Partner Organizations
The growing list of organizations below welcome Master Recycler volunteers.
Center for Diversity and the Environment
Website: https://www.cdeinspires.org/
Mission Statement: We harness the power of racial and ethnic diversity to transform the environmental movement by developing leaders, catalyzing change within institutions and building alliances.
Ways Master Recyclers have volunteered:
Join Environmental Professionals of Color (EPOC) to network with fellow leaders of color who work on critical environmental issues.
Volunteer to support their many individual, organizational and systemic programs.
If you just attend trainings without the intention of applying the information to a specific project
What does not count as hours:
Attending trainings without the intention of applying the information to a specific project.
Community warehouse
Website: https://www.communitywarehouse.org/
Mission Statement: Community Warehouse provides donated furniture and household items to neighbors seeking the comfort and dignity of a furnished home while overcoming adversity.
Ways Master Recyclers have volunteered:
Outreach Ambassadors: help with special Community Warehouse fundraising events, outreach fairs and spreading the word, and information booths in community events
Staffing the Community Warehouse van at Neighborhood Cleanups to ensure that only reusable household items are accepted.
Join the Board of Directors.
Eco-School Network
Website: https://ecoschoolnetwork.org/
Mission Statement: The Eco-School Network trains and supports parents who engage students in advancing sustainability in their elementary schools. The goal is to help schools become models of sustainability so that students can develop the values and skills needed to preserve a healthy environment for all. Trained parents are grouped into four distinct networks – Portland, Beaverton, West Linn, and North Clackamas – where they share resources and ideas and motivate and inspire one another.
Ways Master Recyclers have volunteered:
Attending the training
Leading student green teams
Participating in
Free Geek
Website: https://www.freegeek.org/
Mission Statement: Free Geek safely & securely refurbishes locally donated technology and gives it back to our community at no or low cost to provide our community’s most vulnerable populations with the digital literacy skills they need to succeed and thrive. What cannot be refurbished is recycled in an environmentally responsible manner.
Ways Master Recyclers have volunteered:
Provide a presentation on recycling
Provide a workshop in the classroom or training in the rebuild program
Promote Free Geek with an information booth at community events
What does not count as hours:
Recycling and rebuilding computers
Helping with inventory in the store or warehouse
Habitat for humanity restore
Website: https://www.habitat.org/restores
Mission Statement: Habitat ReStores are independently owned reuse stores operated by local Habitat for Humanity organizations. ReStores are not like other thrift stores.
They have locations in Portland, Beaverton, Tigard, Gresham, Canby, and Cornelius.
Ways Master Recyclers have volunteered:
Staffing a summer booth with ReStore outreach staff
Offering a workshop or training at any of the stores on creative reuse or recycling
What does not count as hours:
Helping with inventory in the store
Accepting donations
Repairing or recycling materials that have been donated
James Recycling
Website: https://jshrecycling.com/
Mission Statement: James Recycling is a private locally owned recycling company that runs events for the collection of a variety of non-curbside recycling materials and runs a depot location.
Ways Master Recyclers have volunteered:
Help promote events.
Help with the Inspect & Correct area, as follows: Donors with soft plastics, large or small rigid plastics and Styrofoam recycling items will be directed to Inspect & Correct, where you will 1) Review donor contents for cleanliness and acceptability. 2) Offer suggestions and answer questions, 3) Recommend and oversee any needed corrections, and 4) Approve donor corrections and forward them to the drop-off areas.
What does not count as hours:
Collection events involve a lot of hauling and sorting of waste. It is okay if you end up doing some of this work, but it cannot be the primary role you play. Your primary role should be to supervise or advise the other volunteers how to do this or act as a key contact for the public.
Ecochallenge
Website: https://ecochallenge.org/
Mission Statement: Ecochallenge.org is a non-profit organization that inspires people to take responsibility for Earth.
Ways Master Recyclers have volunteered:
Organize your church, coworkers, friends or family to take the fall EcoChallenge. For two weeks, in mid-October, challenge yourself to change one habit that benefits both you and the planet. Create a profile and report your results online.
What does not count as hours:
If you just do challenge by yourself without involving others (it is great to do, but just doesn’t count as hours).
Lake Oswego Sustainability Network
Website: https://losn.org/
Mission Statement: To promote an economically, ecologically, and socially healthy community. We will achieve our mission by applying the sustainability framework through action teams, community outreach, and a democratic, highly participative decision-making process embodying diversity, equity and inclusion.
