As part of our ongoing mission to manage the waste stream to enable community growth, prosperity and environmental stewardship, SWACO has established the Community Waste Reduction Grant (CWRG) program. Through the program, governmental entities like parks, cities, townships and villages, schools, other public sectors and non-profit organizations can receive funding for projects and programs that address waste reduction and diversion.

IMPACT Community Action is a nonprofit based in Franklin County with a mission of fighting poverty by providing hope-inspiring help and real opportunities for self-sufficiency. Among other community action initiatives like rent and utility assistance, IMPACT has been a champion for climate justice and reducing the effects of climate change to those who can least afford it. 

As a participant in the creation of the City of Columbus' Climate Action Plan and through community partnerships, IMPACT has increased education efforts and innovative climate justice programming including the development of a clean energy workforce development program, Empowered!. This program helps provide pathways to careers in the clean energy sector. SWACO recently had the pleasure of hosting Empowered! participants, to share our mission and career opportunities and engage the young adults to explore options within the industry.

IMPACT's dedication to serving the community led to a facility transition during the height of the pandemic. They quickly worked to address new challenges and an influx of customers and economically vulnerable residents. The agency soon discovered that its customer-facing recycling and landfill receptacles were insufficient to meet the needs of its growing number of employees and patrons.

As part of their 2023 CWRG award, IMPACT received more than $14,000 from SWACO to increase recycling and composting efforts. Now, to divert material from the waste stream, the agency will have highly visible, well-labeled recycling and landfill receptacles for its busiest indoor and outdoor spaces, and a composter for their community garden to divert garden waste!

SWACO is NOW ACCEPTING applications for the 2024 CWRG program. Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to contact 614-871-5100 or email [email protected] to share ideas before applying. Applications will be accepted until August 4, 2023.

Representatives of public-sector entities can learn more about the CWRG program on SWACO’s website at SWACO.org.