Rethink Waste Project

We are Deschutes County’s one stop shop for local tools and resource to reduce waste at home and work Visit www.RethinkWasteProject.org to learn more.

The Rethink Waste Project provides the tools and resources you need to help you reduce waste – and rethink the way you think about waste. From learning easy ways to reduce waste at home, such as composting and simple non-toxic alternatives, to purchasing greener products and understanding what it means to buy local, we can all take steps towards the same goal: reduce, reuse, recycle, and rethink.

10/04/2024

Check out tomorrow's costume swap for a more sustainable way to celebrate this spooky season! Deschutes Public Library 🎃

Costume Swap and Share Share a costume, find a costume.

Repairing is Caring | The Environmental Center

10/05/2023

Check out our latest blog with stories from our last Repair Café in Redmond this summer, and details about our event next week in Sisters!

Repairing is Caring | The Environmental Center How does repair fit in with sustainability? Over the weekend, I found myself in Sisters enjoying one of my favorite of their annual offerings, the Sisters Folk Festival. While there,…

Photos from The Environmental Center's post

08/07/2023

06/07/2023

The next round of Community Innovation Fund applications are due Saturday, July 1st. Learn more about this opportunity at envirocenter.org/community-innovation-fund

💡Have you been Rethinking Waste (but need some support getting started)? Apply for the next round of the Community Innovation Fund (CIF) by Saturday, July 1st and we can help you get your idea off the ground!

Whether you have an established program that needs support, or a brand new idea that requires a first investment, we are here to help. CIF is a funding program that supports individuals, businesses, and community organizations throughout Deschutes County advance projects that aim to reduce, reuse, recycle, compost waste. The Environmental Center also provides support to help successfully plan, implement, and evaluate projects.

Questions? Visit envirocenter.org/community-innovation-fund or contact Rethink Waste Program Manager Udara Abeysekera Bickett ([email protected])!

03/30/2023

Take action today! Support Right to Repair to address a large piece of our problem with electronic waste and throw-away culture!

03/30/2023

Five reasons why the Oregon legislature should pass Right to Repair We rely on our cellphones and computers to work, learn, stay connected and more. When our device breaks, we need to be able to fix it for a reasonable price.

03/27/2023

URGENT LEGISLATIVE CALL TO ACTION FOR RIGHT TO REPAIR (SB 542) AND PLASTICS (SB 543! - https://mailchi.mp/oregonrecyclers/registerforaprilforum-4858825 We need your support TODAY to pass SB 542 and SB 543!

03/27/2023

Oregon Senate Bill Would Allow Reusable Food Containers at Restaurants SB 545 heads to Oregon House

Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: Make Your Voice Heard at the State Capitol. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.

03/08/2023

Join us this afternoon to learn about bills that reduce waste at the source and how you can get involved!

Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: Make Your Voice Heard at the State Capitol. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting. Learn about our priorities that will help us decarbonize our community during the 2023 legislative session in Oregon. This event will include training on how to write an effective testimony or letter to legislators, give you time to write and workshop, and ask questions of our expert coalition partn...

02/02/2023

Have you been rethinking waste, but need some support to get started? Apply today for the 2023 Community Innovation Fund!

This grant program through The Environmental Center's Rethink Waste Project has seen some exciting growth this year, including an expanded budget and the ability to accept applications year-round, reviewed on a quarterly basis!

We will be hosting our first informational session on this program on Tuesday, February 7th from 1-2pm. In-person and virtual attendance are both available.

Learn more at https://envirocenter.org/programs/rethink-waste-project/community-innovation-fund/

01/25/2023

There are so many ways to reduce plastic pollution this year. We can legalize reusables, place a ban on foam in foodware, increase the right to repair, and make certain that producers engage in source reduction. On behalf of Central Oregon, we hope that tackles plastic pollution this session and votes yes on SB543, SB544, SB542, and SB545.

Learn more about our priorities in this upcoming legislative session by following along here on social media, in our newsletters, and on our website!