About COR

COR History

Our Story

In 1996, our founder Al Simpson realized his dream of starting a sustainable waste company. After working for the City of Portland for over a decade, Al wanted more. Taking a risk, he took out a second mortgage on his home to fund the company’s first roll-off waste truck.

At that time, there was only one other black-owned waste disposal company operating in Portland. Feeling that the industry lacked diversity, Al formed City of Roses Disposal and Recycling. His mission was simple, to grow the business and provide people of color careers with real advancement opportunities.

1992

Company Timeline

Problem Solving

At the age of 37, Al Simpson begins working for the City of Portland's maintenance bureau operating a roll-off truck used to collect and transport street debris to Metro’s Transfer Station. After years of witnessing a lack of diversity in the waste industry, Al begins entertaining the idea of solving that very problem.

1995

Company Timeline

Humble Beginnings

With only one roll-off truck and a dumpster, Al Simpson founded City of Roses Disposal and Recycling and begins hauling waste for a variety of clients.

2005

Company Timeline

Laying the Foundation

After a decade of blood, sweat and tears, Al begins flirting with the idea of developing his own recycling facility in order to support the growth of the company. Al successfully acquires a 2 acre site where business operations can be consolidated and the process of developing a recycling facility begins.

2014

Company Timeline

Dreams into Reality

After 5 years of planning and navigating the permitting, regulatory, zoning and land use requirements, COR is formally authorized and permitted to operate its first ever recycling facility on April 1st, 2014.

2018

Company Timeline

New Opportunities

Growing pains begin to foster new challenges for COR. After spending two years developing a growth plan, COR pursues its next opportunity, a larger facility. Upon choosing a new 12 acre site, including a 100 sq ft. building, COR moves its entire operation to a facility that would end up playing an important part in Portland recycling history.

2019

Company Timeline

Making History

In August of 2019, COR’s Transfer Station becomes the first privately owned transfer station to be permitted in the City of Portland and the first in the nation to be fully owned and operated by African Americans.

2020

Company Timeline

New Horizons

COR wins the bid on the newly enacted East Portland Public Trash Can Collection Contract. The five year contract allows COR to provide collection service in East Portland - the same community that houses COR’s Transfer Station and Recycling Facility.

Our mission is to DIVERT WASTE from landfills. Reducing the waste that goes to our landfills has several positive benefits for our society.

Making a Difference

+Cleaner, safer neighborhoods.
+Higher efficiency in the use of our resources.
+Savings in the cost of waste management due to the reduced amount of the waste that is disposed.

Certified B Corporation

Certified B Corporations are businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. B Corps are accelerating a global culture shift to redefine success in business and build a more inclusive and sustainable economy.

“This is a community of leaders, driving a global movement of people using business as a force for good.”