SWACO lists steps to reduce emissions by nearly two-thirds

The Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO) says it has committed to reducing its carbon footprint and has released Carbon Emissions Management Plan that it calls a comprehensive strategy to reduce carbon emissions that are within its operational and financial control by 64 percent by 2032.

SWACO, which serves Ohio’s capital city Columbus plus the remainder of Franklin County and some neighboring areas, says the plan has been designed to put the agency’s CO₂ emissions in alignment with the international Paris Accord.

The agency says the plan addresses landfill gases, SWACO’s fleet of vehicles and equipment, and energy and waste-management practices at the organization’s headquarters and other facilities.

The plan “also highlights innovative public-private partnerships SWACO has created to further reduce landfill gases and help partner organizations reduce their overall emissions through a reduction in their reliance on the landfill by reducing waste, and increasing reuse, recycling and composting programs,” states SWACO.

“SWACO’s stated vision is a community that is both environmentally safe and resourceful,” says Ty Marsh, executive director of SWACO. “We want to walk the walk when it comes to protecting our environment, so our plan identifies measures for reducing the carbon footprint of our facilities.”

Specifically, the plan aims to:

• reduce emissions from SWACO’s fleet of vehicles and equipment; SWACO will continue to transition its fleet from gas and diesel fuel to alternate fuel sources, primarily compressed natural gas and electricity;
• reduce building electricity and fuel; SWACO will implement conservation measures to reduce the energy use at its headquarters and other facilities and will consider incorporating renewable energy sources, including wind, solar and geothermal, into its power supply;
• reduce waste material by continuing to recycle, compost and re-use materials and by supporting circular economy practices, including purchasing supplies made of recycled content; and
• reduce landfill gas emissions; SWACO will continue to engage in a public-private partnership to capture and reuse methane gas generated at the Franklin County Sanitary Landfill it owns and operates, and will continue to offer programs and services to help the community reduce its reliance on the landfill.

The agency says it already employs “innovative best practices at the landfill to capture and reuse the methane produced by decomposing waste.” To do this, SWACO partners with Michigan-based Aria Energy to capture landfill gas at the current Franklin County Sanitary Landfill site and convert it into a resource that heats the equivalent of some 30 central Ohio homes every year.

Most recently, SWACO announced a new partnership with New York-based BQ Energy to install a 50-megawatt solar array at a closed landfill in central Ohio. The solar array will be one of the largest on a closed landfill site in the nation and when operational will produce enough electricity to power 100 homes per year, says SWACO.

“When we choose to take personal responsibility and reduce the amount of waste we’re creating individually, and resolve to recycle and compost more, we reduce our reliance on the landfill and can further our region’s efforts to stop climate change,” says Jeff Wilkins, SWACO’s director of administration and team lead for the Carbon Emissions Management Plan.

SWACO will also continue to offer programs and services directly to businesses and residents in order to divert organic material and other waste from the landfill, through programs like Save More Than Food and Recycle Right, Make a Difference.

“I’m proud of the steps that SWACO is taking to reduce its carbon footprint and minimize its role in climate change,” says Marsh, “We want people to know they can count on us to do our part in making central Ohio an environmentally safe and resourceful place to live.”