Sustainable Oregon Awards

Garian Cika, Waste Prevention Analyst, City of Eugene

Award Impact: Systemic, nationwide building code transformation for lumber salvage

Blazing a Trail for Sustainable Building Practices 

AOR is thrilled to recognize Garian Cika for her monumental achievements in advancing sustainable materials management. A licensed architect and 10-year veteran with the City of Eugene, Garian identified a massive environmental blind spot: preliminary studies revealed that a staggering one-third of all wood currently sent to landfills is actually reusable lumber. Rather than settling for a temporary local fix, Garian set her sights on the highest tier of building regulation to create a permanent climate solution. Over the past year, she built and led a powerful nationwide coalition comprising local jurisdictions, nonprofits, businesses, universities, and major trade industry leaders. 

A Historic Victory for Climate and Resilience 

Thanks to her tireless advocacy and technical expertise, Garian successfully navigated the rigorous International Code Council (ICC) adoption process. Her groundbreaking proposal was officially approved at the final Public Comment Hearing in Hartford, Connecticut. Because of Garian's leadership, salvage lumber will officially be integrated into the 2027 International Building Code and 2027 International Residential Code. 

Why This Matters

This historic code amendment changes the game globally. It establishes a clear, safe, and code-compliant pathway for owners, builders, and designers to reuse salvage lumber in new construction and renovations. 

The Ripple Effect 

Garian's work directly supports regional climate goals—such as Eugene’s Climate Action Plan (CAP 2.0) and Oregon’s HB3409—while delivering incredible long-term benefits across the materials management community:

• Environmental Impact: Diverts prime wood from landfills, drastically reduces methane emissions, and lowers the embodied carbon of new structures.
   
• Economic & DEI Benefits: Lowers construction costs and creates robust new market opportunities for small businesses, mills, and salvage companies. By expanding access to existing lumber stock, it opens up affordable building material pathways for underserved communities worldwide. 

Garian’s achievement exemplifies the very best of AOR’s mission—driving systemic change, fostering deep collaboration, and proving that resiliency is about the courage and commitment to build better communities. 

St. Vincent de Paul of Lane County

Award Impact: Turning discarded materials into sustainable funding for housing, human services, and second-chance employment

Turning Waste into Opportunity

AOR is proud to recognize St. Vincent de Paul of Lane County (SVdP) for its pioneering approach to combining materials management with community impact. When we talk about sustainability, we often look at the data—tons diverted, carbon reduced, and landfill space saved. But SVdP reminds us that true environmental stewardship isn't just about protecting our planet; it's about lifting up our community.

The History and The Connection

What started in 1953 as a small, volunteer-run thrift store and sack lunch program has grown into the region's largest nonprofit human services organization. But SVdP didn't achieve this growth through traditional fundraising alone. Instead, they pioneered a brilliant, self-sustaining model. They looked at the items our society discards—mattresses, electronics, clothing, and Styrofoam—and saw an economic engine.

Today, SVdP’s waste-diversion and retail programs generate more than 50% of the agency’s total revenue. That money goes directly back into the community, funding homeless and shelter services, veterans' programs, and the management of more than 1,400 units of affordable housing.

The Impact by the Numbers

The sheer scale of SVdP's operation is staggering. In their latest impact report alone, they diverted 20 million pounds of material from landfills. To put that into perspective, that includes:

• Over 286,000 mattresses and box springs recycled across Oregon and California
• More than 8.7 million pounds of scrap metal
• Over 500,000 pounds of electronics safely routed away from harmful e-waste streams
• Over 100,000 pounds of Styrofoam, dense-logged and shipped responsibly

Whether it’s working with national retailers to rescue damaged merchandise or providing rural communities with affordable, used goods, SVdP handles the materials that others write off as broken or useless.

The Heart of the Mission: DEI and Replication

But the environmental metrics only tell half the story. What makes SVdP unique is who does this work. SVdP is a proud, dedicated second-chance employer. They intentionally create stable jobs with benefits, on-the-job technical training, and clear pathways to management for individuals facing massive barriers to employment—including those re-entering the workforce after incarceration.

They know that the best way to serve a community is to be led by the people who live in it. Their workforce reflects the very populations they serve, turning their recycling hubs into places of genuine human renewal.

And they aren't keeping this secret to themselves. Through their Cascade Alliance program, SVdP acts as a mentor to other nonprofits nationwide, sharing this replicable, waste-based economic model so that other communities can achieve the same autonomy and stability.

SVdP proves that a circular economy can create a safety net for the most vulnerable among us. They are a beacon of innovation, resourcefulness, and deep equity.