When it comes to reducing and disposing waste, SWACO is always planning for the future. Our goal is to divert 75% of waste from the Franklin County Sanitary Landfill by 2032, requiring action from everyone in the community to meet that goal in the years ahead. This year, the Franklin County Sanitary Landfill received and safely disposed of more than one million tons of waste. As a result of projected population growth, SWACO estimates that 600,000 additional tons of waste will be generated every year in Franklin County. Even though we have 43 years of life remaining at the landfill – enough space to accommodate that growth – we don’t just want to store waste. We want to reduce it.
As 2021 comes to a close, we’re reflecting back on all that we, as a community, have accomplished this year to become a more sustainable place to live and work.
- We completed construction of a new 20-acre landfill cell, which will serve our community’s growing disposal needs as our population grows.
- With the addition of new food waste drop off programs in Grove City, Hilliard and Worthington, Franklin County is now home to 7 convenient drop off locations which together composted more than 400,000 pounds of food in a single year.
- Enhancements to recycling infrastructure and education allowed Whitehall to double its recycling rate, and led to a decrease in contamination in Gahanna’s recycling.
- A partnership with the City of Columbus and AEP Energy Partners for the Columbus Solar Park – the largest solar array on a closed landfill in the United States – will generate clean energy for the Columbus Region, powering 5,000 Central Ohio homes.
- A multifamily housing recycling pilot program will measure outcomes to inform future decisions about the potential for a full program for families and individuals living in apartments and condos.
- More than a dozen community partner recycling and composting programs were supported at area schools, nonprofits, government buildings and public programs.
- SWACO proposed a Green Economy Business Park, a 350-acre sustainability destination that could generate over 2,000 green jobs, over $350 million in capital investment and more than $3 million in local revenues
- 100% of SWACO facilities are now powered by renewable energy and our waste to energy facility continues to provide clean energy to 13,000 homes.
We’re proud of what’s been accomplished – a true testament to our community’s commitment to a more sustainable future. But we can always do more. When we prioritize our environment today, we’re protecting the generations of tomorrow. We’re creating green jobs, and building a stronger economy that will allow residents and businesses to sustainably grow and thrive.
Thank you, Central Ohio, for your partnership in creating a better place to call home. Together, we can make a difference.