The Metro regional government is scrutinizing the work of a prominent Portland disposal company it hired to sustainably manage garbage and recycling from the Oregon Convention Center after determining the hauler dumped more than 17 tons of plastic in a landfill even though it was supposed to be recycled.
That company, City of Roses Disposal & Recycling, has drawn accolades in the Portland area for its environmental efforts and its significance to the community as a Black-owned business. But it has also recently faced scrutiny for work on several government projects tied to Metro, Multnomah County and the city of Portland.
Metro is also evaluating whether the business is following other regulatory rules, officials have said. Metro is both the local regulator for commercial recyclers and a major customer for City of Roses, awarding the company roughly $5.5 million in contracts including its work at the convention center…