Empowering Visitors to Rethink Waste Like a Local in Deschutes County
Insights From A Pilot Project With 4 Lodging Destinations
Deschutes County has over 4.3 million visitors annually! That’s a lot of extra people practicing a variety of reduce, reuse, and recycle habits from around the world. In 2021-2023, The Environmental Center’s Rethink Waste Program set out to learn what it takes to set visitors up for success to reduce, reuse, and recycle like a local. After a series of focus group discussions with tourism industry professionals conducted the previous year, we invited tourist destinations across Deschutes County to participate in a pilot project aimed at putting waste reduction and recovery education and infrastructure to the test.
We offered the four pilot sites – all a variety of lodging destinations – tailored recommendations based on their unique relationships with “stuff” and existing waste practices and challenges. We also provided up to $1,200 of technical assistance funds to implement the strategies they selected based on our list of recommendations. And this is how it went…
Tetherow Resort
Visit their site here!
Activities
- Replaced single use makeup wipes with reusable washcloths
- Updated recycling do’s and don’ts signage
- Trained 10 staff members on why we rethink waste and recycling do’s and don’ts
Impacts & Observations
- If each unit was used every day, it would result in approximately 116,000 makeup wipes reduced per year
Interesting Tidbits
- This property had a unique approach to collecting redeemable bottles and cans that included a note about their donation program in partnership with a local non-profit organization. We’ve included this as a recommendation in our Guide to Rethinking Waste at Lodging Destinations.
The Bird’s Nest Airbnb
Visit their site here!
Activities
- Placed a recycling bin with recycling do’s and don’ts guides in a more central/visible location of the Airbnb
- Labeled bins in the collection area, including a “No Glass” label on the commingled bin
- Established reusable to-go kits including water bottles, food containers, ice pack, and cooler
- Removed liners from the countertop compost bins
- Established a “Bottle Drop” collection bin
Impacts & Observations
- Once rentals continue, projected impacts include:
- Eliminate liner contamination from compost
- All visitors exposed to recycling do’s and don’ts
Interesting Tidbits
- This property was already far ahead of the game with their waste reduction and recovery practices. There is potential to partner with the site to reach the local Airbnb community with recommendations on waste reduction and recovery practices.
Mt. Bachelor Village Resort River Ridge I & II (MBV)
Visit their site here!
Activities
- Distributed over 80 mixed recycling bins with recycling do’s and don’ts guides attached to River Ridge I & II units
- Placed recycling do’s and don’ts guide poster in all 3 garbage and recycling collection areas
- Trained 7 on site Sustainability Team volunteers on recycling do’s and don’ts
- Promoted proper recycling through on site social events, newsletters and HOA meetings
Impacts & Observations
- All 3 collection area users and visitors in 80 units are exposed to recycling do’s and don’ts
- All visitors in the 80 units now have accessing to mixed recycling collection – this equates to an estimated capacity of 260 gallons to divert waste from landfill to recycling each year with heavy participation in the spring/summer months
- Collection area users report cleaner and tidier collection areas
- Plastic bags and beverage cartons, primary contaminants in the recycling carts in pre-audit, were significantly reduced as contaminants in the post-audit
Interesting Tidbits
- Near the start of the pilot project, a Sustainability Chairperson role formed with the HOA. Participation in the pilot seemed to move more quickly with a role dedicated to project implementation.
- The pilot project has generated interest in four other MBV communities to implement similar recycling infrastructure and educational resources on site. MBV is now on track to expand their initial efforts to the Ski House community as well as the Townhomes at MBV which includes 212 units.
Campfire Hotel
Visit their site here!
Activities
- Established 5 recycling stations throughout the property
- Trained 10 staff members from maintenance, checkin, and housekeeping teams on recycling do’s and don’ts and conducted a hands-on waste audit
Impacts & Observations
- All Campfire Hotel visitors now have access to recycling plastic bottles and aluminum cans and glass on the property – with an estimated capacity of 420 gallons to divert waste from landfill to recycling throughout the property’s common areas
- Of all stations, the “cans only” bin with a round opening, exhibited the least contamination. It was also beautifully designed and built by staff!
Interesting Tidbits
- After the first pass at recycling stations accessible to visitors, the site got more specific with bin labels that now include images and differently shaped lids to reduce contamination – all while staying with the site’s camping aesthetic.
- Campfire Hotel is also working to add recycling education to online resources.
A Guide to Rethinking Waste at Lodging Destinations
This Guide to Rethinking Waste at Lodging Destinations is a compilation of the waste reduction and recovery strategies observed, recommended, or tested as part of this pilot project. This Guide is full of tips and resources to help property owners and managers across Central Oregon set visitors up for success to reduce, reuse, recycle, and compost like a local!
This Rethink Waste Tourism Pilot Project was conducted in partnership with Deschutes County Solid Waste, Visit Central Oregon, and participating lodging sites. Cascade Disposal and Republic Services also supported data collection and implementation related to this project.
Thank you, Doc!
Once the pilot projects were completed, we had the opportunity to recognize each site’s participation with this beautiful upcycled signage created by Tim “Doc” Burnett, local maker and president of the High Desert Makers!
