It’s Earth Month!
LOTS of volunteer opportunities.
See below!
New Way to Log Your Hours and Sign Up for Events!
If you are just tuning in now that it’s “volunteer season,” you may not know that we are switching to a new software for logging your hours and signing up for events.
Over 160 of you have already signed in and have started using it. Thank you!
We still have 229 of you who have volunteered within the last 3 years who have not logged in yet (yes, I know who you are!).
I have resent out the welcome email with your temporary username and password, along with instructions to the guides to get you started.
Now is a great time to log in and check it out, given we have lots of opportunities this month!
Having any issues logging in? Email Stacy at masterrecycler@oregonmetro.gov.
Assist with Lincoln High School’s Reusable Utensil Pilot Program!
Master Recycler Chau Phan Mende (Class 63) is assisting this student-led project and they need your help!
A Message from the Students: Did you know that a single high school can discard thousands of disposable utensils in a single week? The Lincoln HS EJC Team is working to do our part to change that system! We are launching a pilot project to replace plastic utensils with reusable ones, using grant funding from the Portland Clean Energy Fund (PCEF).
We NEED volunteers to help out with our transition to reusable utensils!!! We are seeking adult volunteers to bring in bins of utensils after lunch, so staff can clean them. Though this is a STUDENT LED/BASED project, we need YOUR help to succeed.
Request: Volunteers to help supervise the process and get bins collected after lunch. This involves making sure students understand the process, that no silverware gets thrown away, and making sure the bins get to the dishwashing area in the cafeteria.
Time Commitment: Volunteers are needed for a 30 minute time block between 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm. For the 2026-27 school year, we need volunteers from our kickoff week of April 13th, 2026 until the week of June 1, 2026. You do not need to commit to that entire time!
Other Details: We will host a short training prior to kickoff week so volunteers feel confident about managing the process.
We can't wait to see the impacts of this project!! Thank you for your interest and we hope to see see you soon!
This is an ongoing project with plenty of opportunity to help.
Appreciations / Agradecimientos
quincenturion
These Master Recyclers are Quincenturion and get to wear a 500 hour quincenturion button next to their Master Recycler badge.
Estos Expertos en Reciclaje son Quincenturión y pueden usar un botón de Quincenturión de 500 horas junto a su insignia de Expertos en Reciclaje.
Carolyn Brown (Class 87)
Carolyn Brown (Class 87) has reached 500 hours and is now a Master Recycler Quincenturion! A graduate of the program through North by Northeast Community Health Center, Carolyn is now the repair fair and tool library queen. She is a frequent face at RepairPDX events and at the NE Portland Tool Library. Tell her congrats at the next event you see her at! Thank you, Carolyn, for all your amazing work!
¡Carolyn Brown (Clase 87) ha alcanzado las 500 horas y ahora es una Experta en Reciclaje Quincenturión! Graduada del programa a través del North by Northeast Community Health Center, Carolyn es ahora la reina de las ferias de reparación y de la biblioteca de herramientas. Es una presencia habitual en los eventos de RepairPDX y en la Biblioteca de Herramientas del NE de Portland. ¡Felicítala en el próximo evento en el que la veas! ¡Gracias, Carolyn, por toda tu increíble labor!
CERTIFIED / CERTIFICADOS
These Master Recyclers have reached 30 hours and are now officially certified!
¡Estos Expertas/os en Reciclaje han llegado a las 30 horas y ahora están oficialmente certificados!
Samantha Marsden (Class 87) is officially a Certified Master Recycler! As a graduate of the program through the North by Northeast Community Health Center, Sam reached her 30 hours through a number of health centered sponsored bulky waste events and serving on the Local Leadership Council. Thank you, Sam! We appreciate your work to make the world a better place!
¡Samantha Marsden (Clase del 87) es oficialmente una Experta Certificada en Reciclaje! Como graduada del programa impartido a través del North by Northeast Community Health Center, Sam completó sus 30 horas participando en diversos eventos de recolección de residuos voluminosos patrocinados por la institución y formando parte del Consejo de Liderazgo Local. ¡Gracias, Sam! ¡Valoramos tu labor para hacer del mundo un lugar mejor!
