Eco Experience

In order to rethink food waste, we have to remember that food is a valuable resource. Many people on our planet and in our community do not have enough food to eat. When we throw food away aka waste our food, it contributes to methane production in our landfills. Methane is almost 25% more harmful in our air than co2! And, it wastes money.

Now is a great time to rethink our connection to our food and where it comes from. You and your family may choose to kick food waste to the curb! If you subscribe to trash service in Eugene, food waste can be added to your yard debris bins. Home composting has never been easier! Pick out a countertop food waste container and give it a try!

Give it a try!

Visit the City of Eugene's Love Food Not Waste site for more information about curbside composting.

REFUSE what you do not need.

It's okay to say "no, thank you" when someone is offering you something you don't need, a "freebie". It's also good to say "no" to yourself after thinking "huh...do I really NEED this?"

REDUCE what you need.

Let go of things that are no longer of use and donate or sell. Focus on necessary purchases. When we reduce what we purchase and what send to the landfill aka "away", this helps the solid waste stream a lot!

REUSE what you consume.

Switch from single use items to reusable and permanent alternatives.

Top 5 easy items to reuse: water bottle, reusable hot drink cup, reusable cold drink cup with reusable straw, utensils and napkin, shopping and produce bags.

RECYCLE what you cannot refuse, reduce or reuse.

Recycling is NOT the go-to solution for waste reduction. Many items cannot be recycled unless they are clean and accepted in our local waste stream-otherwise they are trash.

ROT (compost) the rest.

Compost your own household waste or take part in curbside composting in your yard debris bin.

More tips, Ecogeneration, Garbage Guru

Save your food from going to waste!

Take the Challenge!

Start by making small changes in the way you shop for, prepare and store your food. Check out Lane County Eat Smart, Waste Less for tips on how to shop with meals in mind, prep now and eat later, keep it fresh, eat what you buy, and measure your wasted food.

And, click here to learn about other ways to be be Waste Wise.

BRING invites K-12 students to submit new products made out of salvaged building materials to our annual Student Product Design Challenge. Four $250 prizes will be awarded, including one People's Choice award, and winning products will be on display in the BRING gallery space this summer.

Registration ends April 30, and space is limited.

More info and materials: https://bringrecycling.org/school-product-design-challenge/

Through the Shift Campaign, the City of Eugene and its partners will communicate small but impactful ways to lower our carbon footprint through everyday actions. The Campaign will cover a wide range of topics from shifting your ride, to eating a plant-based meal, to buying used. These actions will not only lead us towards more sustainable living but may even save us money!

The Shift Campaign is a partnership between the City of Eugene and the Eugene Climate Collaborative Partners (4J and EWEB are partners.)

Coming soon: SHIFT Eco Challenge for Earth Day.

Call for art submissions from students!

Shift-Act-Create-Share

April 22-May 21

-Shift- Choose a Shift. Small shifts, make a big difference.

-Act- Take action-shift a habit to make a change. Spend at least two weeks making your shift into a new habit

-Create-Draw, paint, collage, sculpture, public service announcement, poetry, spoken word, a song, a dance, an invention-You.do.you. Be creative.

-Share-submit your creation via photo, video or mp4 and a short paragraph about the habit you shifted and how your art represents your shift and a wish for the planet.

All submissions will become part of a Virtual Gallery.

All entrants will be entered into a drawing for prizes donated by local businesses.

More info soon!

Earth Day Lesson-Spanish

Kahoot-Spanish