Ways Master Recyclers have volunteered:
Volunteer at their Sustainability Fair
Serve on their board
Write newsletters
Milwaukie environmental stewards group
Website: https://www.milwaukieesg.org/
Mission Statement: Milwaukie Environmental Stewards Group (MESG) is a non-profit 501-c3 that is committed to informing & educating Milwaukie residents & local leaders about how everyday people can lessen our negative impact on the environment.
Ways Master Recyclers have volunteered:
Volunteer at their Sustainability Fair
Serve on their board
Write newsletters
Oregon Zoo
Website: https://www.oregonzoo.org/
Contact the Master Recycler Program Manager to set up a information table here.
Mission Statement: The Oregon Zoo’s mission includes offering eduction on wildlife, their habitats and what we can all do to protect them. Master Recyclers have many ways that you can participate in this mission and have fun familyfriendly activities that reach a diverse audience.
Ways Master Recyclers have volunteered:
Check out materials or create your own display and set up a table almost any day in the zoo.
Set up a table at a number of scheduled education days and major events like Howloween, Hop into Spring, and Zoo nights.
Rebuilding center
Website: https://www.rebuildingcenter.org/
Mission Statement: ReBuilding Center builds community resilience and empowers DIYers by ensuring access to affordable used building materials and repair skills so people can be self-sufficient and reduce waste.
Ways Master Recyclers have volunteered:
Receive training on Rebuilding Center programs and staff information booths at the region-wide home and garden and remodeling tradeshows (mostly at the Convention Center and Expo Center in NE and N Portland) to promote purchasing of salvaged materials and deconstruction options right when people are thinking about making changes to their home.
Help with the newsletter, blog or website.
Join their volunteer leaders program.
Collect stories of creative reuse for their website and community board.
What does not count as hours:
Helping with inventory in the warehouse.
Repair PDX
Website: https://www.repairpdx.org/
Mission Statement: Repair PDX brings people together to reduce waste by repairing broken items, sharing skills, and supporting local repair businesses. Through events and a voucher program, they help keep useful items in use and out of the landfill.
Ways Master Recyclers have volunteered:
Help organize a Repair Café.
Assist with public orientation and entry.
Teach people how to repair.
Outreach for RepairPDX’s new Repair Voucher Program
SCRAP PDX
Website: https://portland.scrapcreativereuse.org/
Mission Statement: : Inspiring creative reuse and environmentally sustainable behavior by providing educational programs and affordable materials to the community
Ways Master Recyclers have volunteered:
Provide a workshop on creative reuse.
Bring a group to one of the workshops or parties.
Help with fundraising events.
Teach at the summer camp.
Help with teacher trainings
What does not count as hours:
Helping with inventory in the warehouse.
Tool libraries
Website:
Mission Statement: : Tool libraries are neighborhood‑based, volunteer‑run nonprofits dedicated to sharing resources, building community, and reducing waste. There are many location throughout the region where Master Recyclers volunteer.
Ways Master Recyclers have volunteered:
Help organize a tool library
Assist with public orientation and entry.
Serving on the board of directors
What does not count as hours:
Helping with inventory in the warehouse.
Trash for Peace
Website: https://www.trashforpeace.org/
Mission Statement: : Trash for Peace builds community-driven solutions to waste through environmental justice, education, and hands-on programming. By centering the voices of those most impacted, they create inclusive, peer-led initiatives that reduce waste, provide job opportunities, and promote sustainability. Their work empowers resilient communities to lead lasting environmental change.
Ways Master Recyclers have volunteered:
Empower youth of all ages to promote self-esteem, leadership, team building, and job skills through the lens of environmental education.
Promote the rights of waste pickers with Ground Score outreach materials to support through proper set-out of our bottles and cans.
Join the Board of Directors
Waste-free advocates
Website: https://www.wastefreeadvocates.org/
Mission Statement: : Waste-Free Advocates empowers and connects Oregon communities to minimize overconsumption and waste..
Ways Master Recyclers have volunteered:
Work with companies’ Green Teams to inspire coworkers to think of waste prevention ideas dealing with lunchtime choices (food carts, GoBox, BYOs, etc.) and in other aspects of their daily activities.
The Oregon Legislature convenes in February. Help us target and track environmentally sensitive legislation through the house and senate.
Become a Board Member.
Write newsletter articles.