PORTLAND, Ore. — Residents of a Southwest Portland neighborhood say they have reached a breaking point over what they describe as a chronic and worsening waste management problem. Community members at Slavin Court townhomes, a property managed by Home Forward, report that dumpsters and public trash cans frequently overflow, creating an eyesore and, they fear, a health and safety hazard.
Overflow Extends Beyond Dumpsters
Neighbors told KATU that the trash problem is not confined to disposal areas. Overflowing garbage often spreads into communal spaces, including a neighborhood playground.
“When I come outside to get fresh air and there is garbage everywhere, it’s just disturbing and sad,” said resident Angela Santana.
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For parents, the stakes are higher. Kamica Edwards Armenta, who has a 2-year-old daughter, said she constantly worries about her child’s safety.
“I would say it becomes a safety hazard to me because I have a 2-year-old, and she’s always playing on the playground, and there’s just a whole bunch of trash flying everywhere. Of course, the little kids grab the trash and take it over there, so I feel it’s very unhealthy.”
Other residents echoed these concerns, saying the problem goes beyond inconvenience and has created conditions for pests.
“I had to have an exterminating company come out because the rats are coming from there,” said Brenda Gillilan. “Most recently I saw maggots crawling around.”
Residents Describe Longstanding Issues
According to several neighbors, the problem has persisted for years but has recently escalated to the point where they feel unsafe. Some said they have grown frustrated that despite repeated complaints, meaningful change has not come.
“This is kind of a chronic situation that’s been going on for actually years, but it seems to have reached a point now where we’re seeing rats and maggots,” Gillilan explained. “I’ve reached out to Home Forward, especially with this recent situation, and it just seems to be getting worse.”
Home Forward Responds
Home Forward, the housing authority that manages Slavin Court, acknowledged the complaints and said steps are being taken.
According to Ian Davie, chief operating officer at Home Forward, trash hauling currently occurs three days per week. However, officials say part of the problem stems from people outside the community using the dumpsters or dumping trash nearby.
“It is frustrating that this has impacted our residents and the neighboring community,” Davie said in a statement. “When we learned of the issue, we took immediate action to increase onsite presence by our property manager and maintenance staff, to pick up the grounds and address related impacts. We also remain in contact with residents to better understand the impacts on the community.”
Still, some residents believe the problem lies not only with outsiders but also with how trash is being handled internally.
“I know it gets piled up quick, but even then, I feel like it’s unnecessary that people put garbage outside of the dumpster even when it’s not full,” Santana said.
Frustration With Waste Management
Another layer of frustration involves Waste Management, the company contracted to haul away trash. Residents allege that workers often collect only what is inside the dumpsters, leaving surrounding overflow behind.
“They don’t take the trash that’s around the dumpster,” Edwards Armenta said. “So that trash stays until they come again, but it gets full, so we have no choice but to put trash around the dumpster, which is unsafe to the kids too.”
In practice, this means piles of garbage often sit for days, until property staff or residents clean it up themselves.
“I do know that there’s been times that the apartment manager, like the maintenance, I think it is, they’ll come up and kind of clean and pick stuff up. I’ve even done it. I just did it a minute ago, even just picked up some garbage along the way while I’m taking out my own trash,” Santana said.
Calls for Accountability
Neighbors say they are tired of temporary fixes and want long-term accountability. Some believe clearer communication between Home Forward, Waste Management, and residents is critical.
“Everybody has to be involved in this, to be able to keep it clean and feel somewhat safe,” Santana added.
Gillilan agreed, saying it is not enough to simply increase pickups or send maintenance out occasionally.
“This has been chronic, and unless there’s consistent accountability, the situation will just come back. It’s unhealthy, and it makes us feel like our concerns aren’t being taken seriously.”
Broader Context: A Citywide Problem
Davie noted that improper trash disposal is not unique to Slavin Court. “As KATU has reported in the past; improper trash disposal has been a chronic issue in our city, although it has gotten better,” he said. “It’s just unfortunate that this happened at one of our properties.”
Across Portland, illegal dumping and overflowing trash bins have become recurring community concerns. City officials have pointed to challenges such as rising service demands, misuse of public trash bins, and a lack of education around waste disposal practices.
Still, residents at Slavin Court argue that their situation stands out because of the direct impact on families, particularly children, who live and play near the overflowing dumpsters.
What’s Next for Residents
Community members say they are cautiously optimistic that Home Forward’s increased efforts may help, but many remain skeptical until they see consistent results.
“I just want to feel safe when I take my daughter out to play,” Edwards Armenta said. “It shouldn’t be too much to ask that the place where our kids live and play is free from garbage and pests.”
For Gillilan, the issue comes down to dignity. “Nobody should have to live like this, surrounded by trash. We just want to feel like our voices matter.”
Conclusion
The garbage overflow at Slavin Court highlights the ongoing tension between residents and property managers over accountability, communication, and long-term solutions. While Home Forward and Waste Management say they are working to address the problem, neighbors continue to call for urgent action to restore safety and livability to their community.
Until the issue is resolved, residents say they will keep speaking up — because the health and well-being of their families depend on it.
