Green Buckeyes – To educate students and staff to help them make responsible, sustainable choices to meet the short- and long-term needs of our community, both within and outside of OSU.
RecycleRight.org -Learn how to recycle in Central Ohio. What items can be collected and where.
WastED – A Waste and Recycling Podcast by SWACO
SWACO News – