how-to-recycle-in-portland

A Guide to Recycling In Portland

by AdviceJanitorial ServicesUncategorized

Whether you just moved here, or are a native Portlander, knowing how to recycle in the Rose City can get confusing. Portland has one of the highest recycling rates in the country, keeping 70% of its waste out of local landfills.

If you want to do your part for the environment, and do it correctly, this article will help clear up those gray areas surrounding recycling regulations in Portland.

We’ll tell you what you can put into each roll cart, as well as how to find your collection schedule and roll cart weight limitations. Then we’ll look at how to start composting  in Portland, as well as commercial recycling basics. You can also contact Cascade Building Services if you want to speak with a recycling expert today.

Basic Tips For Recycling At The Curb

To rinse or not to rinse, that is the question. The need to rinse depends on the recycling provider in your area, but here are some general rules to follow:

  • Empty is better: Make sure the containers are clean (or at least empty) when you recycle them. Dirty containers attract vermin and excess debris in your recycling bin requires extra energy to dispose of and clean.
  • Rinsing: Paper and cardboard are particularly sensitive to residue, so it’s important to dump out all liquids from containers to help keep the paper goods recyclable.
  • Conserve water when rinsing: Removing (or composting) food before rinsing is greener than keeping the water faucet running. You can also fill a bowl with water to use and reuse if you have several containers to clean out.

More Rules To Follow:

  • Don’t pack any of your roll carts too tightly. Contents must fall out easily.
  • Be sure to remove your roll cart within 24 hours of pickup.
  • Weight limits vary depending on the size of your roll cart. Find a guide here.
  • Keep your bin lid securely closed. Store your garbage out of direct sunlight.
  • To deter insects and avoid odors, you can sprinkle baking soda in your garbage can.
  • For an extra $5 fee, you can set out an extra garbage container or bag on your collection day.

What Goes Into Which Bin?

In Portland, not only do we have blue and green recycling bins; we have a black garbage bin and yellow recycling bin. What does it all mean? What goes into which? Here’s a helpful infographic showing basic guidelines. We’ve also put together a list below:
8396593103_5f87b3ae0a_b
Photo credit: cogdogblog via VisualHunt.com / CC BY

Blue Roll Cart

  • Paper: scrap paper and junk mail, small cardboard boxes, newspapers, magazines, catalogs, phone books, cartons of milk/juice/soup, etc.
  • Metal: aluminum, foil, tin and steel food cans, empty and dry metal paint cans, empty aerosol cans, scrap metal smaller than two inches
  • Plastic: 6 oz or larger bottles with smaller neck than base, 6 oz or larger tubs, plant pots, buckets

Yellow Glass Bin

  • Glass bottles and jars
  • Mixing colors and keeping labels on is okay

Black Garbage Bin

  • Paper: used paper plates, coffee cups, take out containers, facial tissue
  • Plastic: wrappers, styrofoam, plastic bags, rigid plastics such as tupperware and rubbermaid, plastic containers labeled “compostable”, toys
  • Other: painted or stained wood, and plywood, incandescent light bulbs, windows
  • In sealed container: kitchen fats, cooking oil and grease
  • Must be bagged: pet waste and cat litter, diapers and feminine hygiene products, ashes and sawdust, packaging peanuts, broken glass

What You Can’t Recycle (At The Curb) Might Surprise You

  • Electronics
  • Styrofoam
  • Plastic bags
  • Rigid plastics (tupperware)
  • Books
  • Light bulbs
  • Coffee cups

To easily find out if certain objects are recyclable, donatable, or reusable and where to do it use this handy tool.

How to Reduce Your Landfill Waste By 33%: Composting

There are many benefits to composting: reducing your waste, having a healthier garden, and conserving resources such as water, energy, and fuel. And luckily for us in Portland, composting is made easier as Portlanders are provided a green roll cart for composting purposes.

green-waste-486011_1280

To easily integrate composting into your routine we recommend getting a kitchen compost container and placing it in a convenient location in your kitchen. This way you can collect your small compost items and then empty your kitchen compost container into your green compost bin as frequently as you like. Remember to use approved liners with your kitchen compost container, available at most supermarkets.

