Deveron Musgrave is the Waste Prevention & Green Building Program coordinator for the City of Eugene and spoke to us about the City’s efforts to support sustainability at events and in local businesses by providing resources and infrastructure.

  • Since 2008 and the Olympic Track & Field Trials, Eugene has created better programs for large event waste management. These programs focus on three ideals: be healthy, build community and reduce impacts.
  • At recent events, the city supported an interactive app about sustainability. It involved a scavenger hunt & learning about Eugene’s efforts for sustainability. Participants earned a medallion made from re-purposed old growth redwood from the old seats at Cuthbert Amphitheater.
  • At the World Junior Championships, 5 tons of waste was diverted.
  • At these events, there are many partnerships involved like Habitat for Humanity, Nike, Bring, University of Oregon, etc. in order to make the programs work.
  • At the 2016 Track event, there was free water available to replace bottled water.
  • Three events over the past several years were certified through the council for responsible sport, including the Evergreen level of certification, which was very significant.

Love Food Not Waste

  • The Love Food Not Waste program diverts food waste from businesses away from the landfill.
  • A residential pilot has launched, also.
  • Food waste in landfills creates methane and composted food waste grows more food and helps the soil. Some local schools have programs that use the compost for greenhouses.
  • The service is provided through garbage companies and the containers are provided (at a reduced rate). The material is composted at Rexius or processed to create biofuel at JC BioMethane.
  • You can sign your business up for this program here.
  • There is composting education/curriculum in many schools throughout our area.
  • The residential pilot is a two year pilot program that began in 2016.
  • Most every food is acceptable including meats and oils.
  • You can buy the compost at Bi-Marts and a percentage of the sales goes back in to the education programs.
  • This program isn’t meant to replace backyard composting but provide a solution for those that don’t.

Click here to read a KVAL article on the residential program.