SWACO’s School Recycling Champion program provides free indoor containers to help schools implement sustainable, comprehensive recycling programs that teach students and staff how to recycle right at school. Participating schools are asked to assess their current recycling efforts, adopt recycling best practices, and educate staff and students with resources from SWACO.
Click HERE to learn ore about the School Recycling Champion program, and join us in congratulating our most recent School Recycling Champions!
- Finland Middle School
- Grandview Heights Schools
- Kilbourne Middle School
- Perry Middle School
- Phoenix Middle School
- St. Charles Preparatory School
- St. Matthew The Apostle Catholic School
Waste Less, Share More: Join The Cafeteria Share Table Movement
A share table is a simple, impactful way for your school to make sure unopened food goes to students who want it instead of to the landfill. It’s an easy win for your cafeteria, your students, and the planet! SWACO now offers new, easy‑to‑use guidance and signage, created with help from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, Ohio Department of Health, Franklin County Public Health, and Columbus Public Health, so your school can feel confident you’re following all the right rules.
We’d love to help you bring a share table to life in your building—email [email protected] to get started!
Celebrate Earth Month With Upcycled Art
Participate in SWACO’s Upcycled Art Contest! Turn everyday waste into extraordinary creativity! SWACO invites schools to collect used pieces and parts of everyday items and transform them into vibrant works of art that celebrate sustainability and environmental responsibility. Inspired by the work of Ohio upcycle artist Michelle Stitzlein, who creates largescale sculptures from used materials like bottle caps and computer wires to highlight the importance of reuse and resourcefulness, we’re encouraging students to see discarded items not as trash, but as tools for storytelling, innovation, and change. By participating, schools can help reduce waste, spark artistic imagination, and contribute to a greener future! Check out Michelle’s work here.
Participants should submit photos of their upcycled art by April 24th using this form.
Free Landfill Tours
Every year, the Franklin County Sanitary Landfill receives a million tons of waste material from Franklin County homes, schools and businesses. SWACO provides free tours and presentations to educate students on landfill operations and why it’s important to reduce, reuse, recycle, and compost.
In 2025, we hosted more than 4,000 students on tours. If your classroom isn’t already on the schedule to tour the landfill, check out the details and explore the different presentation options available. Call 614-782-9429 or email [email protected] to schedule your visit. We can even reimburse up to $220 per bus trip for Franklin County schools and youth programs.