We’re Celebrating 10 Years of Repair Café!

January 13, 2023

In 2013, we hosted the first Repair Cafés here in Central Oregon. Have you ever been to one of our Repair Cafés? Repair Cafés are held all around the world, and connect people with broken stuff to people who like to fix stuff. Repairing with other people saves natural resources, prevents waste, and cultivates community. […]

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“Green Drinks” Celebrates Latinx Heritage Month With Upcycled Piñatas!

October 10, 2022

2022 has been exciting, as we have been able to get back to gathering in-person for our various events: Earth Day, the Green Tour, Power Hour, and one of our favorites — the Green Drinks series! Green Drinks is an international concept that brings people together to learn about sustainability efforts. Here in Central Oregon, […]

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A Virtual Twist on Repair Café

November 9, 2021

The Environmental Center’s Rethink Waste Project coordinates with an amazing group of volunteer fixers to host Repair Cafés every few months. These free events connect people with broken stuff to people who like to fix stuff – they’re all about repairing things together. Stuff like, jewelry, small appliances and electronics, outdoor gear, clothing, and more. […]

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Guess what we found at the Play Forever Mountain Clean Up!

October 5, 2021

Last weekend, The Environmental Center’s Rethink Waste Project partnered with the Mt. Bachelor Play Forever Mountain Clean Up to educate volunteers on proper waste sorting. We designed a waste sorting station that was integrated into the clean up. Volunteers picked up their grabbers, gloves, and reusable burlap bags at check in. They took the ski […]

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Petal Painting: DIY Watercolor Paints

September 10, 2021

Do you have flowers in your garden or a special bouquet beginning to wilt and whither? Let’s give those beauties another life by creating our very own, low-waste watercolors! Take this opportunity to soak in the season and colors changing all around us. Want to petal paint with us? Join us at the Welcoming Week: […]

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Rethinking Waste – Music Festival Edition

August 31, 2021

Earlier this month, our team partnered with Mini 4 Peaks to Rethink Waste – music festival edition. In collaboration with festival organizers and vendors, we worked to eliminate single use food packaging, set up ample waste sorting stations with educational signage, and coordinated a volunteer recycling crew. The result: 61% of waste diverted from the […]

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Microplastic Madness Local Panel Discussion

May 4, 2021

The Environmental Center and Bendfilm teamed up to bring you a panel discussion related to the film Microplastic Madness in honor of Earth Day 2021. The film Microplastic Madness is an optimistic take on the local and global plastic pollution crisis as told through a refreshing urban youth point of view with an inspiring take […]

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Rethink Food Waste: Preparing Parts and Pieces

If you didn’t get a chance to join us for our virtual event on Monday, May 3, you’re in luck! We have a recording available for you to watch at any time. We hope you enjoy it! We trimmed out the Life of a Strawberry video (2 min) at minute 8:55 due to copyrights, but […]

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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 […]

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Recycle your Holiday Tree

December 28, 2020

As our Deschutes County Knott Landfill continues to fill up (it is anticipated to be full by 2029), we want to do our best to keep what we can out of it. And that includes your holiday tree! Trees can be turned into compost or mulch for reuse rather than rotting and decomposing into methane […]

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