What you can compost:

  • Food scraps: meat, poultry, fish, shellfish, bones, eggs, cheese, dairy products, bread, pasta, rice, beans, coffee grounds, filters, tea bags (for a comprehensive list go here)
  • Table scraps: plate scrapings, leftovers, spoiled food
  • Paper products: paper napkins,towels, and pizza boxes
  • Yard debris: weeds, leaves, vines, grass, small branches, flowers, house plants, plant clippings, pumpkins

What’s my Pickup Schedule?

  • Blue roll cart: once a week, but only when full
  • Yellow glass bin: once a week, but only when full
  • Green composting cart: every week, even if it is not full
  • Black garbage bin: every other week

set-out
Photo: City of Portland

If the standard garbage service pickup schedule doesn’t work for you and your family you can always increase or decrease the size of your garbage container or sign up for every four week pickup.

You can also check to see exact dates of garbage and recycling pickups through The City of Portland’s website. Pro tip: there’s an option to sign up for weekly email reminders so that you’ll never forget your pickup day again!

Commercial Recycling

Sustainability at work is increasingly becoming a focus for businesses, and various metro areas and counties in and around Portland require businesses to meet certain recycling requirements. Check out our guide to commercial recycling, or read on for the basics.

  • Give employees the opportunity to recycle
  • Recycle paper and containers
  • Sort and separate recyclables correctly
  • Set out materials for recycling collection

Cascade Building Services has 50+ years of experience helping Portland recycle. We’re proud to offer office recycling services to handle all of your paper recycling needs, as well as custom-tailor office recycling solutions. We’ll make sure your recycling program is simple and convenient, maximizing recycling and helping you comply with local regulations.

Learn how we can help with your commercial recycling services now by getting in touch. We’re happy to answer any questions, as well as provide a free quote.

clean-workplace-boost-productivity

Can a Cleaner Workplace Boost Productivity?

by Uncategorized

Well-run organizations are always looking for ways to get the most out of their employees. Unsurprisingly, encouraging productivity can make employees excited about their work.

The best way to do this? Keep your office clean.

In this month’s post we’ll outline how keeping a clean office helps with productivity. We’ll also highlight tools you can use to keep your organization clean and tidy.

 

5 Ways Cleanliness Can Boost Productivity

Every company runs their office differently. Some are more professional, while others are a little more progressive and casual. While both methods can work great, the one thru-line in any productive office is a clean, well organized workplace.

Cleanliness…

1. Improves Health

Any time an employee is out of the office sick, productivity is down. Cleaning regularly limits germs and bacteria and greatly reduces the likelihood that your employees will get sick. It will also help out your employees suffering from allergies, as regular cleanings reduces the amount of dust and allergens in the air.

Keep productivity high by keeping sick days down!

2. Keeps Employees Focused

In order for an office to be running on all cylinders, everyone must be focused on their work. If your team is surrounded by disorganization and clutter, you are putting them at a severe disadvantage.

Not only will a cluttered workspace force you to spend extra time looking for items you need, it will cause distractions as you’ll be constantly trying to make sense of your surroundings.

Messy or disorganized resources will cause:

  • Finding files in filing cabinets more difficult, turning an easy task into a long process.
  • Printer or copy machines to have issues and not last as long since unkempt machines are liable to break.
  • Collaboration to be more difficult, as cluttered conference rooms and shared work spaces will make it harder to find a place to work.

3. Encourages a Stronger Company Culture

Do you want to keep employees happy and make them feel as if they are part of a family? Do you want the best candidates to be excited about working for you?

It all starts with your office. Presenting yourself as an innovative, professional organization is hard if it is not clean, tidy, and beautiful. A clean office will also boost moral and keep your employees happy.

While a lot of businesses focus on stand-up desks and amenities like free coffee, likely the thing your employees (and potential employees) care most about is feeling comfortable in their workspace. If they can’t, it will be hard to keep them on and motivate them to push your company forward.

You want your employees to be proud of where they work. Start by providing a good office for them to thrive in.

4. Reduces Stress

Disorganization and clutter will stress you out. If your employees are stressed, it will be hard for them to focus on what they should actually be doing. It will also mean having to take more breaks to cool off.

If employees have to fight over who is taking out the trash, it may lead to resentment and frustration, causing workplace tension with other employees. Even just being surrounded by clutter can cause you to feel uneasy, limiting concentration.

Don’t put your employees’ mental health at risk by stressing them out.

