Plastic Free Every Day

Plastic Free July is ending, but habits to remove and reduce use of plastic can continue year-round. 

Plastic is literally everywhere, and it can be overwhelming deciding where to start. PlasticFreeJuly.org has great resources on getting started; plastic free at work;  at events; and more!

A recent article from Sierra Club discusses your plastic-free kitchen and provides tips such as utilizing glass jars; reusable produce bags; alternatives to plastic wrap; and thinking twice about what and where you buy.  Until we have regulatory policies that ensure all chemicals are safe, we will still have toxic chemicals in our homes. Focus on a few things here that will improve your life and reduce your exposure. Don’t try to seek perfection, says Schreder, which is ‘too much on us on the individual, instead of holding the industry and government accountable enough.'”

LiveHealthyOSU.com also recently posted an article, Pass on Pesky Plastics, with information and simple ideas.

Buy whole produce –  Instead of buying half a vegetable such as a cabbage, or pumpkin wrapped in plastic, many people are choosing the whole thing.  By planning meals ahead and making a double batches of meals such as pumpkin soup it’s easily to find ways to use it all and freeze a meal as well.

Avoid plastic cleaning products – Choose plastic free cleaning products and homemade alternatives.

Swap bottled soaps with bars – Swapping out liquid soap in plastic bottles to bar soap is a popular way to reduce plastic waste. Bar soaps can be found without packaging in bulk food, health, and organic stores. Supermarkets also offer bar soaps wrapped in paper packaging, providing eco-friendly options almost everywhere.

***Did you know that you can host a Zero Waste Event with OSU? Learn more and order your Zero Waste Event Kit here!

How to Dispose of Household Hazardous Waste

The Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO) drop-off facility for Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) located at 645 E. 8th Ave. in Columbus is expanding its hours, and will now be open Monday through Friday and on the first Saturday of every month.

New HHW Drop Off Hours

  • Monday through Friday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • The first Saturday of every month: 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Accepted Items

  • Household cleaners and bleach
  • Paint strippers
  • Batteries
  • Gasoline
  • Fluorescent bulbs
  • Motor oil
  • Pool and lawn chemicals
  • Propane and other types of cylinders, and more

The facility currently does not accept ammunition, appliances, asbestos, tires, or medical waste, and is only available to residents, not businesses.

 The site also accepts latex or water-based paint for $1 per gallon, or these paints can be dried out and disposed of in regular household trash for free.

Visit SWACO’s Household Hazardous Waste webpage for a list of accepted items at the free HHW collection site, information about upcoming mobile HHW collection events, and how businesses can dispose of their hazardous waste.

 You can also learn how to properly recycle many common items at RecycleRight.org.

*** For information on hazardous waste disposal at the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, visit My Tools and select Material Disposal Guidelines

Fireworks Should Leave Memories, Not Trash

UPDATE: Cleanup Opportunity at Mock Park on July 5.

It is not uncommon to find streets and beaches littered with the remnants of fireworks after the holiday. Pieces of plastic, paper, and cardboard that are not properly disposed of, can easily make their way to the beaches and the ocean to become marine debris.

There are a number of activities we can all partake in to keep our beaches free of firework debris. Here are just a few:

  • If you launch it, pick it up. Cleaning up after ourselves and ensuring we properly dispose of our own fireworks trash is the very first step in addressing this issue.
  • Join in on a post-Fourth of July cleanup. Check with your local communities to find out how they take care of post-holiday cleanup and how you can be involved.
  • Spread the word. As the holiday approaches, talk to your friends and neighbors about the potential for firework debris to turn into marine debris.
  • Celebrate safely. Visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission website to learn how to properly and safely handle and dispose of used fireworks. More on Firework safety.

By celebrating the Fourth of July and enjoying fireworks responsibly, we can honor our country through protecting our beloved coastal environments, and the marine animals who rely on these habitats.

Also see:

Central Ohio – Disposing Hazardous Waste

Keep Hilliard Beautiful

Keep Columbus Beautiful

Delaware County Litter Prevention

Keep Ohio Beautiful