Mission: To change the systems that make waste by shifting the values of culture and commerce.
About: We work to change the systems that make waste in the areas of food/organics, plastics and textiles. We do this through education, repair cafes, working with businesses, organizations and the city to write ordinances that reduce waste upstream and manage it appropriately downstream, and we are developing a line of durable products using materials that would otherwise end up in the landfill or be incinerated. ReCraftLab, our upcycle brand, offers sewing training to immigrant and refugee women. We are beginning to work with local fiber producers to develop a Fibershed, and rebuild a fiber industry here in Eastern Washington with a focus on soil to soil resiliency and jobs that serve planet and people.
Location: Spokane, WA
Elyse Hochstadt
Executive Director
Elyse is an artist, activist and change-maker. Her work in these various roles centers on cultivating a deep relationship with the living world and inspiring others to see themselves as a part of it. Her journey to running a zero waste organization began with a gray whale encounter and a promise to protect its ocean home and by extension all planetary ecosystems. She believes in starting where you are, focusing on what can be done locally and sharing leadership, as we all have something to share and to learn.
Maggie Schott
Board Secretary
Maggie is an attorney who provides legal assistance in a range of Social Security disability matters. She earned her J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law, where she was a part of the Law Women’s Caucus, the Public Interest Law Association and the Unemployment Law Clinic. She is currently running a solo law practice focusing on disability claims, and is Adjunct Faculty at Gonzaga University School of Law. For years Maggie has focused her legal practices on issues of welfare, disability, unemployment compensation and domestic violence survivor advocacy. Maggie is passionate about social and environmental justice. She loves to spend time outdoors, growing flowers, and exploring rivers, mountains, and beaches.