BEND, Ore. — The Environmental Center’s Rethink Waste Project in Bend has received a significant boost with a $125,000 grant from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to fund its Reuse Bend initiative. The grant is part of the DEQ’s competitive Reduce, Reuse, Reimagine Materials Management program, which distributed a total of $1.2 million to 14 recipients across Oregon.
The Reuse Bend initiative, which focuses on diverting reusable materials from landfills and promoting sustainable practices within the community, will now receive the maximum grant amount of $125,000. The funding will help implement the project over the next two years, with the goal of reducing waste and increasing the local reuse economy in the Central Oregon region.
The DEQ’s Reduce, Reuse, Reimagine program aims to encourage innovative solutions to waste prevention at all stages of a product’s lifecycle — from production and consumption to use and disposal. The program received a record 110 applications this year, with 14 projects selected based on their creativity, community impact, and potential for long-term sustainability.
Haley Miller, Grants Coordinator at the DEQ, expressed the importance of supporting such initiatives. “The grant program supports statewide efforts to reduce the environmental and human health impacts of materials,” said Miller. “Our team has been hard at work reigniting a program that can more effectively invest in community solutions to the environmental, social, and health impacts caused by production, consumption, use, and disposal of materials.”
The Environmental Center’s Rethink Waste Project has long been an advocate for sustainable waste management practices. Through the Reuse Bend initiative, the project aims to further its mission by providing local resources, education, and infrastructure to help residents and businesses reduce waste and keep reusable materials circulating in the community.
“Receiving this grant allows us to expand our efforts and make a tangible difference in how we manage materials here in Bend,” said Sarah McClung, Director of the Environmental Center’s Rethink Waste Project. “Our initiative will help reduce landfill use and encourage people to think differently about what can be reused and repurposed.”
The Reuse Bend project is set to launch later this year, with plans to implement new programs, partnerships, and community outreach efforts aimed at promoting waste reduction and reuse across Bend and Central Oregon.
As communities across the state continue to grapple with the growing waste crisis, programs like Reuse Bend offer a hopeful vision for a future where materials are thoughtfully managed, and environmental impacts are minimized. With the support of the DEQ’s Reduce, Reuse, Reimagine grant, Bend’s Rethink Waste Project is poised to be a model for other communities looking to make a lasting impact on sustainability.
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality is a state agency committed to protecting the environment and public health. Through a variety of programs and initiatives, DEQ works to reduce pollution, conserve resources, and encourage sustainable practices throughout the state.
The Environmental Center is a nonprofit organization based in Bend, Oregon, dedicated to advancing sustainability and environmental stewardship in the community. The Rethink Waste Project is a key initiative aimed at reducing waste, promoting recycling, and encouraging a circular economy through education, advocacy, and innovative programs like Reuse Bend.
