Looking for Answers to Your Sustainability Challenges?

This earthcare page offers a number of resources, articles and links to help you develop and manage your very own sustainable environment at home.  Whether you are looking for ecologically friendly ways to dispose of chemicals or electronics, resources for sustainable living or all things green...we encourage you to explore and implement as many of these ideas as possible!

Toxic and Hazardous Materials Disposal:  If you need to safely dispose of paints, solvents, lubricants, lawn and garden fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides, METRO offers neighborhood weekend roundup events throughout the Portland metro area to collect and dispose of these items.  METRO is an elected regional government, Metro helps you make the region an extraordinary place to live, work and play and serves more than 1.5 million residents in Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties and the 25 cities in the Portland region.  It is a valuable resource for discovering effective composting and garbage disposal practices.   To review the METRO calendar of hazardous material roundup events in your area, go to  http://www.oregonmetro.gov/index.cfm/go/ and enter "neighborhood roundup schedule" in their search box.

Computer Hardware, Monitors, Printers and Electronics Recycling & Disposal:  The volume of electronic waste discarded in our landfills is astonishing.  Many of these components contain mercury, lead and other toxic hazardous elements that will destroy our planet.  The Portland metro area is blessed to have a resource that works to address these disposal issue while providing recycling and reuse strategies to get maximum life out of your electronics. Free Geek accepts computers and computer related hardware in any condition whether it is functional or not. Free Geek proudly participates in the Oregon E-Cycles program which offers free and convenient recycling of computers, monitors, and televisions for all Oregonians. If you have more than 7 of these items, please call ahead to determine if we will accept the additional computers, monitors, or televisions for free.  To learn more about donating your electronics, visit http://www.freegeek.org/

One Stop Recycling & Disposal: Far West Fibers, Inc. is an exceptional recycling resource for paper, metal, glass, plastic, electronics, white goods (stoves, dishwashers, refrigerators, washers and dryers), athletic shoes, cell phones, including batteries & chargers, and microwave ovens.  They also accept cooking oil, wood waste and crayons.  Click on the FWB logo for directions and more information.

Plastic Bag Recycling:  Many grocery chains provide convenient recycling of plastic grocery and product bags that will not be accepted by your street collection service.  Look near the store front for collection bins..if you don't seem them..ask the store manager to make them available! Remember, these bags are usually not biodegradable and will languish in landfills, streams and along roadsides for decades if not removed.  If you want to help reduce the market for these unsustainable marketing strategies, bring your own reusable bags everywhere and every time you shop!

Proper Battery Disposal:  You may not know this, but all sorts of retailers will gladly accept spent alkaline, NiCad and lead acid batteries (motorcycles, cars and garden tractors) without charge or expectation of a purchase.  One example:  Batteries Plus.  Simply gather your batteries and drop them by the closest store during business hours.  For the Batteries Plus store nearest you, please visit the Batteries Plus website.  If you shop at Lowe's or Home Depot home improvement centers, you can recycle power tool batteries at most of their locations throughout Oregon.

Resources for Sustainable Living:  The Center for Earth Leadership was founded on a singular vision: citizens will provide the essential leadership to a sustainable culture.  Individuals have immense potential to assume an expanded leadership role in daily life by (1) reducing personal impact on the earth, (2) being an agent of change, and (3) being an assertive advocate for the earth.  This site is a wealth of information regarding all things sustainable and, as a local Portland resource, it addresses our needs directly.  To learn more, visit http://earthleaders.org/ for a list of articles, seminars and classes being offered to help you leave a smaller footprint on mother Earth.  And if you'd like to access a library of PDF documents that offer a number of excellent Lifestyle Eco-Tips to help you live a greener life, go to http://earthleaders.org/ecotips and click on a subject that sparks your interest.  

Reuseable Solutions:  Designed to spark environmental awareness and inspire you to make small personal changes that create the mindset to support a healthy planet.  On this site you will find an abundance of information and simple solutions that help heighten your awareness regarding the environment. To visit this one-stop resource for more sustainable living go to:  http//www.resuablesolutions.org