Tours
Tour registration for Sustainable Oregon 2026 is now open! These optional tours offer a behind-the-scenes look at some of the region's most innovative recycling, reuse, composting, manufacturing, and environmental organizations.
Please note: Tours are available exclusively to registered Sustainable Oregon 2026 attendees. Tours are free, but advance registration is required and space is limited. All tours take place Monday, June 22, 2pm-5pm, and attendees may register for only one tour.
Tour 1: From Waste to Wonder: The MECCA Creative Reuse Experience
Duration: 3 hours (including travel time walking to MECCA from Hotel approximately 5 minutes, 0.2 miles)
Capacity: Limited to 30 participants; Pre-registration required
Step outside the traditional conference hall and dive into the vibrant world of sustainable creativity! This immersive, hands-on excursion takes you directly to MECCA (Materials Exchange Center for Community Arts), a pioneering nonprofit dedicated to diverting usable materials from landfills and putting them into the hands of creators.
Whether you consider yourself a seasoned artist, an eco-enthusiast, or someone looking to spark fresh inspiration, this tour will completely reframe how you look at "waste." You’ll explore a wonderland of upcycled materials, learn how creative reuse strengthens communities, and roll up your sleeves for an exclusive, instructor-led crafting workshop using materials scavenged directly from the warehouse floors.
Leave your laptop behind and come ready to get your hands dirty, spark your imagination, and take home a tangible, sustainable masterpiece of your own making!
Tour 2: The Modern Landfill and the Restored Prairie
Duration: 3 hours (including travel time)
Capacity: Limited to 60 participants
Required Attire: Sturdy, closed-toe footwear
What happens to our waste after it leaves the curb, and how can heavy industry actively heal the landscape it occupies? Join us for an exclusive, dual-perspective field trip that bridges modern engineering and environmental stewardship.
First, we will pull back the curtain on modern waste management at Short Mountain Landfill, Lane County’s primary solid waste site. This isn't just a place where garbage goes; it's a massive, highly engineered green energy plant. You will see firsthand how environmental engineers process tons of daily waste, utilize advanced containment controls, and capture decomposing trash to convert it directly into clean, renewable energy.
Then, we will cross the boundary into a radically different landscape: the Quamash Prairie Wetland Mitigation site. Acquired as an environmental offset, this breathtaking 100-acre sanctuary represents a triumphant narrative in ecological restoration. You will stand in a flourishing wetland prairie that was built, in part, by physically relocating over 100,000 native Camas bulbs away from the expanding landfill footprint. Today, it serves as a critical habitat next to mature oak forests and acts as a living outdoor classroom.
Discover the harmony of a closed-loop system where high-tech waste infrastructure funds and fuels vibrant ecological rebirth.
Tour 3: Pioneers of Reuse: From Community Action to Campus Innovation
Duration: 3 hours (including travel time)
Capacity: Limited to 30 participants; Pre-registration required
Discover how the Pacific Northwest became a trailblazer in the sustainability movement by exploring two of Eugene's most innovative waste diversion operations. This immersive tour connects the grassroots history of community recycling with the cutting-edge, unconventional logistics of a major public institution.
First, we will visit the iconic “Planet Improvement Center” operated by BRING. Founded in 1971 as one of the nation's oldest recycling roots organizations, this site has evolved far beyond a traditional depot. Today, it stands as a massive creative hub for salvaged and surplus building materials, architectural gems, and community education. You will see firsthand how they successfully keep thousands of tons of usable items out of landfills while inspiring a local culture of reuse.
Next, the tour heads to the University of Oregon (UO) to pull back the curtain on their legendary Campus Planning and Facilities Management Zero Waste Program. Established over three decades ago, UO’s program has a storied history of breaking traditional campus molds. You will get an insider's look at the unusual and highly tailored aspects of their operation, from specialized game-day stadium sorting logistics to the quirky mechanics of managing campus surplus and institutional material flows.
Join us to learn how historical roots fuel modern, unconventional solutions for a zero-waste future!
