Have you ever thought about where your half-eaten lunch goes once you’ve thrown it away? Or the soda you tossed out last class? Well, you can find out where all your garbage goes and how to recycle it properly with Waste Watch at Central Oregon Community College (COCC).  

Waste Watch at COCC gets students involved with training them on sustainability and how to help with waste reduction. Instead of individual trash cans in each classroom, you will find waste stations in centralized areas at COCC. Many studies have shown that a centralized waste system works best to decrease contamination. In other words, students and professors get to sort out and learn where to toss things properly in the correct bin.  

The Broadside spoke with Noelle Bell Copley, the sustainability coordinator at COCC, on why it’s important to highlight waste reduction at the school. Copley’s efforts to bring waste reduction and energy efficiency at the college are prominent.  

“The county’s only landfill is estimated to be full by 2029,” Copley said. “However, the legislation passed The Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act, which will update Oregon’s outdated recycling system by building on local community programs and layering the resources of producers to create an innovative system that works for everyone.” 

The Oregon legislature passed the Recycling Modernization Act during the 2021 legislative session, and the new law became effective on Jan. 1, 2022, and recycling program changes will start in July 2025, according to Copley

Copley also  told The Broadside that COCC has a Sustainability Committee that meets monthly. You can check out the website here to learn more.