Residents of an Avesta Housing affordable multifamily complex in Portland’s Bayside neighborhood improved their recycling practices thanks to an education program provided by ecomaine, a municipally owned recycling and waste-to-energy business.
Avesta Housing, a nonprofit affordable housing developer based in Portland, said residents at 409 Cumberland Ave., with 57 apartments, increased their recycling volume by 20%, with the property projected to divert nearly 700 pounds of material from the landfill each year if residents maintain the progress. Recycling contamination dropped from 42% to 12%.
Avesta partnered with ecomaine for 15 weeks to help residents improve their recycling habits. The effort included door-to-door education, tabling, providing reusable recycling bags and updated, multilingual signage in the trash room.
Ecomaine, which is based in Portland, is a nonprofit owned by 27 municipalities.