5. Prevents Accidents

Accidents are unavoidable. That does not mean you shouldn’t try to limit their possibility.

Messy offices where spills are allowed to sit for days and messes are regularly left alone increases the likelihood someone will slip and fall, injuring themselves.

Not only is this dangerous for the employees, if they end up suffering an injury it will cause them to miss time. Even further, this will cost you company resources to pay for any medical expenses or lawsuits that pop up as a result.

No one wants to work in an environment where they are worried about injury.

 

4 Tips to Help Keep Your Workplace Clean

While it seems easy to just keep your office clean and organized, it’s often a lot more difficult to actually execute. We’ve found that there are a couple organizational tools that will greatly increase your chances of keeping your office clean.

1. Schedule Cleaning Days

Encouraging your employees to take responsibility for their personal area will go a long way towards keeping a tidy office.

We recommend scheduling a 15-minute block once a week where employees are encouraged to clean their own personal work areas. This could include:

  • Wiping down the surface of their desk
  • Organizing any files in their area
  • Dusting and cleaning their keyboard
  • Wiping down and de-cluttering any common areas they regularly use

Make sure to supply them with consumer cleaners like wet wipes, dusters, and air spray.

Not only will this go a long way in making your office clean and decluttered, it will also make employees accountable for their space and encourage them not be as messy in the first place.

2. Speak to Employees Who Have Dirty Desks

Every office has someone (or several someones) who are is a little messier than the rest.

While we discourage shaming anyone, don’t be afraid to remind your employees in private about the importance of a clean work environment. They likely don’t even know they are being messy, and this will help them realize their habits could be affecting others.

3. Encourage Employees to Keep Track of Food

Refrigerators are a hot spot for unclean offices! With so many people bringing in different food, items are bound to be left in the fridge.

We recommend instituting a rule where any unmarked food is thrown away one day a week. This will force people to declare their food, and prevent a situation where something goes bad and starts to stink.

4. Hire a Janitorial Service To Keep Things Clean

While employees themselves are a big part of keeping an office well kept, even more important is having a reliable Portland area janitorial service to keep your office clean and sanitary.

While employees can keep their own area clean and be responsible for organization, you need a trusted, professional service to keep your office in the best possible condition for your employees to be at their best.

A commercial janitorial services company will do the heavy lifting necessary to keep a well run organization firing on all cylinders, including

They’ll make sure your office is sanitary and pristine so your business can run smoothly and be the best it can be.

 

Hire a Janitorial Services Company That’s Served the Community for Over 5 Decades

Cascade Building Services has been cleaning office and commercial spaces in the Portland area for over 50 years. Nobody know office cleaning and janitorial services like we do. Offering service 24 hours a day, 365 days per year, we’re sure to have a solution that will work for your business.

We can help promote a productive and clean culture for your business. Contact us today to learn more about what we can do for you.

Clean Office

How To Create a Cleaning Schedule for Your Office

by AdviceUncategorized

When you’re running a business, it’s easy to forget office cleaning duties. While you’re busy hustling through projects, dust is accumulating on your desk, dishes are stacking up in the sink, and crumbs are gathering on the floor.

An unclean office is not only unsightly, it’s unhealthy. Your employees are less productive and your business isn’t making a good impression. Not to mention the safety and sanitary concerns!

The best way to combat workplace uncleanliness is to create a cleaning schedule for your office. It may sound like a daunting task, but creating a cleaning schedule is simply about managing your needs and making a plan.

There’s a lot to consider in creating an office cleaning schedule. Here are a few tips to get your started from the professionals at Cascade Building Services.

What Type of Cleaning Services Do You Need?

Every business is different. Office cleaning needs vary by business too. The first step is to figure out what kind of cleaning services you need and how often. For example, janitorial services are often performed nightly, while carpet cleaning may only happen occasionally.

Here are a few common cleaning services for office buildings:

  • Janitorial Services
  • Carpet Cleaning
  • Floor Maintenance
  • Property Maintenance
  • Recycling
  • Window Cleaning

Janitorial Services

When many business owners think of cleaning services, they think of janitorial services. Janitorial services include cleaning floors, windows, desks, kitchens, bathrooms, and more. Most janitorial services also include basic property maintenance, like light bulb replacement or limited plumbing work.

