Working to Make Our Community Cleaner and Greener

Our Partners in Sustainability & Waste Reduction

Central Oregon Locavore has collaborated with the Environmental Center
on two impactful projects funded by their
ReThink Waste Project’s Community Innovation Fund

Container
Reuse Program

2021

Central Oregon Locavore used the Community Innovation Fund in 2021 to launch a Container Reuse Program. This program encourages customers to re-use glass jars and plastic containers for bulk purchases that can then be returned to Locavore to be sanitized and re-used again. They were able to eliminate single-use plastic tubs and divert approximately 600 plastic containers annually.

We used the funds from the Rethink Waste Community Grant to purchase and install a dishwasher this allows us to:

  • Sell bulk items including food, herbs, and even cleaning products
  • Reducing packaging waste and cost for producers and customers through bulk sales
  • Sanitize jars for our Jar Reuse Program – a program where customers can reuse a jar we’ve sanitized for a $1 deposit

Agricultural Packaging
Repurposing Program

2023

Our outdoor storage shed known as the Ag Shed is used to decrease waste and repurpose packaging. Here we store reusable packaging for local farmers to reuse versus going to the landfill. This not only reduces waste but simultaneously saves local farmers and ranchers significant expenses.

  1. Packaging Repurposing:
    1. Egg Cartons – Our egg farmers reuse egg cartons that are brought in from customers to collect and transport their eggs to Locavore.
    2. Waxed Produce Boxes – Waxed produce boxes are stored in the AG Shed for local farmers to reuse for bringing their produce for Locavore to sell.
    3. Paper Pints – When customers bring in paper pints, we put these in the AG Shed for local farmers to reuse.
  2. 24hr access to the packaging by all farmers, ranchers, and vendors to better fit their schedules and increase participation in the repurposing program.