Event Waste Reduction Grant

Interested applicants planning events should contact Kristi Higginbotham, SWACO Programs Administrator, at [email protected] or 614-871-5100 before drafting an application to discuss the timeline and proposed activities.

Additionally:

• Applications MUST be submitted at least 8 weeks before the event date.
• The event must occur within SWACO's jurisdiction in central Ohio, comprised of Franklin County, and include the cities of Dublin, Westerville, New Albany, Reynoldsburg, and Canal Winchester.
• The event must be in person.  Funding for virtual events will not be considered.
• The event must be open to the public.
• The event may charge admission, but funding will not be considered for invitation-only events.
• If approved, no purchases can be made before the execution of a grant agreement, meaning both parties must have signed the agreement before purchases are made. 

Funding is available for establishing, improving or expanding waste reduction, reuse, recycling, composting or food donation activities at events. 

Funding may also support diversion-related outreach and education activities that increase public awareness of the importance of waste reduction and diversion. 

Equipment, Supplies, and Professional Services qualifying as an allowable use of funds will be at the sole and complete discretion of SWACO; a partial award may be approved if not all requested activities, as stated by the applicant, are eligible for funding.

• Equipment: Durable, reusable equipment specific to waste reduction, reuse, recycling, and composting, such as reusable containers, signage, and processing equipment.
• Supplies: Materials for education, outreach, and awareness activities.
• Professional Services: Eligible services include contractual expenses relating to the provision of waste reduction/diversion consulting or planning services, transport/hauling of recyclable or compostable (not trash) materials, or fees related to the acceptance of recyclable or compostable materials at a licensed facility. Professional Services that support existing diversion programs are NOT eligible.

Containers for Loan

SWACO offers containers for loan to help events within our jurisdiction effectively recycle and compost materials. Please visit the Event Container Loan webpage to learn more today!

Best Practice Guides for Waste Reduction and Diversion

• SWACO - Event Waste Reduction Best Practices Guide (PDF)
• SWACO - Best Practices Guide for Container Set Up (PDF).
• SWACO - pre-application and event waste reduction best practices webinar click here
• City of Columbus - Green Event Guide (PDF)
• OEPA - Zero Waste Special Event Planning Guide

Since 2016, SWACO has funded 29 projects to local event organizers, totaling more than $82,000 and diverting more than 146,000 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, Columbus Coffee Festival, ComFest, Festival for Good, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Summer Festival,  What? Music and Arts Fest, Final Third Foundation, Pelotonia, Jack Speakmon Memorial Regatta, the City of New Albany's Summer Concert series and Diwali Celebration, and Columbus Speech & Hearing's Halloween Hop!