Whitehall is receiving grants from the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio to promote recycling and to purchase park picnic tables made of recycled materials.
The SWACO Board of Trustees has announced the approval of the "Smart Community" and "Buy Recycled" grants.
Whitehall plans to purchase seven picnic tables made of recycled plastic lumber for Lamby Lane Park. SWACO has awarded $3,092 to the project. Whitehall will be responsible for $1,516, with a total cost of $4,609.
The city also plans to use three postcard mailings to boost residential recycling. The mailings will not only promote recycling, but also alert residents that they can obtain free recycling containers through Whitehall City Hall. SWACO has awarded $2,411, with Whitehall committing $805 for a total project cost of $3,216.
According to Executive Director Ron Mills, "This year’s applicants showed us some new ideas to promote recycling in their communities. It is clear they are serious about going green and delivering that message to their residents."
A minimum 25 percent match to the grant is required on the part of the recipients.
Smart Community grants are restricted to those cities that are part of SWACO’s program. Besides Whitehall that includes Bexley, Upper Arlington, Hilliard, Westerville, Dublin, Gahanna and Reynoldsburg.
The grants are used toward waste reduction, litter prevention and recycling programs. To be a Smart Community, a city must either have a waste diversion rate of 30 percent or commit to working toward that rate.
Whitehall has an active Litter Task Force comprised of city officials, businesses and concerned residents.
"Buy Recycled" grants are designed to assist governments, schools and political subdivisions with the purchase of products made of recycled content materials.
Whitehall is also applying for another $20,000 grant that would enable them to purchase more materials made from recyclables for Lamby Lane.
Whitehall’s spring clean-up is April 26 – May 10. Residents may set any and all items out for regular trash day to be picked up on Wednesday. A reminder: Trash is set at the curb no sooner than Tuesday night, and cans and bins are to be put away, and not left at the curb.
There will be an alley clean-up April 26 from 9 a.m. – noon. Anyone wanting to help can meet at Whitehall United Methodist Church at Etna and Bernhard.
Hazardous waste drop off will be May 1 at Whitehall Community Park 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
New spring guides will soon be mailed out to all residents of Whitehall. Important information about the city and its services make up that handbook.
The next Litter Task Force meeting will be April 17 at 2 p.m. in council chambers at city hall, 365 S. Yearling Road.
