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If a lease arrangement comes through, Gresham-area residents will cart their recyclable materials to a single, centralized spot rather than local supermarkets.
A private firm is in the process of leasing the former Scion dealership property at 975 N.E. Hogan Drive to use as a deposit container redemption center, the first such facility in the state.
If successful, Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative officials envision an additional 90 redemption centers throughout Oregon, according to Alisa Shifflett, project manager for the cooperative.
The center will have customer service staff to hand-count deposit containers as well as “improved” self-service machines, she says. Additionally, the facility will offer “drop and go” services to residents who set up accounts with the center for faster service.
The cooperative expects to sign a lease on the property in a matter of days, and hopes to be in operation by mid-August, Shifflett said.
Once the operation’s in place, major beverage retailers within one-and-a-half miles of the center — including Fred Meyer, Safeway, Winco, and Albertson’s — will no longer accept deposit containers for redemption.
The Oregon Liquor Control Commission has posted public comment notices at each of these retail locations, alerting customers to the proposed changes.
Dan Blue, recycling and solid waste manager with the city of Gresham, said the system appears promising.
“Ultimately, I think it’s a good thing,” he said. “I think there will be opportunities at the center for residents to donate to local schools and charities, and the cooperative group has indicated interest in doing collection events.”
Blue praised innovations the cooperative has proposed, such as having customer service staff on hand to count containers or a “drop off and go” option.
If you don't drive, this location is actually easier to get to than the stores that will be able to stop accepting the cans/bottles (the Safeway at Division & Burnside, Fred Meyer, and Winco). I see that Albertsons is also listed, but it seems to me that the store at Kane and Stark is more than a mile and half away, but it may be just inside that. But even it is a longer walk from the nearest bus stops than this location will be.
As someone who just went almost a year without a car, I can easily say that this center would be much easier to use than the store locations. Yes, it would mean I would have to make a trip to the store and to that location. But half the time I show up at the store with my cans/bottles, only to find all the machines out of order. That's why our cans have piled up while we didn't have a car. It will take several trips to the store to get them all returned now that we have a vehicle again.
I'm really hoping that this center will work out and that more will be added in convenient spots around town. If they're maintained well, it could really improve the whole experience of having to take the cans back.
It also means that I won't feel like I need to go home and take a shower before I start my grocery shopping. The return areas we all use right now are just absolutely disgusting.
(email verified)
Fri, Jun 19, 2009 at 10:37 PM
If they are well maintained and if they are kept in working order and if if if. Currently I can take my cans/bottles back and even if a machine is full or has a problem I can get assistance right away. As for riding the bus, I sincerely doubt that tri-met will in anyway accommodate someone getting on the bus with 2 or 3 large bags of cans/bottles, they can't all fit on your lap and left in the isle they become a hazard for the other riders. There is a lack of "storage" space on tri-met as it is for things like shopping bags,book bags, strollers, do you really believe there will be room for empty cans/bottles?
Additionally I have a concern about the safety of this center. I have seen all types collecting cans/bottles off the street and although you can't judge people simply because they may be down on their luck or avid recyclers there are those who are drug addicts and or alcoholics who collect cans etc to provide them with their alcohol or drugs. Will there be any real security on site or do we depend upon an employee who is not trained in self defense or the defense of others?
Now you may say this is Gresham and we don't have a large population of homeless and or addicts, however, since light rail has come out here and the springwater trail is in place I was advised by a police officer that because of these things they recommended I use Red Sunset park instead of Gresham City park in Downtown
Gresham because a lone women would be less likely to encounter problems.
Has anyone figured how long a wait we will have? Just like at the grocery store, there are busier times and slower times depending on peoples schedules, will I need to take a number or just wait in line, and for how long?
Last of all, I paid my deposit to the store I purchased my beverages from, when I make a trip to the store for groceries I return the empties, why should I have to go out of my way and spend money on gas or tri-met to return them some where else.
Thank You
(email verified)
Fri, Jun 19, 2009 at 11:45 PM
How is this service paid for? Are you charged a percentage of your return? Do you pay a fee? Does the state pay? Local retailers?