Carpet Cleaning

Most business owners view carpet cleaning as a hassle, but experts say it should be done twice a year. Make sure your cleaning provider uses a non-toxic cleaning agent and a low-moisture system. With this approach, your carpet can be dry in as little as two hours. You can even schedule your carpet cleaning on a weeknight without missing a beat.

Floor Maintenance

Floor maintenance is about more than mopping or sweeping. Proper floor maintenance can boost your company’s image and help you avoid costly flooring replacements. Floor maintenance providers not only remove dirt buildup from your floor, but also restore and protect your floors from future damage.

Property Maintenance

If you’re a hands-on business owner, you might not mind getting your hands dirty. That doesn’t mean you should! When it comes to property maintenance, it’s best to leave the dirty work to the professionals. Grounds maintenance, electrical work, plumbing, and more can be outsourced so you can focus on your business.

Recycling

Just because your area or building doesn’t offer recycling pickup, doesn’t mean your business is out of luck. Commercial recycling services make it easy for your business to go green. Especially for companies with a lot of paper needs, recycling is a great way to reduce your trash bill and help the environment. Plus, your cleaning provider can help you comply with local regulations.

Window Cleaning

Is it dark outside or do your windows need cleaning? Professional window cleaning removes grime from office windows without leaving streaks or smears. Window sills, tracks, and ledges need to be cleaned too.

Cleaning Schedule Considerations

There are a few specific considerations you should make before you create an office cleaning schedule.

Company Size

How big is your company? Both small and large companies need cleaning services, but their needs and schedules will look different based on size. It’s likely that a business with only a handful of employees will need a less ambitious cleaning schedule than a larger company.

Typical Output

In addition to the amount of cleaning required, it’s also important to identify the type of output that requires cleaning. Does your office generate a lot of paper? Cardboard boxes? Food waste? Be sure to take your output into consideration when scheduling a cleaning service.

Seasonal or Quarterly Events

Some offices hold occasional events that can affect the cleaning services needed. Such events could include meetings, parties, workshops, networking events, and more. Any event that brings in more people than usual will typically create the need for more cleaning than usual.

Consider whether the events you hold are sporadic one-time events, or more regularly scheduled. Be sure to adjust your cleaning schedule accordingly and let your service provider know in advance.

Safety & Sustainability

Not all cleaning products are created equal. For your safety and the safety of your employees, we recommend using non-toxic cleaners. Harsh chemicals can be harmful to you and the environment. Make sure your cleaners are using safe, healthy products that are free of allergens too.

What Areas of Your Office Need Cleaning?

Most business owners don’t realize just how much space they have that needs cleaning. Office cleaning goes far beyond tidying desks and taking out the trash!

All of these common office areas need regular cleaning:

  • Private Offices
  • Employee Workstations
  • Bathrooms
  • Kitchens, Lunchrooms or Breakrooms
  • Reception & Customer- or Client-Facing Areas
  • Conference Room

Pay special attention to customer- or client-facing areas. Nothing blows a first impression quite like a dirty workspace. Also, don’t forget areas like kitchen and bathrooms require extra care for health and safety.

How Often Should You Schedule Office Cleaning?

As you can see, your office cleaning schedule is determined by a variety of factors. Take your own circumstances into consideration to create a cleaning schedule that’s right for your business.

Offices commonly schedule cleaning at these frequencies:

  • Nightly
  • Weekly
  • Biweekly
  • Monthly
  • One-time visit

Large office buildings likely need nightly cleaning services, while smaller business might be able to get away with scheduling cleaning as needed. Work with your cleaning service provider to come up with a schedule that suits your needs.

What Time Should You Schedule Office Cleaning?

It’s not common for a cleaning company to work during business hours. The last thing you need is the sound of vacuums while you’re trying to work! That’s why cleaning companies hold flexible hours.

For example, Cascade Building Services is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Typically office cleaning is done during the evening, night, and weekends. It’s really about what’s most convenient for you and your business.

Take The Next Step: Get A Quote

No matter how you create a cleaning schedule for your office, the first step towards making it happen is to get a quote.

You can get a free, no-obligation quote from Cascade Building Services today. If you’re located in the Portland or Vancouver metro areas, we’d love to show you how we can help with all your office cleaning needs.

If you have any questions about creating a cleaning schedule for your Pacific Northwest business, give Cascade Building Services a call at (503) 850-0710. We’re here to help!