Portland, Oregon, is pushing stricter regulations on the city's waste, mandating that residents and businesses recycle 75% of their waste by 2015. Many businesspeople are upset about the costs that would be associated with compliance.
"By 2015, the city wants the largest food-related businesses to have their scraps collected for recycling. The plan also calls for all businesses regardless of size to recycle paper. Construction jobs valued at more than $50,000 would need to recycle 75 percent of their waste."
"Some 20 percent of all disposed garbage consists of building materials that can be recycled, according to the city. The city also estimates that 29 percent of all garbage contains food scraps that can be composted."
"The proposals call for recycling rates to jump from the currently targeted 50 percent levels to 75 percent in 2015. Portland residents and businesses currently recycle 63 percent of their waste."
"'There isn't enough information out there to determine whether making these changes to the entire commercial system will get us' to the city's goals, said Agatha Viernes, assistant property manager for Unico Properties LLC's Portland office."
FULL STORY: A ruckus over rubble
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Has President Trump Met His Match?
Doug Ford, the no-nonsense premier of Canada's most populous province, Ontario, is taking on Trump where it hurts — making American energy more expensive.
Study: London ULEZ Rapidly Cleaning up Air Pollution
Expanding the city’s ultra low-emission zone has resulted in dramatic drops in particle emissions in inner and outer London.
Zero-Emission Bus Fleets Grow, But Federal Funding Is in Jeopardy
Transit agencies around the country have purchased over 7,000 zero-emission buses, but a federal program that funds the shift could be eliminated under the new administration.
HUD Announces Plan to Build Housing on Public Lands
The agency will identify federally owned parcels appropriate for housing development and streamline the regulatory process to lease or transfer land to housing authorities and nonprofit developers.
Wisconsin Governor Opens Window for Regional Transit Authority
The proposed state budget includes a provision that allows local governments to establish a dedicated transit tax.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Strategic Economics Inc
Resource Assistance for Rural Environments
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service