps our equipment working efficiently.

• Run the compactor every time you load it. Your co-workers will thank you when they arrive to drop off their garbage.
• Make sure the compactor is clear before loading. If it’s full when you arrive, start the compactor and wait four minutes to see if it will empty.
• Call the maintenance number on the compactor if the compactor won’t clear. Take your trash with you and return later – don’t dump trash on the walkway if the compactor is full.
• Put batteries and lightbulbs in the recycling buckets in the interior waste areas. Don’t put these items in the trash compactor as it creates a safety hazard.

Want to “talk trash” with the waste minimization team and be knowledgeable about the process? Your manager can book a training with the team by emailing lesswaste@portofportland.com. Thanks for helping keep PDX a clean and safe place to work.