Event Waste Reduction Grant

Central Ohio is proud to be home to many public events.  Many residents and businesses look forward to annual events and outdoor festivals that take place during the warmer months. As the county continues to grow in population and popularity, tens of thousands of people now attend these local events.  The Event Waste Reduction Grant (EWRG) program provides reimbursement funding for activities at these events that increase waste reduction, reuse, recycling, and composting; as well as diversion-related outreach and education activities to increase the public awareness of the importance of these activities.  Grant dollar amounts are awarded based on event attendance and eligibility criteria.

To sign up to receive notifications and/or to share ideas, please click here.

2023 Grant Cycle 

SWACO is NOW ACCEPTING applications for the 2023 event season!  

Please download the application HERE to learn more.  Applications will be accepted until August 4, 2023, before 5 p.m.
 
We strongly encourage interested applicants to contact 614-871-5100 or email [email protected] to share ideas in advance of applying.

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Purpose

The Event Waste Reduction Grant program seeks to assist local event organizers with reducing event-generated waste and diverting as much material as possible from the Franklin County Sanitary Landfill. Event waste reduction grants can also aid in helping event organizers with building needed and necessary infrastructure to sustain diversion efforts beyond the grant funding year to continue to contribute to a safe and healthy community for all Franklin County residents. 

Eligibility

To be eligible for a grant award, events:

  • Must occur within SWACO's jurisdiction (PDF) of Franklin County, Ohio.
  • Must take place during the grant cycle calendar year.
  • Must be open to the public.
  • Must have a projected attendance of 2,000 people or more.
  • May request funding for activities specific to establishing or promoting new waste reduction, reuse, recycling and composting programs. 

* Consideration will also be given to the significant expansion and/or improvement of existing diversion and outreach activities.

Webinars

Please be sure to check out our Webinars focused on best managment practices for waste reduction, sustainability, grant eligibility, and SWACO's application process.

Did you know?  SWACO offers an Event Container Loan Program designed to help events within our jurisdiction effectively recycle and compost materials.  Please visit the Event Container Loan Program web page to learn more today!

Additional Waste Reduction Resources for Events

Download SWACO's Event Waste Reduction Best Practices Guide (PDF)

Download the City of Columbus Green Event Guide (PDF)

Download the OEPA's Zero Waste Special Event Planning Guide
 

  • Grant applications for the 2019 CWRG were accepted Monday, July 2, 2018 - Friday, September 21, 2018.  
  • Award recipients will be notified of their funding status in November 2018.  
  • Awarded projects will begin in January 2019. 

Past Award Recipients

Since 2016, SWACO has funded 24 grants to event organizers totaling more than $77,000 and diverting more than 137,000 pounds of recyclable and compostable materials from the landfill!  

We are proud to have provided grant funding and collaborated with the following events: Green Columbus Earth Day, Columbus CREW Rock on the Range, Greater Columbus Arts Council - Columbus Arts Festival, Dublin Irish Festival, Columbus Food Truck Festival, Dublin Arts Council BREAD Festival, Upper Arlington Labor Day Arts Festival, Columbus Italian Festival, HighBall Halloween, Old Hilliard’s Halloween Haunt, The Ohio State University tailgate events, Greater Columbus Convention Center Women's Final Four event, Franklinton Farms,  CoffeeFestColumbus Coffee Festival, ComFest, Festival for Good and the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Summer Festival in Grove, CityWhat? Music and Arts Fest, and Final Third Foundation.

Please contact SWACO at 614-871-5100 or [email protected] with questions.