Columbus area cities add food waste drop-off locations

Seventy-six percent of the material sent every year by homes and businesses to the Franklin County Sanitary Landfill located near Columbus, Ohio, has the potential to be reused, recycled or composted. 

In an ongoing effort to bolster the region’s sustainability by diverting more waste away from the landfill, the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO), Grove City, Ohio, has collaborated with the nearby cities of Columbus and Dublin and the village of Brice to capture more food waste and household recyclables.

RELATED: Inside SWACO’s mission to fight food waste in central Ohio

The partnerships include comprehensive food waste reduction initiatives, including the establishment of convenient food waste drop-off sites for residents to use; implementing Save More Than Food, a public education campaign to raise awareness about responsible food disposal practices; and expanding recycling infrastructure.

“Collaboration is at the heart of our mission, and these joint efforts with the cities of Columbus, Dublin, and the village of Brice exemplify the impact we can achieve by working together,” SWACO Executive Director Joe Lombardi says. “Through our combined dedication to reducing food waste and enhancing recycling infrastructure, we are paving the way for a more sustainable and environmentally conscious Central Ohio.”

Food waste drop-off sites in Columbus and Dublin

As part of the 2023 Community Waste Reduction Grant program, SWACO awarded the city of Columbus $35,000 to establish three new food waste drop-off sites. Locations are free to use and are available at: 

• Scioto Southland Park, 3901 Parsons Ave., Columbus
• Anheuser-Busch Sports Park, 4990 Olentangy River Road, Columbus
• Dodge Park and Recreation Center, 667 Sullivant Ave., Columbus

These locations accept items such as meat, fish, small bones, dairy products, eggs, pasta, fruits and vegetables, paper towels, soiled napkins and more. 

“We promised more refuse collection services to support our residents’ desire for environmentally conscious food waste disposal, and the launch of our three drop-off locations is a continuation of those efforts,” Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther says. “The city’s partnership with SWACO advances our collective commitment to reduce landfilled waste and greenhouse gas emissions, which helps to ensure a healthier, cleaner climate for everyone.”

With the opening of these three Columbus locations, 13 Central Ohio communities now host a food waste drop-off site, including Dublin, which established a food waste program in 2020 after receiving $6,759 in financial support from SWACO. 

“We know that when these sites are offered, along with comprehensive education about the prevalence of and prevention of food waste, households learn to generate less waste which saves them money, conserves natural resources used to grow and transport food and protects the life of the landfill,” Lombardi says. 

Since its launch, Dublin’s food waste drop-off program has diverted 145 tons of material, and now the city is partnering with SWACO to deliver educational information from Save More Than Food to residents’ mailboxes and social media feeds to encourage more Dublin residents to sign up and participate in the already successful program.  

“Composting in Dublin is one of the many ways residents can join us in our mission to be the most sustainable global city of choice. Positive feedback has been received since the program began in 2021,” Dublin Operations Administrator Michael K. Darling says. “The city of Dublin’s partnership with SWACO has made it possible for clean and easy disposal of food waste.”

Village of Brice’s recycling cart program

SWACO is dedicated to supporting increased recycling across central Ohio, including its smaller communities, such as the village of Brice. The agency helped the village purchase 65-gallon wheeled recycling carts for its residents. An upgrade from small, hand-held bins, the carts are easier to move to the curb, hold more recycling and reduce litter because of their lids. SWACO’s Community Cart Grant program makes the purchase of new carts economically appealing for communities because they typically receive a 50-percent or greater price reduction on the carts.

Brice is the eighth Central Ohio community to participate in SWACO’s cart grant program. Since 2019, SWACO has provided carts to more than 45,000 households in the Ohio communities of Bexley, Blendon Township, Gahanna, Pleasant Township, Reynoldsburg, Westerville and Whitehall.

Residents and businesses in these partner communities are encouraged to participate in food waste reduction initiatives and embrace responsible recycling practices to contribute to the success of these programs.