013The port recently conducted tours of its facility with two groups committed to environmental stewardship. On March 27, the port hosted 40 members of the Northwest Environmental Business Council; and on May 5 hosted 40 members of the Washington State Recycling Association. Both groups enjoyed bus tours led by members of the port’s environmental team.

Each group toured the port’s terminal with special stops at stormwater ponds where runoff is treated. The port treats 99 percent of its runoff, removing oils and metals, before discharging clean water into the Columbia River. Participants learned about the Grattix, a compact and efficient filtration system developed at the port to treat roof runoff of port buildings at downspouts, and visited one of the largest biofiltration systems in the world located at the port’s Terminal 4. The groups also toured the port’s Centennial Industrial Park and the adjacent 154-acre wetland mitigation bank, which was created to ensure responsible development in our watershed.

The Northwest Environmental Business Council is a non-profit trade association that works on behalf of its members to promote industry and the environment as a whole. Its members cover a wide variety of disciplines including engineers, contractors, scientists, lawyers, insurers, financiers, architects and business support professionals.

The Washington State Recycling Association organized a port tour as part of their 34th annual conference and trade show at the Vancouver Hilton. The Association was formed in 1976 to support recycling industry and promote recycling in the state of Washington.

Visit Know Your Port for information on how your group can schedule a port tour.