Community Initiatives
Together WE can make a difference!
RR team is committed to making a difference in Washoe county and beyond. We’re partnering with other organizations and government entities to influence change towards reducing waste and look for ways to bring reusables in place of single-use products.
The Reno-Sparks Chamber of Commerce has partnered with greenUP! to offer a Green Dining Establishment program. Through this partnership, Chamber Member businesses are eligible to receive free technical support and guidance on how to reduce waste, save money, and gain recognition in the community. The flagship Green Dining establishments for this new initiative included Buenos Grill, Squeeze In, Great Full Gardens, and the Great Basin Brewing Company restaurant locations throughout Reno and Sparks. Reusable Reno is deeply involved with promoting Green Dining in Washoe county.
The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Sustainable Materials Management has brought together stakeholders of various backgrounds to discuss sustainability issues and opportunities and find innovative solutions. During the formation of this group, interested members were surveyed to identify common topics of interest regarding sustainability. This led to the formation of working groups to improve sustainability throughout the State. Reusable Reno co-founders Linda Miller and Lakshmi Albright have been leading the Policy and Funding and the Source Waste Reduction Projects respectively.
Eco Art for children
Through workshops and hands-on lessons, RR team member Zoe Bray works with children to make art in and with their natural environment. Bray shows how the most amazing creations can be made with simplicity, no waste, and a connection with our surroundings. In the process of making art, children learn about soil health, fauna and flora, natural rhythms, and other ecological wonders. Check out here.
Sustainable public art
Advocating for public art that is sustainably-made and raises ecological awareness. Public art is conventionally understood as art that is in a public space and in the form of a sculpture or a mural, with the intention of being inclusive and empowering for local communities. Public art plays a crucial role in fostering a shared commitment to sustainability and environmental awareness. It can and should be made energy-sufficiently, and sensitize communities to engage positively with their natural environment- the ultimate public good.
Reuse in public events
RR team's Lakshmi Albright and Patty Moen partnered with local Public Event organizers in 2023 to help reduce waste generated by the food vendors. We piloted a reuse solution for plates and forks with French Crepes at Riverside Farmers Market and led the effort to sort waste into compostables, reusables, recyclables and other trash to help cut down on waste that goes to landfills.