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities
The Volunteer Calendar has moved onto Better Impact. You can view it by logging in and clicking on Opportunities at the top.
Did not receive your better impact login? Email Stacy at
masterrecycler@oregonmetro.gov
** Events marked with a double asterisk (**) below are events where you won’t be alone. Great if you are new to tabling to getting back to volunteering after a break!
Portland
Recycling Presentation @ Pacific WRO (workplace)
Tuesday, April 7th, 11:45 am – 1:15 pm
NE Portland – We provide presentation. You give it. (indoors)
Recycling Presentation @ American Plaza Towers (apartment)
Thursday, April 9th, 5:15 am – 6:45 pm
SW Portland – We provide presentation. You give it. (indoors)
Reed College Earth Day - Recycling Table
Friday, April 17th, 11:30 am – 1:30 pm
SE Portland – Self-led. You will need to pick up supplies. (outdoors)
Eastmoreland Earth Day Celebration - Tabling (topic your choice)
Sunday, April 19th, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
SE Portland – Self-led. You will need to pick up supplies. (outdoors)
** Adidas Sustainability Fair - Recycling Table
Wednesday, April 22nd, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
N Portland – Join fellow Master Recycler Nathan Kim!
Sunnyside Elementary Earth Day Celebration - Recycling or Food Waste Table
Saturday, April 25th, 10:30 am – 3:00 pm
SE Portland – Self-led. You will need to pick up supplies. (outdoors)
Vernon Elementary STEAM Night - Tabling (topic your choice)
Thursday, April 30th, 5:15 pm – 7:15 pm
NE Portland – Self-led. You will need to pick up supplies. (indoors)
East County
** Fairview Egg Walk w/ Community Warehouse
Saturday, April 4th, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Fairview City Hall (outdoors)
Table with staff about furniture donation!
(in Better Impact under “Community Partners”)
Clackamas County
** ClackCo Repair Fair - Gladstone
Saturday, April 4th, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Gladstone – Oak Lodge Library (indoors)
** New Seasons Recycling Event w/ Community Warehouse
Saturday, April 18th, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Milwaukie - (outdoors)
Table with staff about furniture donation!
(in Better Impact under “Community Partners”)
** ClackCo Repair Fair - Happy Valley
Saturday, April 18th, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Happy Valley Library – (indoors)
Plastic for Pantries: An Earth Day Exchange - Recycling Table
Saturday, April 25th, Shift 1: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm, Shift 2: 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Milwaukie – Join fellow Master Recycler Sheila Logan during the first shift!
** Spring Garden Fair - Tabling (multiple topics)
Saturday, May 2nd, 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm - 1 MR already signed up for this shift. Need 1 more.
Sunday, May 3rd, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm - 1 MR already signed up for this shift. Need 1 more.
Canby – No staff, but everything set up and taken down for you. (indoors)
Beaverton / Washington County
** LAIKA Earth Month Expo - Recycling table and collection event
Wednesday, April 8th, 11:30 am – 2:30 pm
HIllsboro – LAIKA office (indoors)
Looking for more volunteers. This event is hosted by an MR, and 2 MRs have already signed up. All from Class 88!
Valley Community Presbyterian Church Collection Event - Green Cleaners Table
Saturday, April 18th, 8:45 am – 12:15 pm
SW Portland/Beaverton – Self-led. You will need to pick up supplies. (outdoors)
** Raleigh Hills Business Association Shred Event w/ Community Warehouse
Saturday, April 18th, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
SE Portland/Beaverton - (outdoors)
Table with staff about furniture donation!
(in Better Impact under “Community Partners”)
** WashCo Repair Fair - Cornelius
Saturday, April 25th, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Cornelius Public Library – (indoors)
You can go ahead and sign up here instead of on Better Impact.
** Orenco Farmers Market - Recycling and Food Waste Table
Sunday, April 26th, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Hillsboro – Table with staff! (outdoors)
ONLINE
Recycling Presentation @ Daimler Truck Company (workplace)
Wednesday, April 15th, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
On Zoom! – We provide presentation. You give it.
Recycling Presentation @ M Financial Group (workplace)
Wednesday, April 22nd, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm (date and time flexible!)
On Zoom or In Person (NW Portland) – We provide presentation. You give it.