EUGENE, Ore. — Students across Lane County are wrapping up their year’s worth of work with the School Garden Project.

On Monday, students at Adams Elementary potted tomato plants and ate a lunch made from veggies they all grew themselves.

The garden has been part of the curriculum in each class throughout the year, and it’s been quite the learning experience.

“They always taste what comes out of the garden. Every day they graze, they taste what they’ve grown, and they come away really enjoying the vegetables that they’ve grown themselves. And for us, it’s both challenging to get there, but it’s also the most rewarding part,” John Moriarty, School Garden Project Executive Director.

Adams is one of nine schools that will participate in the garden project’s spring celebration this week.

EUGENE, Ore. — The Eugene Mission is expanding services, allowing the nonprofit to assist more clients with food, shelter and clothing, but now the mission is preparing to cut a major program.

Come June, the Eugene Mission is cutting its recycling program.

Long before there was the red box for DVDs came the red box for collecting newspapers, magazines and phone books. The Eugene Mission began its recycling program in the 1960s. To date, there are close to 1,000 boxes at approximately 600 locations. After 50 years, the program is coming to a close.

It comes down to economics. At the height of the recycling program, the Eugene Mission collected 400 tons of newspapers each month. A profit maker, it provided 50 percent of its operating budget. That was in the ’90s.

Since then, prices for recycled paper have decreased. Collections have dwindled while expenses to collect the papers like gas have gone up.

“A couple years ago we hit the breaking point and now we will go into the red if we continue and that’s just not good stewardship,” said Dana Eck, Senior Director of Operations.

Doing away with the program opens up new opportunities. For Eugene Mission clients who assist with collections, they can sign up for a new one-year Life Change Program still working at the mission while receiving assistance to improve their lives like addiction therapy, employment assistance and GED attainment.

It’s still not clear how the Eugene Mission will utilize the newspaper recycling center. The goal is create a project where clients can learn life skills, earn wages and turn a profit.

First up is turning in the red boxes. Recycling service ends June 15. The Eugene Mission will collect the boxes or you can keep your box are your business or church for donation of $50.

Many of you might be familiar with the green truck that used to roll down the street picking up those newspapers. Starting June 1, it’s going to be auctioned off in a silent auction to benefit the new Life Change Program.

Big-ticket items like plastic bins, tubs and playground toys are no longer being accepted.

Nothing has changed at lane county waste management, but drop off sites for rigid mixed plastic have been temporarily suspended.

Bottles, tubs, and jubs–the plastics you recycle curbside are the same as what can be recycled at Lane County Waste Management.

The rules are clear. Even so, hardcore recyclers like Jim Shultz want to recycle it all.

What happen is you end up with trash mixed in with the recycles. That’s what happening in China where America recycles most of its plastics.

“In China they have cracked down and said we don’t want garbage in our plastic. So they are targeting mixed loads when it’s a mix of different materials. They stop every single load,” said Sarah Grimm, Lane County Waste Reduction Specialist.

It’s causing a backlog of plastics in Oregon and Lane County.

Two major plastic processors that collected non-curbside items along mixed ridged plastics have reportedly stopped accepting them.

“Kiddie pools, patio furniture and five gallon buckets and rubber made. The plastic is valuable but collecting it mixed eventually caused a problem,” Grimm said.

For recyclers who go through the process of collecting, sorting and hauling, it’s disappointing.

“It is a little frustrating. I have a 30-gallon bag in a garbage can full of recyclable stuff that is no longer recyclable,” Schultz said.

Right now the two options for anyone with this rigid mixed plastic hold onto it to see if the recycle program picks up or toss it away.

A survey from Travel Oregon says recreational bike travel accounts for $400 million of Oregon’s annual $9 billion tourism industry.

Residents told KEZI 9 News they think a lot of people choose Oregon for their bike rides because of its scenery.

“It’s not just flat and it’s not super windy, and so you get a lot of variety in your biking. You get some hills, and half the time the wind is behind you,” said Springfield resident Pam Caples.

