Locally, the urgency around safe battery collection is clear: Lane County’s Short Mountain Landfill experienced 49 lithium battery thermal events in 2025, up from 34 in 2024. These events pose serious safety hazards for workers, can damage critical infrastructure, and increase operational and environmental risks.
 
To address the growing problem, Lane County has been expanding its battery safety and collection efforts on multiple fronts.
 
In 2023, Lane County Waste Management secured a $1.02 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to pilot curbside battery collection, expand convenient drop-off locations, and educate residents about safe battery handling and disposal.
 
Since then, the County has also conducted a countywide survey to better understand residents’ battery knowledge and disposal practices and helped advance new statewide legislation requiring battery manufacturers to fund and manage a statewide battery recycling program beginning in 2029.
 
Public education is another important part of the effort. Most recently, on Oct. 3, County staff and volunteers hosted an interactive battery safety event at Jerry's Home Improvement Center in Springfield, where residents learned how to safely prepare batteries for collection, including properly taping battery terminals. Younger visitors also participated with battery safety coloring sheets and other educational activities.
 
Together, these efforts are aimed at a simple but important goal: keeping batteries out of garbage and recycling streams, protecting workers and infrastructure, and giving residents safer, more convenient options for managing used batteries.
Learn more about safe battery storage, preparation and disposal at batterysafetynow.org.

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Inaugural Im(Perfect) Food Faceoff caps Food Waste Prevention Week

Chef Garrett Kirsch of Seasoned was officially crowned the winner of the first Im(Perfect) Food Faceoff, held Oct. 3 at the Eugene Farmers Market Pavilion. Chef Garrett narrowly topped Chef Kathryn Nordgren of Sun River Brewing Company in a deliciously close competition.

Chef Kathryn ended up winning the "People's Choice Award."

The wildly talented chefs raced the clock to turn perfectly good—but less‑than‑perfect‑looking—ingredients from Lane County Farmers Market vendors into creative, mouthwatering dishes, demonstrating just how much potential there is in food that might otherwise go to waste. 

James Beard semifinalist Isaiah Martinez—chef and co-owner of Yardy Rum Bar—kept the competition lively as an emcee, engaging the chefs and the crowd throughout the event. And when the clock stopped, attendees got the best part: tasting the chefs' creations.

This event was presented by Waste Wise Lane County and the City of Eugene Waste Prevention, with support from a grant from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, as part of local Food Waste Prevention Week activities.

A big thank-you also goes out to the Lane County Farmers Market and the Eugene Farmers Market Pavilion for providing space; Burrito Brigade for coordinating the food competition; Fossil Free Eugene for supplying induction burners; and BRING for crafting a one-of-a-kind upcycled trophy for our first (Im)Perfect Food Faceoff champion.

The competition may have crowned one winner, but the message was something everyone could take home: good food doesn't have to look perfect to taste amazing.

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Arbor Day in October: Oct. 17 Japanese kokedama moss ball workshop

Contact: Britte Kirsch
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: (435) 729-0554

The City of Florence Environmental Management Advisory Committee (EMAC) is partnering with the Siuslaw Public Library and Mapleton-based Grow Closer Nursery to host “Arbor Day in October” on Saturday, Oct. 17, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.  
Participants will learn about the importance of trees and native plants while creating their own kokedama, a traditional Japanese moss ball planter, to take home. The event is open to everyone and is best suited for participants ages 6 and older, although younger children are welcome to attend with a parent or caregiver.
 
Reservations are available at ci.florence.or.us/376/Arbor-Day, and space is limited to 20 participants. This partnership brings together local organizations committed to environmental education and hands-on learning, and EMAC will provide educational information about trees and native plants.

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Camas Planting Volunteer Day on Oct. 17

Contact: Casper Riordan
E-mail: [email protected]

Walama Restoration Project is hosting a volunteer camas planting event at Alton Baker Park, at the North end of the Knickerbocker Bike Bridge, on Saturday, Oct. 17, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. This is part of a multi-year effort to restore this meadow alongside community members and student groups.
 
Walama Restoration Project will provide tools, refreshments, and instructions, but volunteers are encouraged to bring water and dress for the weather! All ages are welcome.
 
Reach out to [email protected] for more detailed directions or with other questions. RSVPs appreciated but not required. 

 

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Slow Food South Willamette Fundraiser at Capitello Wines on Oct. 24
 
Contact: Vanessa N. Salvia
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: (541) 337-1531
 
Looking for a delicious way to support the local slow food movement? Join Slow Food South Willamette for a fundraiser on Oct. 24 at Capitello Wines (540 Charnelton St., Eugene) from 5-8 p.m. Choose from three pizzas to benefit Slow Food South Willamette! Order one of these pizzas and Pizzeria DOP will donate the proceeds to Slow Food South Willamette.
 
Pizzas include:

• Margherita – tomato, basil, and mozzarella
• Bosco – wild mushrooms, garlic, and smoked mozzarella
• Three Meat – Sausage, salami, and pancetta.

Other menu items will also be available. Capitello will offer a free glass of wine to attendees as part of the fundraiser. Slow Food South Willamette will also have wine and other items available for a raffle. While there, enjoy the acoustic guitar music of Ken Luker, who plays a variety of folk, country, blues, jazz, and rock styles.

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New carton recycling program to start at Siuslaw Elementary School
 
Contact: Britte Kirsch
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: (435) 729-0554
 
Siuslaw Elementary School in Florence is gearing up to implement a new carton recycling program starting this month. Under the new Recycling Modernization Act guidelines, cartons (i.e., milk cartons) are now recyclable in the commingle carts, so students have set up a special dump and recycle station in the cafeteria to recycle over 500 cartons per day instead of throwing them away.
 
The 4th Grade “Viking Leaders” will manage the program and provide education and support to encourage student participation. Thank you to County Transfer and Recycling (CTR) for providing the additional recycling carts and pickup dates to make the program seamless and efficient.

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Rethink Business Program helps drive statewide green business investment
 
Contact: Robin Henry
E-mail: [email protected]
 
BRING’s Rethink Business program is rooted here in Lane County, but its impact is helping extend green business support across Oregon. Through BRING’s leadership in the Oregon Stewardship Business Network, Rethink Business worked alongside partner agencies across the state to administer the second round of their Green Business Grants program, supported by Green Business National Network and Intuit, the maker of QuickBooks.

Together, the network distributed $39,279 in rebates to 37 Oregon businesses for energy-efficiency and electrification projects. Those investments are expected to save participating businesses more than $30,000 annually, reduce energy use by 104,703 kWh and 1,382 therms each year, and prevent an estimated 87.64 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually.

The statewide results demonstrate how the expertise and partnerships developed through Rethink Business in Lane County can help catalyze broader investment in sustainable business practices—connecting businesses with resources that lower costs while reducing environmental impacts.

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