Four recycled tin cans on a wooden table labeled “REUSE,” “RECYCLE,” “ROT,” and “REPAIR,” holding colored pencils, yellow marigold flowers, and assorted hand tools.
LOSN’s Waste Reduction Action Team promotes education and events focused on buying, using, and managing our materials – the things we buy, use, and throw away – responsibly.

We help our community figure out how to practice the 5Rs:

  • Rethink – Critically rethink our consumption habits. Evaluate whether we truly need a product, whether alternatives exist, and the environmental and social impacts of our purchases

    Rethinking shifts the focus from automatic consumption to mindful consumption.
    Questions to ask: Do I really need this? How many times will I use it? Can I use what I already have? Will this product hurt the environment or the animals (e.g., glitter)? What happens to it when I don’t need it anymore?
  • Reduce – Reducing consumption is the most effective way to lower waste and preserve natural resources. This includes avoiding purchase of single-use items, buying only what you need, and selecting durable, long-lasting products.

    Buying secondhand further reduces demand for new production, and lowers the environmental impact of extraction, manufacturing, and shipping.
    Questions to ask: Can I borrow, share, or rent it? Can I get it second hand instead of new? Is there a reusable
    option, even if it takes a bit more effort to care for or costs a little more?
  • Reuse – Extend the life of products by learning how to properly use and take care of them. Follow care instructions, wash and handle items gently, air-dry clothes instead of using high heat, and use items multiple times.

    We can also repurpose or adapt products for different needs instead of discarding them.
    Questions to ask: How can I take care of it to make it last longer? Can I share it with someone else? Can I repurpose it?
  • Repair – Repairing extends a product’s or a garment’s lifespan and directly reduce the volume of waste sent to landfills.

    Questions to ask: Can I fix it? Can I replace broken parts? Can I sew on a patch or mend a hole? Can I get help fixing it?
  • Recycle – Learning to recycle properly is just as important as recycling itself. One mistake may contaminate an entire batch of materials, and send it all to the landfill. There is no single universal standard for recycling. What is accepted in one town may be rejected in the next based on the capabilities of the local sorting facility. Check your city or county’s official waste management website for a specific list of acceptable and unacceptable items. Bookmark it!

    Questions to ask: Can this item actually be recycled in my city? Do I need to clean it first? Crush it? What category does it belong in? Are there special recycling programs for this item?’ Or am I “wish-cycling”?

Action Team Goals

  • Increase awareness of the 5R’s (Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Recycle)
  • Increase availability and attractiveness of repair and swap meets
  • Increase sustainable consumption

Projects

  • Two Lake Oswego repair fairs each year (spring and fall). These are free events where volunteers fix broken items such as small appliances, clothing, and bikes that are brought in by community members. Come to ours or find another one sooner or closer to you (Repairpdx.org)
  • Education through public media, LOSN’s own newsletter, and
    events (e.g. Farmers Market, Sustainability Resource Fair, Sustainability parent gatherings)
  • Joint projects with the School District and City such as composting and kids’ clothing swaps
  • Tours of recycling and composting facilities (EFI and Pioneer) when available

Join Us!!

We welcome new participants. If you are interested in learning more about our project or working with us, send an email to our Team Coordinator, Dorothy Atwood at [email protected] to give her your name and contact information and to describe any special interests you have or would like to work on.

We meet monthly, typically the first Monday of the month at 4 pm on-line or in person.

Partners

  • Clackamas County
  • City of Lake Oswego
  • Metro Master Recyclers
  • Republic Services (Local Franchised Trash Hauler)
  • LO School District,
  • EFI Recycling
  • Lake Oswego Public Library – Library of Things

A funnel-shaped “waste reduction hierarchy” graphic titled “Waste Reduction,” with five tiers from top to bottom labeled: Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, and Recycle, each accompanied by brief explanatory text describing actions to minimize waste.