Even though we promote and encourage discussion and action around sustainability all year, Earth Month is one of our favorite times of the year because it gives us a more visible chance to encourage individuals, families and businesses to renew their commitment to taking steps to reduce our individual impacts on the planet.
When you think about easy ways to ‘go green,’ recycling is often top of mind. After all, 76% of material arriving at the Franklin County Sanitary Landfill every year can be recycled or composted. But did you know that reducing our footprint goes well beyond recycling? In fact, reducing and reusing waste are even better ways to lessen our reliance on the landfill.
If you’re looking for ways to celebrate Earth Month, consider joining us for one of these upcoming events:
Food Waste Prevention Week (April 4-8): Did you know that nearly one million pounds of food waste is landfilled in Franklin County every single day? But, it doesn’t have to be that way! Visit Save More Than Food to learn some easy ways to reduce your own food waste, from how to shop smart and increase the shelf life of your food, to creative ways to reuse leftovers that will please even the pickiest of eaters.
SWACO Webinars (April 6, 13 and 27): SWACO routinely offers free educational webinars on best practices for reducing waste, reuse, recycling, composting and safely disposing of unwanted materials both at home and at work. Visit the website to learn more about upcoming webinars and topics, including Recycle Right at Work – SWACO Business Toolkit (April 6), Recycle Right at Home (April 13) and the Earth Month Spring Cleaning and Donation Webinar (April 27).
Green Columbus Earth Day Event (April 23): Join Green Columbus, SWACO and other community partners at Genoa Park in downtown Columbus from noon to 7 p.m. for this free, annual family-friendly event featuring local music, food and drinks. Click here for more information and to learn more about clean-up events, tree plantings and other Earth Day celebrations throughout the month.
Grove City Earth Day Event (April 23): Join SWACO staff, the city of Grove City, Keep Grove City Beautiful and other community members from 10 a.m. to 2 pm for some family fun! The event will take place at Fryer Park, 3899 Orders Rd. There will be exhibitors to answer your sustainability questions, fishing, a scavenger hunt, giveaways and food trucks!
Bexley Earth Day Event (April 23): Join us at Schneider Park in Bexley from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. for the annual Green Bexley Fair – a fun, hands-on festival to celebrate the Earth and sustainable living. Schneider Park, a former landfill, is now part of a long trail system and houses the Bexley Community Gardens. Click here for information.
Hilliard Styrofoam Recycling Drive (April 23): In 2021, SWACO provided a $30,000 grant to the City of Hilliard to purchase a new Styrofoam densifier which can compact Styrofoam 50 times smaller than its original size and make it easier to recycle into other products. Have extra Styrofoam laying around the house? Bring it to the Hilliard Community Center from 10 a.m. to noon on April 23. Click here for information and to learn what is and is not accepted.
Prescription Drug Take Back Day (April 30): When you’re done with prescription medicine, it’s easy to forget about it as it sits unused in a drawer or medicine cabinet. But keeping unneeded medicine in the house can harm children, pets, teens and adults if accidentally ingested or misused. Proper disposal is also imperative for the protection of our environment.
The best option for safely disposing of prescription medicines is at a prescription drug drop-off site. SWACO partners with communities in Franklin County to make permanent collection sites available year-round. Visit the website to learn more about the types of medications accepted and to access the locations of drop off sites throughout Central Ohio.
“Shred Hunger” Event (April 30): Join the Franklin County Auditor’s Office, SWACO and a variety of community partners for this free event to safely shred documents, recycle electronics and donate household and nonperishable food items to St. Stephen’s Community House. The event begins at 1 pm at 1500 E. 17th Ave., in Columbus. Click here for information on what’s accepted.
Even the smallest changes can have a big impact on the environment around your home and throughout the world. We all have an important role to play in reducing waste in our community. For more inspiration and ideas on how you can celebrate Earth Day every day, follow us on social media or visit us online at www.swaco.org.