Tour 4: Closing the Loop: Industrial Organic Recycling & The Science of Soil
Duration: 3 hours (including travel time)
Capacity: Limited to 35 participants
Required Attire: Sturdy, closed-toe shoes. Safety vests must be worn at all times. If you have your own PPE, you are encouraged to bring.
How does a community turn millions of pounds of raw yard debris, limbs, and discarded food waste into gold for the agricultural industry? Step onto the processing floor of Rexius Sustainable Solutions, an industry leader that has spent decades pioneering organic recycling and environmental solutions on an incredible scale.
On this behind-the-scenes industrial tour, you will see how a modern organic management facility handles massive regional waste streams. Rexius doesn't just pile up green waste—they use highly managed biological processes and strict engineering standards to run a state-of-the-art manufacturing loop. You will learn about the science behind their Seal of Testing Assurance (STA) certified composting systems and see firsthand how they partner with local government for initiatives like the Love Food Not Waste program, turning local commercial food scraps into premium, nutrient-rich soil amendments.
From massive grinding operations to specialized custom soil blending and their famous fleet of bulk "blower" delivery tech, discover how industrial-scale composting forms the bedrock of regional environmental sustainability.
Tour 5: From Fiber to Roll: Inside the Industrial Scale of Papermaking
Duration: TBD
Capacity: Limited to 15 participants
Required Attire: Closed-toe, closed-heel shoes; long pants; and a short- or long-sleeved shirt. No sandals, high heels, shorts, skirts, or tank tops. Long hair must be tied back or tucked into a hard hat. Stud earrings only; no hoops or large gauges. Please remove rings if possible; otherwise, gloves must be worn. Gloves will be provided.
Have you ever wondered what it takes to manufacture paper products on a massive, industrial scale? This exclusive, behind-the-scenes tour of International Paper pulls back the curtain on one of the region's most impressive manufacturing facilities. Curated for a select group of 15 attendees, this experience tracks the complete lifecycle of a paper product—from raw organic materials to the final shipped roll.
We’ll jumpstart the experience with a rapid-fire "Papermaking 101" crash course to give you the foundational knowledge of the chemistry, mechanics, and science behind the process. From there, we will load up into group vans for an immersive driving and walking loop through the heart of the facility. You will see the towering wood chip piles, step inside the old corrugated containers (OCC) recycling center, witness the sheer speed of the active paper machine, and explore the final staging in the massive roll shipping warehouse.
If you are fascinated by heavy machinery, supply chain logistics, or large-scale industrial manufacturing, this fast-paced mobile tour is an absolute must-attend.
Tour 6: Discovering the Valley: A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Mount Pisgah Arboretum
Here is a comprehensive description and itinerary for a self-guided walking tour of Mount Pisgah Arboretum. This curated route highlights the diverse ecosystems, interactive educational exhibits, and peaceful vistas that make this 209-acre living museum so special.
Tour Distance: ~1.5 miles
Duration: 1-1.5 hours (at a leisurely viewing pace)
Difficulty: Easy to moderate (mostly flat bark-mulch and gravel paths, with a brief, gentle hillside incline)
Capacity: Unlimited
Starting/Ending Point: The White Oak Pavilion
Note: Transportation will not be provided, but AOR will provide park pass to park private vehicle.
Tour Overview
Welcome to Mount Pisgah Arboretum, a pristine slice of the southern Willamette Valley ecology nestled within the Howard Buford Recreation Area. This self-guided tour is designed to introduce you to the region’s native habitats—ranging from rare oak savannas and peaceful riverbanks to dense conifer forests and vibrant wetlands. Along the way, you will encounter the Arboretum’s unique interactive exhibits, designed to deepen your connection to the landscape.
Stop 1: The White Oak Pavilion & Visitor Kiosk
Begin your tour at the White Oak Pavilion, the architectural heart of the Arboretum. Before setting out, check the visitor kiosk for seasonal updates, maps, and information on local wildlife sightings.
What to look for: Look up at the Pavilion’s beautiful woodwork, constructed entirely from local timbers. Look out over the immediate meadow—this open area transitions into the native oak savanna you’ll explore later.
