Greening What We Build and Maintain
Of course TriMet is more than vehicles. We build and maintain infrastructure such as tracks and signals; customer amenities such as shelters and platforms; and maintenance facilities that keep the wheels rolling. We strive to do it all with careful concern for the environment and the community.
Building it green
TriMet's Interstate MAX Yellow Line project, completed in May 2004, used innovative construction practices that made TriMet a national leader for building an environmentally sensitive light rail project. They not only helped protect the environment, they saved $3 million in construction costs. TriMet's current projects use similar practices. More.
Keeping it green
Solar powered bus shelter lighting
Solar-powered lighting systems harness the sun's energy, providing greater visibility and safety at dark bus stops. They reduce both the initial costs and the ongoing expense of providing power to shelters, and are environmentally friendly. By the end of FY 2008, TriMet will have installed over 200 such systems at well-used sheltered stops where direct power connections are impractical.
Recycling at TriMet facilities
TriMet staff are always looking for opportunities to reduce, reuse and recycle at our facilities. This not only reduces the amount of waste we produce, it reduces the cost associated with disposing it and cost of buying new materials.
Starting in 2007 this approach was formalized into TriMet's Sustainability Coordinators, a network of environmental advocates at each of our facilities. Comprised of mechanics to office staff, these Sustainability Coordinators agree to undergo training and serve as the key contacts at their facilities regarding sustainablility and environmental efforts. This network has helped TriMet step up an already successful recycling program.
In addition to the bottles and cans, printer paper and cartridges, computers, monitors and other electronics generated from our offices, the efforts of the Sustainability Coordinators are also enabling TriMet to successfully recycle or reuse a wide range of materials from our maintenance facilities, including:
- motor oil—re-refined off-site for reuse
- oil filters—burned for energy recovery and the metal recycled into rebar
- antifreeze—recycled for reuse
- paint and other chemicals—inventoried materials recycled or disposed offsite
- paint thinner—recycled on-site for re-use in our body and paint shop
- non-hazardous parts cleaning solvent—re-refined with used oil
- bus and train washwater—reused and then treated to remove oil and grime
- shop towels—laundered off-site and re-used
- scrap metal—recycled into other metal products
- aerosol cans—punctured and recycled as scrap metal
- small device batteries—recharged on-site or recycled
- large bus and train batteries—sent back to manufacturer and recycled
- light bulbs, tubes and ballasts—metals are separated from glass and both recycled
- tires—recycled into other rubber products
- wooden pallets—refurbished and reused or recycled, depending on condition
- corrugated cardboard—recycled into new cardboard
- shrinkwrap and bubblewrap—reused on-site
