The Oregon Refuse & Recycling Association wants Portlanders to know that trash bills could go up for the average household with the introduction of food composting and the cutback to every other week trash pickup. The city of Portland maintains the bill for most homeowners will not increase, with more food trash going to recyclable scrap pails.  Full story »

Portland Mayor Sam Adams mentioned the possibility of using Big Pipe money to pay for miles of new bike paths. Dean Marriott, who directs the Bureau of Environment Services, says that won't happen. But his people are meeting with the mayor's people in transportation to come up with some funding solutions.  Full story »

SOLV, formed as part of a statewide anti-littering campaign, finds a new director in longtime Oregonian Melisa McDonald. Full story »

Steep program cuts, employee wage freezes and the new motor vehicle registration tax appear to have averted Multnomah County's potential budget crisis and should lead to a stabilization of the county's finances over the next five years, according to a new budget office report. Full story »

Two conservation agencies are partnering to teach a free course in rainwater harvesting in urban and rural settings, as well as collection, storage and distribution of stormwater runoff. Rainwater systems for safe drinking also will be included, and participants will be briefed on how to install a rain garden to absorb and filter stormwater runoff.  Full story »

A new online map shows you which of your neighbors has installed solar panels and solar hot water heaters in the Portland area, and let's you assess your own property's solar potential. The interactive aerial map -- at oregon.cleanenergymap.com -- doesn't give addresses. But it shows government offices, businesses and homes that have gone solar. Full story »

Blessing of the Bikes Dressed in a white cassock and standing next to his bicycle, Thomas Gornick chuckled when asked why anyone would bother getting their bike blessed. He'd heard the question before. Theologically speaking, it was a softball. "Some call it superstitution," said the deacon of St. Mary's Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Northwest Portland. "But it's not." Full story »

With another Earth Day behind us, it's beyond obvious to point out that my generation is going to have to do a better job taking care of the environment than generations past have done. It's not that past generations haven't noticed that there are problems. Full story »

Crater Lake National Park will receive an energy-efficient heating system and historic buildings in the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument will be repaired with Oregon's share of a $750 million stimulus package for national parks announced Wednesday. The $1 million channeled to the state will also pay for projects at Lewis & Clark National Historical Park and the... Full story »

Local Earth Day events in Oregon take place Wednesday and continue throughout the week. Highlights include the Oregon Zoo's "Party for the Planet!" (April 26) and Wednesday's events at the Oregon Coast Aquarium. Disney's Earth opens in theaters today. The documentary is rated G. Full story »

Here's how I'm getting around on Earth Day: A trike. That's right. It's time to come out of the garage: I bought an adult trike two weeks ago. Three wheels, one speed and a big ol' cargo basket in the back. How's that for a midlife crisis in Portland? Full story »

Oregon has always been a national leader on the environment, but Earth Day should serve as an important reminder that we cannot afford to grow complacent. Right now, we face serious environmental challenges. From the Willamette to the Malheur, every major river in Oregon fails federal and state water quality standards for at least one contaminant. Full story »

Today in America, there seems to be only one question: How do we rebuild our economy? But on this Earth Day, many changemakers are asking a different question: Does the downturn finally present the opportunity to restore our economy based on new principles -- principles such as regional energy, food, building and banking, all for the benefit of community,... Full story »

Today is Earth Day, a good time to consider eco-friendly options for taking care of your pet. There are a lot of alternatives to ecologically harmful pet supplies, said Christine Mallar, owner of Green Dog Pet Supply in Northeast Portland. And many of them save you money. Full story »

Earth Day 2009 A funny thing happened on the way to financial collapse: Oregon landfills started receiving less and less garbage. It's not because people are recycling feverishly or because new strict regulations have clamped down. It's because there's less garbage -- likely the result of slowdowns in consumer spending, consumption and manufacturing.  Full story »