As the leaves continue to fall, SWACO is helping Franklin County residents keep waste out of the landfill and make sustainable choices. Whether it’s recycling your election yard signs, composting pumpkins, or learning how to celebrate the holidays sustainably, every small choice can lead to a greener community.
Following the election this week, SWACO will be offering residents several convenient and free ways to recycle political yard signs to keep them from becoming roadside litter and out of the landfill. Franklin County residents are encouraged to recycle paper and plastic signs and their metal stands at the following locations:
- SWACO Recycling Convenience Center Drop-Off: Throughout November, yard signs and metal stands can be dropped off at the Recycling Convenience Center at 2566 Jackson Pike in Columbus, between 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, or 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.
- Franklin County Board of Elections Drop-Off: From November 5th through the 30th, residents can drop off yard signs in the blue recycling dumpster at the east end of the parking lot near the Franklin County Board of Elections at 1700 Morse Road in Columbus.
- In Addition: Paper signs can be placed in curbside recycling containers and the stretchy plastic signs can be recycled at retail locations accepting film plastics. Please don’t put coroplast signs or metal stands in curbside containers.
There are no mobile collection events this year, but all of the yard sign drop-off and collection options are free and open to the public. Click here to learn more.
Compost Your Pumpkins
Every year, more than one billion pounds of pumpkins are thrown away in the United States where they take up landfill space. But pumpkins and gourds are 100% compostable, and with drop-off sites across Central Ohio, it’s easier than ever to keep them out of the trash.
Here’s how to compost your pumpkins:
- Clean off any paint, wax, or decorations
- Remove candles or lights from carved pumpkins
- Cut large pumpkins into small chunks (if composting at home)
You can drop your pumpkin off for composting at SWACO’s Recycling Convenience Center at 2566 Jackson Pike from now until December 14th or click below to find a community pumpkin drop-off site near you. Click here to learn more.
Join our Holiday Waste Reduction Webinar
The holiday season can bring both joy and extra waste, but the latter can be avoided. Join SWACO for a FREE webinar on Wednesday, Nov. 19 from 11 a.m. to noon to learn how to plan an eco-friendly holiday season.
What you will learn:
- Tips to reduce food waste during gatherings
- Sustainable gift-giving ideas
- Low-waste decorating tips
- Which holiday packaging can and can’t be recycled
Click here to register.