Stop 2: The Riverbank Trail & Patricia Baker Wildflower Garden
From the Pavilion, head toward the restrooms and follow the signs down the gentle slope onto the Riverbank Trail.
As you enter this shaded canopy, the temperature will drop noticeably. You are entering the Patricia Baker Wildflower Garden. Depending on the season, the forest floor is painted with native blooms like trilliums, camas lilies, and bleeding hearts.
What to look for: The trail hugs the Coast Fork of the Willamette River. Find one of the benches along the bank to watch the water pass. Keep an eye out for Great Blue Herons, osprey, or river otters gliding through the currents.
Stop 3: The Water Garden & Wetlands Exhibit
Continue along the Riverbank Trail until it seamlessly transitions into the Water Garden Trails.
This loop guides you over bark-mulch paths and boardwalks into a thriving, moist ecosystem. This area serves as a critical nursery for amphibians and water-loving plants.
What to look for: Step onto the viewing platforms to peer into the quiet waters. In the spring and summer, the marsh comes alive with the deep choruses of bullfrogs and the rustle of Western pond turtles sunning themselves on fallen logs.
Stop 4: The Historic Barn & Pond Lily Trail
Follow the boardwalk out to Meadow Road, turn right, and walk past the historic, rustic barn (a favorite landmark for local school field trips and events). Just past the barn, step onto the Pond Lily Trail. This heavily shaded path snakes along the northeastern edge of the wetland, showcasing a stark transition from the open riverbank to a dense, humid thicket.
Stop 5: The Incense-Cedar Trail & The Jette Trail
From the Pond Lily Trail, take the Jette Trail as it begins a gentle, low-grade switchback up the hillside. Follow the signs to fork onto the Incense-Cedar Trail.
You are now leaving the lowlands and ascending into the mixed conifer forest. The air changes here, rich with the fragrance of evergreen needles.
What to look for: This trail features the Incense-Cedar Exhibit. Take a moment to marvel at the massive, deeply furrowed red bark of the old-growth incense-cedars towering above you. Look closely at the forest floor in spring for the elusive, tiny pink Calypso orchids.
Stop 6: The Lower Plateau & Oak Woodlands Exhibit
Continue along the trail as it flattens out onto the Lower Plateau Trail, keeping to the right.
The dense evergreen canopy begins to thin, opening up to a brighter, sun-dappled forest floor. You have arrived at the Oak Woodlands Exhibit.
What to look for: This area highlights the unique structure of an oak woodland, dominated by Oregon white oaks. Notice the gnarled, sprawling branches of the older oaks, which tell a story of a time when this land was wide open and free from competing dense brush. Listen closely—this canopy is a favorite neighborhood for Pileated and Hairy Woodpeckers.
Stop 7: The Oak Savanna & Return via Meadow Road
Follow the trail as it descends back down toward the lowlands, connecting you to the expansive Meadow Road.
As you emerge from the trees, you are treated to a sweeping view of the Oak Savanna. This is one of the best-remaining examples of a native oak savanna ecosystem in the entire Willamette Valley—a habitat heavily managed for centuries by the Indigenous Kalapuya people through controlled burns.
What to look for: The wide, gravel road offers unobstructed views of the hillside. Watch for soaring red-tailed hawks overhead, or bright Lazuli Buntings darting through the grasses. Follow Meadow Road straight back to where you started at the White Oak Pavilion.
Tips for the Trail:
- Leave No Trace: Please stay strictly on the designated paths to protect fragile wildflower habitats and nesting wildlife. Do not pick or remove any plants.
- Dogs: Furry companions are welcome but must remain on a physical leash at all times.
- Parking: Keep in mind that a daily Lane County Parks parking fee (or annual pass) is required at the Howard Buford Recreation Area trailhead. AOR will provide the parking pass.
- Accessibility Note: If you or a companion require mobility assistance, the Arboretum partners with David’s Chair to provide all-terrain track chairs by reservation, ensuring the Water Garden and Lower Plateau paths can be enjoyed by everyone.