Celeste
Meiffren-Swango
State Director, Environment Oregon
On staff: 2006-2009; 2010 to present
B.A., magna cum laude, University of Arizona
As director of Environment Oregon, Celeste develops and runs campaigns to win real results for Oregon’s environment. She has worked on issues ranging from preventing plastic pollution, stopping global warming, defending clean water, and protecting our beautiful places. Celeste’s organizing has helped to reduce kids’ exposure to lead in drinking water at childcare facilities in Oregon, encourage transportation electrification, ban single-use plastic grocery bags, defend our bedrock environmental laws and more. She is also the author of the children’s book, Myrtle the Turtle, empowering kids to prevent plastic pollution. Celeste lives in Portland, Ore., with her husband and two daughters, where they frequently enjoy the bounty of Oregon’s natural beauty.
Posts by Celeste Meiffren-Swango
Agilyx, the “chemical recycling” facility in Tigard, is closing its doors. Here’s why that’s a good thing.
“Chemical recycling” is a term invented by the oil, gas and petrochemical industries to hide where plastic is actually going: the incinerator.
Millions of tiny plastic pellets are being dumped into our waterways
These tiny plastic pellets, called “nurdles,” are being dumped into our waterways — and they’re putting wildlife at risk.
Turning plastic waste into plastic lumber isn’t recycling
Most of Amazon’s plastic packaging isn’t being recycled, and some might end up as material for plastic decking instead.
Portland City Council votes to phase out gas powered leaf blowers
On Wednesday the Portland City Council unanimously passed an ordinance to phase out gas powered leaf blowers within the next four years.