Brentwood-Darlington hosts recycling, environment, and gardening fair

INCLUDES ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY FAIR VIDEO | Discover why outer East Portland neighbors from Lents and Powellhurst-Gilbert went to this unique event …

During the two hours of the “Spring Green 2024” fair, hundreds of neighbors come to learn how to reuse and repurpose – before they recycle discarded items in their homes.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

The Brentwood-Darlington Community Center was buzzing with activity on the Saturday afternoon of March 23rd, as the “Spring Green 2024” fair was underway.

One of the main attractions was the free electronics and appliance recycling provided by Green Century Electronics Recycling. Their staff was topping off totes with electronic discards every few minutes.

Event organizer Tina Biornstab-Szafranski stands by totes filled with computers, TVs, appliances and other electronics to be recycled, instead of being sent to landfills.

“I am the ‘crazy person’ who is all about climate change in action, and acting with environmental purpose,” lightheartedly confessed organizer Tina Biornstab-Szafranski.

See some of the action that took place at this fun, educational, and helpful event:

“Back in 2019, we started holding ‘dump your junk’ events” with Green Century – and then, the pandemic hit,” recalled Biornstab-Szafranski.

“When we started back up, we added a volunteer from the Master Gardeners program with her seed library, and Bikes for Humanity,” she recalled.

Eric VonHolten from Bikes for Humanity shows how to repair a bicycle tire.

This year’s fair – their third one – added many more exhibitors, including:

Brentwood-Darlington Neighborhood Association
The Community Gardens ~ Produce for People
Master Recyclers ~ Brentwood-Darlington NET
Portland Fruit Tree Project ~ Solar Oregon
Twin Flowers Native Plants ~ Waste Free Advocates
Johnson Creek Watershed Council ~ Xerces Society

“You see, ‘recycling’ is truly the second-to-the-last option,” Biornstab-Szafranski commented. “It’s better to reuse, and repurpose, before recycling – sharing this idea is my driving force,” she told East Portland News.

After the two-hour fair had concluded, Biornstab-Szafranski said they’d counted 363 people in attendance; 5,437 pounds of electronics recycled; and 21 people had learned do-it-yourself bicycle maintenance.

Guests learn emergency survival skills at the Brentwood-Darlington Neighborhood Emergency Team (NET) display.

“This was a huge success, and was a joy for all of our volunteers,” Biornstab-Szafranski concluded.

This recycling fair was made possible through the support of the Southeast Uplift Neighborhood Program, Metro, and Portland’s Office of Community & Civic Life.

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