Advocating to Modernize Oregon’s Recycling System

April 19, 2021

Modernizing Oregon’s Recycling System (SB 582 – 9): Overview Oregon has an outdated recycling system that leads to public confusion about what can and cannot be recycled, and consequently, high rates of contamination. The system also places too large a burden on local communities for the end-of-life costs of materials. This bill would finally apply […]

Advocating for the Right to Repair

Right to Repair (HB 2698): Overview If you can’t repair your own things, do you really own them? In a time of planned obsolescence where stuff is made to be broken, this bill will empower repair rather than disposal by requiring manufacturers to provide us with the tools and manuals we need to fix our […]

Chasing Arrows Symbol: what does it mean?

People know it as the “universal recycling symbol”. But guess what? It does NOT mean “recyclable”. The ubiquitous chasing arrows symbol doesn’t mean that something is recyclable?? What? I know. Crazy, right? It was a brilliant deceptive campaign introduced by the petroleum industry. The truth: The number inside the chasing arrows symbol is something called […]

Free Yard Debris Drop off: Spring 2021 Fire Free Weeks!

April 12, 2021

During a wildfire, most homes are lost when falling embers smolder and ignite vulnerable areas around homes. Reduce the risk of losing your home to wildfire and take advantage of FREE yard debris disposal at local collection sites. Recycle your needles, leaves, branches and brush for FREE! Grass clippings, brush, plant prunings, pine needles, pine […]

Green Spotlight: Rugged Thread

March 29, 2021

Repair!! It’s the key to a circular economy, y’all. In this day and age with planned obsolescence being the norm for everything from our cell phones to our appliances to our CLOTHING, we want to use our money to buy quality items that have more durability and combine that with excellent repair options. Never heard […]

Should I Choose the Carton or the Jug?

March 23, 2021

So many choices… how do I make the best decision? Shopping in our modern supermarkets, there is a packaging decision in every aisle. We want to make the choice that is the best for people and the planet, but how are we supposed to know? Milk: carton or plastic jug? Pasta: box or plastic bag? […]

2nd Annual Rethink Waste Community Grants: $7,000 Awarded!

March 10, 2021

Four organizations / businesses have won a grant from The Environmental Center’s Rethink Waste Community Grants Program to support waste reduction efforts in four categories: increased diversion through recycling, expanded reuse, education in single-use waste reduction, and finally increased food waste diversion through composting. During this time of COVID, waste has been a tough topic […]

Thoughts on Recycling with Terracycle

March 2, 2021

A common question we get at Rethink Waste is what about TerraCycle? Why doesn’t The Environmental Center sign up to get some collection boxes for hard to recycle items such as candy wrappers and Keurig cups? I thought it would be good to address this in a post for everyone to see. Bottom Line: Yes, […]

5 Reasons You Should Pay Attention to Plastic

March 1, 2021

Everyone should care about plastic. It’s true the stuff is a miracle to human health — plus it’s cheap for us to buy as individuals. However, plastic has a dirty, negative side in that it’s also terrible for human health, global finances, and is a bane to our environment. The manufacturing, existence, use, and disposal […]

Your favorite shirt: new life when it’s beyond repair.

Although there may be some places in the world where textiles recycling exists, the sad truth is that Deschutes County isn’t one of them. The ubiquity of fast fashion combined with the lack of responsible disposal options for textiles means clothing has a large environmental impact. Once clothes are in our closet, the best thing […]