My favorite job? Working for this sustainability-focused government agency

Also in this section:

• Compost giveaway, hazardous waste events lined up
• Volunteers needed for Eugene Vintage Fest Fix-It Fair
• Springfield Spring Cleanup May 16
• Sustainable Fashion Month seeks local business partners
• Slow Food South Willamette rolling out events
• Volunteers invited to join Walama Restoration Project for two May events
• Cut it out: No Mow May returns
• Shift Community Cycles hosts fundraising event
• May is Bike Month
• Apply for an electric mobility grant today!
• 'Full' newsletter transitioning to every other month
• Frontlines: Q & A with Sweet Springs Family Farm

I've had a pretty mixed career so far—newspaper reporter, English teacher abroad, entrepreneur, nonprofit fundraiser. But honestly? My favorite job is the one I have right now as Lane County’s Waste Reduction Outreach Coordinator.

I get to talk with people about waste prevention, sustainability, and all the little things we can do to take better care of our community. I also meet a lot of interesting folks along the way. It feels good to live out the idea of “leave the campsite better than you found it,” both at work and at home.

One thing I’ve learned is the great value Lane County Waste Management provides the community at relatively limited cost. For starters, our services are not funded by taxes. Everything we do is supported by tipping fees—the disposal charges paid by residents and garbage haulers. Even better, our tipping fees are still among the lowest in Oregon.

About half of each fee goes to the System Benefit Fee (SBF), which makes some pretty important services possible. Thanks to the SBF, residents get free household hazardous waste disposal, access to 15 transfer stations across the county, and recycling education that helps everyone make better choices.

And here’s what really makes me proud: this work isn’t about profit. It’s about service. The people here truly care about this community (like the Waste Wise Lane County team, pictured). I’ve seen firsthand how much good is being done by neighbors, for neighbors.

Lane County Waste Management is not perfect, but I can confidently say the reason the people work here is to serve the people who live here. In many ways, I don't think I could work for another business striving to make our community more sustainable.

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Compost giveaway, hazardous waste events lined up

Lane County Waste Management is rolling out some great events in the coming weeks, including our final scheduled free compost giveaway. Join if you can.

Free Community Compost Program  | Saturday, May 9 | 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Where: Community Sharing Program  | 1440 Birch Ave., Cottage Grove

Come prepared with shovels, buckets, tarps and anything else you need to transport compost! Free compost events will supply bulk compost (unbagged) to Lane County households, up 1 cubic yard per household, while supplies last. This work is supported by the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production’s Composting and Food Waste Reduction Cooperative Agreements, project award no. 2024-70510-41981, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Florence Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events  | Friday, June 5 (9 a.m.-2 p.m.) & Saturday, June 6 (8 a.m.-2 p.m.)
Where: Florence Transfer Station | 2820 N. Rhododendron Dr., Florence | Cost: Free

For folks in and around Florence, save a trip to Eugene and drop off your household hazardous waste materials closer to home! Many common household products contain hazardous ingredients. Anything with a caution label such as "Danger," "Warning" or "Caustic," can become a pollutant to groundwater and streams. Avoiding these products saves money and protects people, wildlife and our environment. Batteries will also be accepted at these events.

Learn more at on our June 5 and June 6 Facebook events pages. This material/event/work is based upon/supported/funded by the Department of Energy under Award Number DE MS0000075.

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Join City of Eugene Waste Prevention and Founded Vintage for a free Fix-it Fair on May 17 at the Farmers Market Pavilion and Plaza (85 E 8th Ave, Eugene) from 12-4 p.m. Bring your broken items and let technicians repair them at no cost. Repairs will include the following categories:

• Clothing

• Textiles

• Leather accessories

• Jewelry

• Upcycling activity

The Springfield Spring Cleanup returns on Saturday, May 16, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at EcoSort (3425 E. 17th Ave., Eugene).

Springfield residents living within city limits are invited to take part in this free recycling event. This is an opportunity to get rid of bulky and hard-to-recycle items all in one place. From scrap metal and lumber to furniture and appliances, propane tanks, TVs, and computers, you can bring it all in one trip.

