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Rethink Waste

Tools and resources to reduce waste at home or work!

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Rethink Waste Announces 2022 Community Innovation Fund Recipients

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Recycling Information

Recycle Right!

Wasted Food and Composting

Learn More on Organics

The 2022 Rethink Waste Community Innovation Fund Has Been Awarded!

Read our latest blog post to learn about the 2022 recipients and their impactful waste-reducing projects.

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3 Actions to Rethink Waste:

1.) Milk and ice cream cartons, paper cups go in the trash.

Paper products designed to hold wet stuff have a plastic lining and can’t be recycled in your curbside carts in Deschutes County. Find out more about what is and isn’t recyclable!

Recycle Right!

2.) Save money by wasting less food.

Did you know 25% of the average household’s food ends up in the trash? That’s 1/4 of your food budget: wasted food is wasted money. Sign up for our free Rethink Food Waste Challenge to learn more tips on how to waste less food.

More on the Challenge

3.) Opt-out of single-use extras in your take out.

Yes it’s hard during COVID, especially when you see the ground littered with masks and your trash can full of take out containers. But by asking for no condiments or silverware in your take out, you’re doing your part.

Home Reduce Tips

Schedule a Rethink Waste Presentation

Interested in scheduling a free Rethink Waste presentation about waste prevention including food waste reduction, recycling right, best reduce practices for your workplace, current events, or more? Virtual presentations are available! Please contact for more information.

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Rethink Waste Guide

Do you have your copy of the Rethink Waste Guide for Deschutes County? It has the tools and resources you need to help reduce your waste and rethink your relationship with stuff. Learn about composting, using nontoxic alternatives, and buying local. And take steps toward a community-driven goal: reduce, reuse, recycle, and rethink.

RW Guide

Bienvenidos a la Guía de Rethink Waste!

“Rethink Waste” traducido al español significa reconsiderar los desechos. La guía Rethink Waste le ayudará a hacerlo. En ella encontrará las herramientas y los recursos que necesita para ayudar a reducir desechos y reconsiderar su relación con las cosas. Aprenda sobre el compostaje, uso de alternativas no tóxicas, hacer compras locales. Tome los pasos que lo dirijan hacia un objetivo comunitario: reducir, reutilizar, reciclar y reconsiderar.

La guía

Waste prevention and reduction education for Deschutes County residents.

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 paying attention to your purchasing habits and understanding what it means to buy local, we can all take steps towards the same goal: reduce, reuse, recycle, and rethink.

In partnership with:

Deschutes County
Republic Services
Cascade Disposal
Wilderness Garbage and Recycling

Rethink Waste Announces 2022 Community Innovation Fund Recipients

July 15, 2022

The Environmental Center’s Rethink Waste Project is thrilled to showcase the recipients of the 2022 Community Innovation Fund (CIF)! CIF is a funding program that supports individuals, businesses, and community organizations throughout Deschutes County advance projects that aim to reduce waste right here in Central Oregon. Fields Farm & Spider City Brewing will initiate a […]

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From Bend, Oregon to Katmai, Alaska

July 6, 2022

The Future of Youth Education at TEC Youth Education has been a key pillar of The Environmental Center for over 30 years. In the years to come, we aim to continuously strengthen and diversify our offerings for Central Oregon youth to fit their needs. After all, we understand that youth are the future stewards of […]

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Not sure what to do with items that aren't collected curbside? Think before you throw anything away. Use the search boxes below to find local businesses that reuse and recycle a wide variety of stuff.

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