The intersection of Hogan and Division... What a wonderful place to have this center. The traffic is a disaster in that area and if this place opens, it will be worse. Rather than people being able to take their cans and bottles to a certain store, you're going to have hundreds of people converging on this one location.
I think I will need to find a new place outside of the 1.5 mile radius...
(email verified)
Sat, Jun 20, 2009 at 07:31 AM
I truly think that this site will not work as the comment above suggested the intersection sucks with traffic now. Maybe the old Goodwill building on burnside and Fairview ave would be a much better place. The site has parking, Drive up area and storage inside the building for cans and machines with a loading dock to load the trucks. Lets think this out just alittle.
(email verified)
Sat, Jun 20, 2009 at 09:17 AM
That'll look nice. Parking lot full of leaking junky cars, swirling anit-freeze and rainbows of oil, cigarette butts everywhere. Garbage and trash all about.
It's for the enviroment!
Pitiful.
(email verified)
Sat, Jun 20, 2009 at 09:27 AM
Sounds like one big bum magnet to me...
(email verified)
Sat, Jun 20, 2009 at 09:31 AM
The old Goodwill spot would be good. But I'd imagine they were looking for something within the 1.5 mile radius of where there is a concentration of grocery stores. It can also be seen more easily from the road than the old Goodwill location could. Not to mention I am sure the price is a lot lower.
It will be difficult to get in and out, though. Getting into many of the businesses in that area can be difficult.
I'm not sure how it is being paid for, though. Maybe it is being paid for out of the deposit funds that never get returned? They isn't a 100% return on cans and bottles, so there is still money left over. Are the stores also chipping in some funds since they won't have to deal with the returns themselves anymore?
It would definitely be interesting to get more information on how this is funded. Also, how about some information about the public comment notice?
I look forward to testing out the new facility when it opens, as I'm not that far away from it. It's sad that they don't have to do too much in order to be better than the four store return areas that this would be replacing (all four of which I've routinely used since I live nearby).
If it works I wonder if they're looking at more locations around town? Or possibly moving this one to a larger location?
(email verified)
Sat, Jun 20, 2009 at 04:36 PM
Maybe if this is the sole business venture, the attendants can not only keep it clean and functioning, but they can keep the unsavory cockroach people away- you know- the dirty people who lurk nearby to "help" you when a bottle or can gets stuck, getting too close when I have not sought their assistance. Those people make me really uncomfortable. It seems they are opportunists waiting for some "luck" to come their way. EW!
Instead of one, "central" (central to whom?) location, maybe if this proves to be successful there can be several. Although, to be honest, I probably will not use it. I'll just start finding some Girl Scouts or a school to donate my bottles to. I am not much interested in driving to a completely different location. It becomes a whole 'nuther chore. I don't see it as making redemption of bottles easier for people, but it will be easier for the merchants to not have to clean, empty, and monitor machines.
(email verified)
Sat, Jun 20, 2009 at 10:33 PM
Centennial Neighbor:
Right now I'm guessing you're far enough away from the location that you'd be able to return it to stores on your side of town, such as those along 181st/182nd/Highland.
I'm hoping this will be a lot cleaner than what we go through now. I always end up with my feet so stuck to the floor that it takes an effort to unstick them.
What I am looking forward to trying is the drop off service. I wouldn't mind dropping the cans off on my way to take my husband to work and then coming back for my money later.
I'm definitely interested in seeing how this works out and being a test case as to how things can work well, what doesn't work well, etc.
(email verified)
Sat, Jun 20, 2009 at 11:01 PM
This is a great 'change'. Other states have been implementing these 'innovations' for some years with many positive results.
It is an absolutely ludicrous system that is in place now. Standing around for extremely long periods of time, machines ALWAYS not working, 'attendants' not attending, and inserting ONE bottle at a time ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-FOUR times are all complete failures.
Yes, it's a change, deal with it. Just because you've had one complete FAILURE for years doesn't mean that you keep it just because that's what you are familiar with.
