At City of Roses Disposal & Recycling (COR) we are firm believers in going big or going home. We set lofty goals, not just for our company, but for ourselves, and for the city we call home. That’s why we are excited about our new partnership with Providence Park and the Portland Timbers. Our new contract to be the official waste and recycling partner for this organization checks all the boxes as an opportunity for us to showcase our current abilities, and to reach beyond to find ways we can do even better. 

The goal set for this partnership is to not only reduce the waste stream from events at the stadium but to also have Providence Park become a catalyst for creating more sustainable event venues across the country. While stadiums, in particular, are some of the largest waste generators, the plan is to eventually put in place the processes and practices that lead to fully closed-loop, zero-waste generation. When you consider all the plastic cups, cans, food waste, paper, and unique items such as confetti, those big styrofoam hands, and ticket stubs, the scope of this undertaking is quickly apparent. But we’re not deterred by the challenge.

And neither are our partners. As a leader in environmental stewardship, Portland is a prime location to launch this effort and Providence Park already has policies in place to help limit its environmental impact. Leftover concessionaire food is donated to local charities, cooking oil is recycled, and food scraps are composted. There are 90 recycling bins located throughout the park, and restrooms are stocked with automatic towel and soap dispensers to minimize waste. In fact, Providence Park itself is a certified LEED Silver building meaning it is recognized globally for its sustainability achievement. 

Providence Park is to be commended, but we know there is more to be done. Having a closed-loop waste management program in place would mean no waste ends up in a landfill. The stadium is approaching this, but is not quite there, which is where we come in. COR will initially use its Portland-based Material Recovery Facility and Transfer Station for waste management and recycling. We will also research innovative ideas and options such as converting the food waste generated at the stadium into feedstocks for composting and other beneficial uses and finding ways to repurpose or recycle some of the materials that currently land in the trash. 

We may have been brought into this partnership to find waste management solutions, but there’s more to it. Our new partnership affords us the opportunity to work towards a better environment, and it also gives us a chance to work within an industry that is so critical to bridging the many things that divide us. Sporting events level the playing field because we all come together to cheer on “our team.” We share the same goal of winning, the same respect for the players, and the same love of the game which brings us together, even if just for a couple of hours. COR understands that finding that common ground is just as important as cleaning up the environment, and in fact, those two things work in tandem. 

Through our new partnership, together COR, the Timbers, and Providence Park hope to keep the waste stream from events out of overburdened landfills and to also collectively continue to build a community where everyone is welcome.