Waste Prevention and Composting Education Grants

• Waste prevention and composting education grants were awarded to 4J and Bethel schools in the 2018-19 school year to help create opportunities for hands on learning and measurable educational outcomes for local students. Information about these grant funded projects can be found here:
  • Cesar Chavez Elementary
  • River Road/El Camino del Rio Elementary
  • Shasta Middle School
  • Kalapuya High School

Eugene 4J and Bethel School District Support

• Waste Prevention Curriculum was implemented by 4J and Bethel District personnel. Final report-out of 4J activities can be accessed here; Bethel activities can be accessed here.
• Highlights of waste prevention and food waste diversion in each district can be accessed here.  
• Operational assistance through the Love Food Not Waste (LFNW) program and school-wide waste audits: download the LFNW school training manual here.
• Waste Prevention and science based conservation including STEM learning resources can be found here at 4J’s EWEB Education Partnership website!

School Garden Project of Lane County

• School Garden Project  (SGP) instructed 921 K-5th graders for a total of 8,530 hours of garden-based STEM instruction in thirteen schools in Bethel and 4J. Additionally, 106 students from 6 schools participated in 107 after-school STEM sessions through the 4J BEST program, totaling 874 hours.
• Utilized 9.25 cubic yards of Love Food Not Waste compost in school gardens in 2019-20 thanks to partnership with Rexius.
• View videos of SGP’s work through this link.
• Highlights of SGP’s work (PDF download) can be accessed here.

University of Oregon $CORE Program 

• In partnership with City of Eugene and EWEB, the 9 trained $CORE Program Student Energy Educators from the UO School of Architecture performed energy assessments on 152 homes and provided home energy reports to tenants and property owners.
• $CORE assessed property owners completed 9 energy efficiency projects representing a total of $43,337 invested. Since assessments for the program began in January of 2017, a a total of $147,824 in energy efficiency improvements have been made, saving tenants 18,226 kWh per year.
• View a report on the energy assessment work performed by $CORE here.

OSU Extension Services

• Did you know that over 52% of Eugene households backyard compost?
• OSU Extension in Lane County provides free compost demonstrations for community members at a variety of sites in Eugene.
• View their demonstration schedule (downloadable PDF) to learn how to get your own compost system up and running!
• Learn more about composting in Lane County from this video.