Portland Moves To Clean Up Its Act (Or At Least Its Streets)

PORTLAND, OR – Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler knows that the city needs to clean up its act. On Thursday morning, he announced what he hopes will be first steps toward making that happen.

Wheeler announced that starting this week, the city will be providing trash service six days a week. Downtown Portland, meanwhile, will soon be getting an additional 200 trash containers for the streets.

The bins – 100 of which will arrive this month - are being purchased by Clean & Safe, an affiliate of the Portland Business Alliance. The group is spending $300,000 for the high-capacity bins. Get all the latest information on what's happening in your community by signing up for Patch's newsletters and breaking news alerts

Officials say that with Clean & Safe buying bins for downtown, it will allow the city to buy more trash receptacles for other parts of the city.

"It is critical that we put our money and efforts where our mouth is, and this additional pick up schedule is just one of the ways we are doing that," Wheeler said at a news conference to mark the 30th anniversary of the Clean & Safe District downtown.

"This is just the first announcements of several to come."

Wheeler says his goal is to make Portland the cleanest city in the United States.

Photo of Mayor Wheeler with new trash receptacles via Clean & Safe/Portland Business Alliance.