A trash-packed garbage can in downtown Portland, Ore., pictured on Thursday, October 11, 2018. Mayor Ted Wheeler has announced an initiative that aims to make Portland the cleanest city in America. (Gordon R. Friedman/The Oregonian)

BY GORDON R. FRIEDMAN

The Oregonian | OregonLive

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler pledged Thursday to expand trash pickup from downtown sidewalk receptacles to every day of the week, the first concrete proposal under his new initiative to make Portland the nation's cleanest city.

“I know we can get there,” the mayor said, speaking during an event at Director Park.

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Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler pictured in downtown on Thursday, October 11, 2018. (Gordon R. Friedman/The Oregonian)

Andrew Hoan, chief executive of the Portland Business Alliance, said Downtown Clean & Safe, a business-funded downtown cleanup district, will double its commitment to buy additional trash cans for the district, bringing the number to 200 new cans at a cost of $300,000.

Hoan and Wheeler said they understand residents’ clear demand that downtown streets and sidewalks be cleaner. “We heard your challenge,” Hoan said. “Challenge accepted.”

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Andrew Hoan, chief executive officer of the Portland Business Alliance. (Gordon R. Friedman/The Oregonian)

Wheeler noted Thursday that Portland is growing fast, its economy is booming and its population is diversifying. “That’s all good news. … The bad news is growth comes with growing pains,” he said.

One symptom, he said: more garbage.

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A Portland Patrol officer pictured Thursday, October 11, 2018 in downtown Portland. (Gordon R. Friedman/The Oregonian)

There are staggering numbers to back that up. Workers who roam the Clean & Safe District collected more than 2.6 million pounds of garbage last year. An even more startling figure: Nearly 350,000 needles were removed from downtown streets.

Installation of the additional garbage cans and seven-day trash collection are scheduled to happen by April 2019, Hoan said. Six-day trash pickup began this week, Wheeler said.

– Gordon R. Friedman

Have a tip about Portland City Hall? Contact Gordon: GFriedman@Oregonian.com.