|
“Residential Recycling in Columbus and Franklin County continues to grow, but we still have a lot of work ahead of us,” says SWACO Executive Director Ron Mills on Earth Day 2008. “We are encouraged by the increased volume of recyclables that local residents are bringing to our SWACO Drop-off Recycling Centers,” adds Mills. For the first quarter of 2008, residential recycling at the 200 free SWACO Recycling Centers increased by 306 tons, (2,666 tons collected). The amount of recyclables collected in 2007 was a new record as well (10,755 tons).
Mills congratulates local residents, “It is very encouraging to see these numbers. We have had a rough winter and yet people continued to use our Drop-off Centers. It is clear people will recycle if we make it convenient for them.” SWACO, in partnership with the City of Columbus, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and the Columbus City Schools located an additional 121 recycling centers at school buildings in the fall of 2007. “Mayor Mike Coleman and his staff have worked hard to bring recycling, waste reduction and other green issues to the forefront. Clearly those efforts have been a big boost to SWACO’s mission.”
Mills also thanks Columbus School Superintendent Gene Harris. “Superintendent Harris and her staff realized immediately the benefits to the schools and the community. The program growth shows that students are learning first hand the lessons of recycling. It also indicates to us that the students are taking the message home to their parents.”
However Mills challenges residents to recruit more recyclers. “There is plenty of work left undone. While residents recycled close to 11,000 tons at our SWACO Drop-off Centers in 2007, that represents less than three and a half days of landfill life in a one year period.”
Drop-off recycling by SWACO is free to residents at 200 locations in Columbus and Franklin County. That includes 121 Columbus City School locations. Residents may log on to www.swaco.org and type their zip code into the box under the picture of the green SWACO Drop-off Boxes.
SWACO is the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio. We believe recycling is one part of an effective solid waste management plan. As part of that plan we provide residential recycling opportunities as well as leadership to businesses on the best methods of waste reduction.
SWACO operates the Franklin County Landfill, 200 residential Drop-off Recycling Centers, three transfer stations, and provides many recycling, waste reduction, and litter control programs. Additional information is available at www.swaco.org.
|
