Reuse Bend: Coming Soon!

reusable container with reuse bend on it

In August, we shared our plans to bring reuse to Bend through an initiative we called Reuse Bend. We mentioned applying for a Reduce, Reuse, Reimagine Materials Management grant from Oregon DEQ (Department of Environmental Quality).

We are so excited to announce we received the full requested grant and will be launching Reuse Bend in the next few months!

Reuse Bend’s goal is to help move Bend (and Central Oregon) from single-use serviceware to reusables in the food service sector. We plan to do so through two related initiatives:

  1. To address takeout, we’ll be launching a reusable container program (similar to Rogue To Go).
  1. To address on-site dining at food cart lots, a particularly tricky piece due to limited facilities, we aim to pilot a reusable dishware program at a food cart lot.

The grant provides funding to implement both initiatives over the next two years (through March 2027), and we can’t wait to get started. During our preliminary research and outreach, we conducted a survey to gather community input (still open!), and we also met with a few food cart and lot owners.

Starting in March, we’ll be conducting outreach to food service businesses, partner groups, and community members. We are looking forward to hearing from all interested parties, with a goal to launch our reusable container program with 10 participating eateries in June.

Here are a few reasons we’re excited for this project:

  • 🗑️ Save 10,000 single use containers PLUS one dump truck per week
  • 🥡 Eliminate PFAS, micro-plastics, and contaminants from our food
  • 💰 Businesses save on container cost w/ each meal
  • ✊🏽 Collections & dishwashing – keeps resources within the community
  • 🌲 Keep litter and microplastics out of our parks, forests, and waterways
  • ✈️ Model sustainability as a visitor destination
  • ⚡Changes systems to help shift culture

On a personal note, this has been an idea I’ve had for a few years, and it’s a dream come true to be able to bring it to life with the help of this grant. I’m excited to work on a project that has a very real, tangible impact in the community I love, and I believe there’s so much potential for this to create the systems change and culture shifts we need to mindfully use materials. We are so grateful to DEQ and all the project supporters for this opportunity!

A closer partner, Deschutes County Solid Waste, also shared their support of the project:

“Deschutes County is committed to waste prevention programs and recognizes the significant impact the Reuse Bend pilot project can have and the potential to expand this program within other cities in Deschutes County. We have an on-going partnership with The Environmental Center for waste prevention and waste reduction programs and know this pilot project presents a tremendous opportunity to reduce single-use waste in the foodservice sector.”

Work on the project will begin in March, with an expected public launch of Reuse Bend around June, just in time for restaurants and food trucks’ busy summer season. Food service businesses, or groups and individuals that are interested in participating, can reach out by email to kavi@envirocenter.org.


Other supporters shared:

City of Bend

“As a local government committed to climate action and waste prevention, we recognize the significant impact that this program can have if successful and eventually scaled up throughout the community. Shifting to reuseables in the food service sector provides a waste reduction benefit and also encourages behavior change and improves awareness about waste prevention to a broad swath of our community. This culture change has rippling impacts toward greater waste reduction behavior across the community, which will help the City meet its climate action goals.”

Cassie Lacy, Senior Management Analyst, City of Bend

Beyond Plastics Deschutes County

“This initiative, allowing consumers to purchase reusable containers and exchange them at participating eateries, is a huge step in tackling the reduction of plastics, and will make a significant impact in plastic and waste reduction in our community. Furthermore, this will set the stage for further plastic reduction initiatives and help the city of Bend achieve its Community Climate Action Plan goals.”

Sincerely the members of the Beyond Plastics Deschutes County Affiliate group,

  • Shari Harris-Dunning
  • G. Andrew Dunning III
  • Dr. Anne-Marie Eklund
  • Nancy Engelhard
  • Ansley Dunning

Interconnected Diversity LLC

“This funding for the reusable takeout container program is an incredible opportunity to ignite the curiosity, creativity, and collaboration our community is so capable of, while addressing some of the systemic barriers to these needed changes.

The implementation of this project will not only help prevent waste, but the visibility of reusable containers at the cart lot and throughout our community will amplify awareness of sustainable practices more broadly. This pilot program has the potential to be an awesome catalyst for many of the urgent changes we need for a healthier future. 

We’re eager to support TEC in this important work in any way we can.”
– Erika M. Miller, Founder, Interconnected Diversity LLC

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