Congratulations to Columbus Micro Sytems: 2024 Ohio EPA Market Development Grant Winner
The Ohio EPA recently awarded Columbus Micro Systems (CMS) a Market Development Grant to purchase a granulator machine to process coaxial cables. The granulator will generate small plastic particles and a pure copper grain. CMS is expected to process at least 24,000 pounds of cable per year and will be one of very few companies in Ohio to provide this type of recycling for e-waste. This equipment will eliminate the need to ship cables out of state and the process will generate value from a waste stream that will continue to grow.
The Ohio Market Development Grant is a competitive statewide grant program that makes $7.5 million available to fund projects that support diversion from the landfill. SWACO is a pass-through sponsor and works with businesses to apply for funding.
To learn more about Market Development Grants, watch Recycle Right At Work: Ohio EPA Market Development Grants.
NEED HELP DIVERTING OFF-SPEC PACKAGING?
Did you know 60% of material coming to the landfill is from the commercial sector and almost 76% of what is buried at the landfill consists of materials that could have been recycled, composted, or diverted? Let us help you find a diversion solution before you send material to the landfill.
SWACO can connect you with industrial recycling processors who can recycle a variety of materials. Send an email to [email protected] that includes information about:
- How much of the material you have.
- How often the material is generated.
- How the material is handled: Is it baled or loose in gaylords?
Click below to learn about the furniture company, LOVESAC which recently diverted 5,000 yards of discontinued upholstery fabric with SWACO’s help. That’s enough to almost cover a football field!
DUMPSTER LABELS ARE JUST ONE COMPONENT OF SWACO’S PROPERTY MANAGER TOOLKIT
There is growing interest in recycling at multifamily properties and SWACO is here to help make your recycling program a success! We’ve created a Property Manager Toolkit to make things easy. One component of the toolkit is labels for recycling dumpsters.
Most of the material in an average trash dumpster could have been recycled– boxes, plastic bottles, aluminum cans, paper, jugs and tubs, and glass. Designating a recycling dumpster to capture these materials is easy with SWACO’s help.
SWACO can install dumpster recycling labels on your existing dumpsters for free. In addition to showing images of what can be recycled, the labels have a QR code that takes residents to the www.recycleright.org website. Even when there’s a change to which items are accepted, the QR code will always be accurate and reflect what materials are processed locally for recycling.
Pictured here is the Olentangy Condominium property, which started recycling in July of 2023 and has since added more recycling capacity as more residents participate in recycling. When setting up new recycling programs, we help with signage and training to ensure your program is a success. Learn more about resources for multifamily recycling here.
Property managers can also download a tool kit here.
MEET SWACO’S NEWEST PROGRAM ADMINISTRATORS
Sean Collins, Assistant Business Program Administrator & Multifamily Specialist
Sean joined SWACO in April of 2024. His background is in Business-to-Business services and support, as well as 15 years in the Hospitality industry. He has degrees from Columbus State in General Sciences and from Penn State University in Energy and Sustainability Policy. Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, Sean has been engaged in sustainability from a young age when he got interested in food, gardening, and agriculture. Sean is hard at work helping the business community divert material from the landfill and is SWACO’s specialist tackling recycling in the multifamily sector.
Sara Gallaugher, Food Waste Program Administrator
Sara is a lifelong resident of Central Ohio and is passionate about conservation and protecting our ecosystem. For the past three years she served as the Watershed Coordinator for FLOW (Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed) with efforts to increase the overall health of the watershed through tree plantings, trash cleanups, invasive plant removals, and volunteer engagement. Sara also serves on the Worthington Partnership Green Team and board. She’s excited to be at SWACO working to divert food waste from the landfill.
How bad is it that our office still uses single use cups for coffee or serves bottled water to guests? (Pretty Bad!) Make a sustainable switch.
- Use ceramic coffee mugs and drinking glasses.
- Set out glasses and a pitcher of water for guests instead of single-use plastic bottled water.
- Eliminate the added expense of buying bottled water and have employees use refillable containers, bring their coffee mug from home, or purchase company-branded pieces that can be washed and reused.
There are lots of small steps a business can take to be more sustainable. Start today!
Upcoming Webinars You Don’t Want to Miss
October 23rd at 12pm: How to use SWACO’s AUDIT Tool which helps businesses track their waste material and learn which parts of it can be recycled. Register here.
Nearly a Million Pounds of Food Waste Comes to The Landfill Each Day
SWACO’s own Jane Boehm was featured on this month’s episode of the Green Champions podcast where she and host Dominique Hadad talked about preventing food waste, from composting leftovers to the local groups who are rescuing edible food for neighbors in need. Check it out here.
Resources to Help with Your Waste Reduction Journey
How to Report Littering, Dumping and Other Environmental Crimes in Central Ohio: The disposal of trash and waste anywhere other than a licensed landfill is a crime that can result in serious environmental and public health concerns. Residents can report environmental crimes by visiting itsacrime.org or calling the 24/7 hotline 614.871.5322. Learn More
