Everywhere you look, companies, organizations, and even households are going green.
Conservation of the earth and its resources has moved to the forefront of political debates and rallies.
A new agreement between the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO), the City of Columbus and Columbus City Schools is making it easier for families across Columbus to join the movement.
This partnership will allow for the placement of 121 new recycling drop-off boxes, which will be located at most Columbus City Schools.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources also chipped in, providing a grant of $50,000 to go towards the purchase of the bins.
These drop boxes will be free of charge and available to all area residents. They will accept cardboard, paper, bottles, cans and other recyclable materials.
SWACO and CCS have already established a "recycling relationship." For the last three years, SWACO recycling containers have been placed in every Columbus City School classrooms. That adds up to over 5,500 containers.
Since 2005, CCS students have recycled approximately 1,500 tons. According to a press release issued by SWACO, that equals nearly 27 pounds of trash for each CCS student per school year.
The new recycling drop boxes will bring the number of free recycling locations in Franklin County up from 69 to 190.
Recycling not only helps the environment, but also helps put money back in your pocket.
According to SWACO Interim Executive Director Ron Mills, recycling diverts trash from SWACO’s Franklin County Landfill, which helps the landfill last longer. This saves on the costs of relocation, saving tax dollars.
The City of Columbus will also save $20 in landfill costs for every ton of paper, plastic, glass and metal that is dropped in a recycling bin.
The new CCS locations will be open for residential use Monday through Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. and on the weekends from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Other drop-off locations throughout the county will be available 24 hours a day.
A list of recycling locations is available at www.swaco.org. By typing in their zip codes, residents will be given a list of the closest recycling locations.
