Re-Imagine Earth Day Celebration has all the ingredients for fun and learning
By Daniel Hiestand
Lane County Waste Reduction Outreach Coordinator
Art, performers, games, learning, and food.
These are the ingredients of the inaugural “Re-Imagine Earth Day Celebration (RIED)” on April 13 from 2-6 p.m. at the Eugene Farmers Market Pavilion.
The RIED event is “a free, family-friendly celebration and one-stop shop for learning about—in fun and engaging ways—what our local organizations, businesses, and others are doing concerning sustainability,” said Mitra Gruwell, a local sustainability advocate spearheading the event.
It’s been over a decade since EWEB’s last Earth Day Celebration in Eugene, which brought together public agencies, nonprofits, and entertainment to help the public learn how to live more sustainably.
This new event—co-organized by Materials Exchange Center for Community Arts (MECCA), BRING, Shift Community Cycles, the City of Eugene Waste Prevention, and Waste Wise Lane County—is a manifestation of Gruwell’s vision.
She said she was inspired by her experiences with the Eugene Pride Festival and attending the Association of Oregon Recyclers (AOR) conference.
“We hope to channel the Pride Festival atmosphere, where everybody feels welcome to celebrate, engage, and discover,” Gruwell said. “The AOR conference is an inspiration because it’s where those in the sustainability sector get together to learn about what we’re all doing.”
To help fund the event, Gruwell also received a grant from the Eugene Downtown Program Fund Grant and funding from the Lane Council of Governments.
Emily Reynolds, director of education and outreach with BRING, said RIED isn’t just about awareness—it’s about action.
“We encourage attendees to engage with hands-on activities, ask questions, and connect with local sustainability leaders,” Reynolds said.
While the event is technically not on Earth Day (April 22), Gruwell said the event’s aim is to help people live more sustainably every day, not just on Earth Day.
“First and foremost, we hope people have a blast,” Gruwell said. “Folks can come with their families and friends and have a memorable experience shopping for sustainable services and locally made products, eating from local food carts while using reusable dishware, and learning through play about all the cool things our local organizations are doing.”
Learn more at wastewiselane.org/earth. We hope to see you there!
Waste Wise Tip: Mattresses can now be dropped off for free
Just in time for spring cleaning, residents in Lane County now have access to a growing network of mattress recycling options that include free drop off for residents—all thanks to a new Oregon state law. In Lane County, residents can drop off mattresses at SVdP’s recycling facility (1770 Prairie Road, Eugene), Glenwood Transfer Station (3100 E. 17th Ave., Eugene), and SVdP’s thrift stores in Florence and Cottage Grove free of charge. Find more locations and learn more—including about program restrictions and guidelines—at byebyemattress.com/oregon.
Waste Wise Lane County, a part of the Lane County Waste Management Division, seeks to empower residents, businesses, and schools with resources to reduce waste and live sustainably.
