At bustling food cart lots around Bend, single-use utensils, plates, and cups are common. They’re used for only a few moments but can linger in landfills for decades. A new initiative is working to change this by introducing a citywide system of reusable dishes, backed by a centralized washing operation.
Kavi Chokshi, the Rethink Waste program manager at the Environmental Center, believes Bend may be paving the way for an innovative approach. “I haven’t seen anything like this elsewhere in the U.S.,” he says.
The plan involves setting up a “wash hub” that will clean and distribute reusable plates, bowls, cups, and utensils for food carts and large events. This system could significantly cut down on waste while solving a major issue: the lack of infrastructure to support a shift away from disposable items.
Many food businesses want to go green, but they often lack the capacity to wash reusable items in large numbers. Chokshi emphasizes that this shared system can handle that burden efficiently.
Here’s how it works: food carts will gradually phase out disposable serviceware in favor of durable items like stainless steel utensils and reusable plates. After enjoying their meal, customers will return these items to designated collection stations. The hub will then pick them up, clean them professionally, and redistribute them.
This operation will partner with Bold Reuse, a Portland-based company experienced in large-scale dishwashing. The initial plan is to operate out of an existing commercial kitchen, eventually expanding as demand increases. The goal is to replace about 250,000 single-use items in the first year, with the potential to grow that number into the millions.
Bend officials also point out environmental benefits beyond just waste reduction. Megan Lee, an analyst for the city’s environment and climate management, highlights the importance of looking at the complete life cycle of disposable products. While washing dishes uses water, it’s far less than what’s needed to produce single-use items. For instance, creating a single paper cup can consume several gallons of water, while a reusable cup involves much less in an industrial wash.
A crucial aspect is that the water used in the wash hub will come from local sources, supporting sustainability. By reducing reliance on disposables, Bend could lower its water footprint and manage resources more responsibly.
Funding for this initiative includes a $100,000 grant from Visit Bend, aimed at covering dishware, collection setup, and operational costs. Over time, businesses will pay service fees to sustain the program, which could even lower waste management costs for food carts—an expense that can often reach thousands monthly.
The biggest challenge so far hasn’t been community support; rather, it’s been installing the necessary logistics. Lee points out that while many food cart operators want to reduce waste, they don’t have the facilities to wash dishes effectively. The centralized wash hub can provide the efficiency that individual vendors can’t.
Zach Tobias, who manages the Toasty food cart at the Podski food cart lot, sees this as a great advantage. “It would be awesome to market the Podski as a green choice for customers,” he says, adding that there could be long-term savings by not needing to buy so many single-use items.
This initiative leverages existing reuse systems from other cities, like those for big events or takeout containers. However, Bend’s approach is unique because it plans to serve multiple food cart lots with a distributed network.
In tandem with the wash hub, there’s also a plan for a reusable takeout container program. Customers could borrow containers from participating restaurants and return them later, further promoting reuse.
Both programs are still being finalized, with details such as types of dishware and facility locations yet to be determined. The objective is to roll out the initiative in the fall, just after the busy summer season.
Looking ahead, Lee believes success should be measured not just by the reduction in waste but by fostering a cultural shift. “We’ll know we’ve succeeded when reuse is a common practice in Bend,” she says. The ultimate aim is for the community to see reuse as a fundamental value.
This change, Lee argues, will create a more resilient and environmentally conscious city—one where efficient return stations replace trash piles, making sustainable choices easy and accessible for everyone.
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