New this year: drop off your household medications and prescription drugs and household batteries. Review the full list of accepted and prohibited items.

Volunteers invited to join Walama Restoration Project for two May events

Get on your work and hiking boots and join Walama Restoration Project for some important projects in the coming weeks.

Invasive Weed Removal | Saturday, May 23 | 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Where: Alton Baker Park | 200 Day Island Rd, Eugene

A volunteer work party to remove invasive weeds and put up bird perches in rock pile habitats. Join volunteers at the north end of Knickerbocker Bike Bridge (search Walama Restoration Project Site in Google Maps). Tools, instructions, and refreshments provided, but bring water and dress for the weather. Email [email protected] for more information or to RSVP (appreciated but not required). 

Citizen Scientist Monarch Butterfly Surveys | Saturday, May 30 
Where: Willamette National Forest
 
Volunteers will survey milkweed meadows for monarch butterfly activity in the Willamette National Forest in the northernmost part of their western migration range. The event is an all-day commitment, including a carpool with meeting points in Eugene and Oakridge, and a moderate to difficult hike to each meadow. Reach out to [email protected] with questions or to RSVP (required). 

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Cut it out: No Mow May returns

No Mow May is one of the easiest ways to help the environment–letting wildflowers like daisies, dandelions and clovers grow while supporting bees and butterflies. Even small wild patches add up to make a huge difference to nature.

Pledge to join and get your FREE No Mow May Guide for top tips and tricks and the wildflowers and pollinators to keep an eye out for at the No Mow May website.

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Shift Community Cycles hosts fundraising event

Shift Community Cycles takes bike donations from the community in any condition, and refurbishes as many as possible to keep bikes out of landfills. It also donates bikes to community members via partner organizations, including 200 donated to local kids in 2026.

Its many programs directly impact hundreds of families in Lane County to make cycling safe, supported, and woven into everyday life. The nonprofit is hosting a fundraising event in early June.

Chain Reaction: A Community Catalyst Event | Friday, June 5 | 6-9 p.m.
Where: 190 W 8th Ave, Eugene

Chain Reaction: A Community Catalyst Event will raise funding for Shift's next phase of growth, and help Shift find a permanent programming home.

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May is Bike Month

Bike Month showcases the many benefits of biking and invites more folks to give it a try. Organized by the Lane Council of Governments, community members are encouraged to get out and ride for fun and exercise as well as for essential errands and trips throughout May.

Don’t have a bike? PeaceHealth Rides bike share is offering a free month of riding for new and existing riders. Learn more all the happenings at webikelane.org.

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Apply for an electric mobility grant today!

EWEB is pleased to announce that it's now accepting applications for the 2026 Electric Mobility Community Grant.

Are you a non-profit, academic institution, or public organization pursuing an electric mobility project for the Eugene community? Do you know an agency that is? If so, EWEB wants to help.

Grant funding is available for projects aiming to help increase awareness, infrastructure, and adoption of electric mobility in the EWEB service territory. The application period for the 2026 Electric Mobility Community Grant program closes on Friday, July 31.

EWEB will provide three (3) grants. Funding awards will be up to $30,000 each to cover up to 100% of the costs of electric mobility projects. Funding can be used to cover the costs of planning, promoting, or deploying electric transportation infrastructure, technology, awareness, vehicle purchase, or lease. Projects must be executed and deployed in the EWEB electric service territory.

Projects must be completed within 12 months of the award notification. For questions, contact Rachel Best at [email protected] or by calling (541) 685-7103, or visit the grant information page.

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'Full' newsletter transitioning to every other month

One final note: I've decided I'd like to get out from behind the computer a little bit more and into the real world, so I've decided the full version of the newsletter (that includes all the normal elements, like "Recycled Content," "The Frontlines," the theme quiz, "Theme Reads," and "3.5 Percent") will come out every other month. So the next full newsletter will come out in July.

In the other months, I'll focus on sharing community partner news so you can stay in the know. So you'll still get a monthly email.

Onward!

Are you enjoying the newsletter? Are there topics you'd like us to cover? Please share your thoughts with us at [email protected]. Thanks for reading.