As for the above responses to 'bums', 'dirty people', or needing 'defense' against 'lurkers' I am in complete disbelief. These are PEOPLE.
(email verified)
Mon, Jun 22, 2009 at 10:33 AM
David,
Some of the people who hang out at redemption centers are tweakers needing money for their next hit. When I worked over by Albertson's on 174 and Powell I saw them hang out and intimidate shoppers on a regular basis, and had occasions when they scooted in close to me while I was trying to recycle my own bottles. Albertson's tried to keep them in check, but could not run them off completely, and the tweakers knew it. It was my estimation that they were looking to see if I had a handbag or other valuable that was unattended, or intended to be so offensive and intimidating that I just might leave my cans to get away from them. They also bummed folks for spare change. It was gross. The "regulars" who lurked there shoplifted both in the store where I worked and Albertson's. They camped in the woods at Powell Butte. When Albertson's closed, several of them took to hanging out at the Safeway at 162. Same scenario. So now, when I do go to redeem my bottles, I do not go alone. That is better for me. (I do like the notion of dropping off and picking up the money later. Thank you, Jenni, for reitterating that fantastic feature, which I hope works out.)
Yes, the people who lurk for hours on end at redemption centers looking for a good opportunity are people- drug-addicted people that cannot hold a job, who smell horrific, who live in black berry bushes and do not have a lot to lose. It is not the other recyclers who offend me- it is the few druggies who make this their "job" and come scurrying over like cockroaches.
Are you insisting that I like them and should happily mingle with them just because you have not had a bad experience? Would you send your teenage daughter there alone some evening?
(email verified)
Mon, Jun 22, 2009 at 11:18 AM
Hopefully they'll be able to chase off the people who just hang out. After all, the location serve one purpose and if you're just hanging out, it's pretty obvious that you're loitering. And they'll be able to id and chase them off a little easier than you would in a big shopping center.
I run into these same loitering people when I go to Winco late at night. Some of them definitely scare me when they approach me in a group late at night in the parking lot when I am by myself.
(email verified)
Mon, Jun 22, 2009 at 11:30 PM
I am not opposed to the idea in general. I have no issues at all returning my cans and bottles since I use the inside return center at the Safeway on Division -- just about across the street from where this redemption center is being located. The inside facility is safe and clean -- unlike almost every outdoor facility. That Safeway won't have to accept returns once the new place opens.
Hopefully, a few things will happen.
1) The center will have people who make sure lurkers and beggars are not around. That should be fairly easy since -- as was mentioned above -- it will be more obvious if people are loitering.
2) The center needs to have extended hours -- open EARLY and close LATE -- just like stores do now -- better yet, open 24 hours. I always wonder why so many places in the Portland area are not 24 hours.
3) Since the location is still a horrible choice with traffic issues already, they should have a ONE way in and ONE way out structure.
Still wondering how someone makes a profit doing this --- and there has to be a profit...
JTD
(email verified)
Tue, Jun 23, 2009 at 09:55 AM
One way in and one way out is definitely what they need to do - in when you're going eastbound on Division and out when you're going southbound on Hogan. The out onto Hogan needs to be a right only - and it should be a forced right where they put in concrete that does not allow a left turn. People just ignore the signs, as can be seen at businesses all over town (the Bank of America at Stark and Hogan).
And I say a big YES! to extended hours.
(email verified)
Tue, Jun 23, 2009 at 03:07 PM
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Re: Gresham may be home to recycling center
If the center is well taken care of and clean, this will be a huge improvement over what we encounter now - broken machines, long lines, and sticky floors.
I love the drop and go service. I'd definitely set up an account so we could drop off our bags and head onto the next errand. It's even on one of the city's few major bus lines (with stops extremely close), which is a huge bonus.
My one worry is this - will they allow you to bring in more than 144 containers per day? Currently, grocery stores will often let you do that if you are buying groceries with the money instead of just getting it in cash. It doesn't take long for cans and bottles to accumulate, especially now that water bottles are included.
"Jenni Simonis"
(email verified)
Fri, Jun 19, 2009 at 08:19 PM