Public schools in Deschutes County can apply for waste prevention grants

DESCHUTES COUNTY, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Public schools in Deschutes County can apply for up to $2,000 per project in waste prevention grants provided by The Environmental Center. The funding, supported by the Deschutes County Department of Solid Waste, aims to help reduce waste as the local landfill nears capacity.

Grants are open to public schools within the Bend-La Pine, Redmond and Sisters school districts. Funding can be used to start, expand, improve or support initiatives focused on waste reduction, including reuse, repair, recycling and composting. Projects may be designed for individual classrooms, single schools or districtwide implementation.

Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis for as long as funding remains available. The Environmental Center is also offering technical assistance to help applicants with project planning and logistics.

You can contact Denise Rowcroft, the center's Youth Education and School Gardens Program Director, at @envirocenter.org or by phone at (541) 414-3979.

Based at 16 NW Kansas Ave. in downtown Bend, The Environmental Center works on local sustainability initiatives, environmental education and waste reduction efforts in Central Oregon.