It’s the first time the state has put a number on biking tourism.

Of those who spent time biking in Oregon, 53 percent also visited at least one microbrewery and 83 percent also went hiking.

Awbrey Park off River Road is a case example of a successful steward program with Eugene Parks and Open Space.

Four years ago, invasive plants covered this natural area. A team of volunteers transformed it and brought it back to life.

“You know as soon as we removed this English ivy, all of a sudden these amazing native plants just started showing themselves, and it’s pretty rewarding,” said Brandi Ferguson, McKenzie River Trust.

You can tour the native plants this Saturday at Awbrey Park.

Volunteers are hosting a family friendly event from noon until 3 p.m.

Anyone interested in becoming a land steward can also get information.

EUGENE, Ore. — When was the last time you visited your community park?

Awbrey Park in Santa Clara is more than just playground and open field. There’s a hidden natural area.

Four years ago you could hardly see it, let alone walk on it. Volunteers teamed up with the City of Eugene to bring it back to life. This weekend they’re inviting the community to take a tour.

Brandi Ferguson, a volunteer as well as development director for McKenzie River Trust, spoke to KEZI 9 News about the project.

The native plant tour and celebration is Saturday, May 4 from noon to 3 p.m. at Awbrey Park located off River Road and Spring Creek.

The Green Club at Sheldon High is a student-led group with a focus on environmental issues.

Members say the school’s existing racks don’t offer enough support or security.

“Theft is a problem and also bike damage because you can imagine if you look at these things, if someone were to trip and fall on them, which happens quite often, and happens to hit one on the way down, the front wheel goes “ckkk” because there’s not anything to support it,” said Isaac Meyer, Club President.

The group is trying to raise $6,000 to bring in 70 of the new inverted u-style racks.

To donate to the cause, click here.

Team leaders picked up team packets, grabbed a bite to eat and put their names into a drawing for a variety of prizes.

The challenge is May 11-17. That week more than 1,000 participants will choose an alternate way to get to work instead of driving alone.

“They bike, they walk, carpool. Sometimes they don’t even go to work. They telework. They commute from home. They’re on the computer and telework from home,” said Marcia Maffe, Business Commute Challenge Organizer.

KEZI 9 News is a proud sponsor of the Business Commute Challenge. Click here to sign up.

EUGENE, Ore. — First Portland, then Corvallis, now Eugene–an ordinance banning plastic bags went into effect Wednesday.

There’s both support and frustration in grocery story aisles.

Shoppers in the Eugene Target store can’t get plastic grocery bags anymore while they’re shopping. Instead they’ll have to pay a nickel for every paper bag as the citywide bag ban goes into effect.

The five-cent charge for paper doesn’t scare away some shoppers.

“Definitely because I don’t think that’s too much to pay for convenience,” said Lynette Felix.

But other shoppers will turn to bringing their own bags to the store.

“I always carry a reusable bag in my purse. Initially it was because I got my five cent discount, but now I’m just used to having it. My mom started it first, so it kind of rubbed off on me,” said Kelsey Weilbrenner.

“I always shop the grocery store and every place with reusable bags, so it really wasn’t a big adjustment for me, but I’m sure it is for a lot of people,” said Nita Postlewait.

Some shoppers say adjusting to the ordinance by carrying bags to the store will be difficult at fist.

“When I remember to get them out of my car (laughs),” said Dawn Davis.

“I put a bunch of bags in my car, so I’d have them, but I really don’t enjoy having to bring them in,” Felix said.

But while some don’t enjoy the ban, others are supportive but understand the frustration.

“I like the plastic ban even though like other people say you can use them for garbage can liners. I still like stopping the excess waste,” Davis said.

Since the neighbor next door doesn’t ban plastic .

“They might lose customers, from Eugene that’ll go to Springifeld?” Felix said.

Customers looking to continue getting plastic bags say they’ll take their business elsewhere.

To help customers with the transition, Target gave each customer one free reusable bag.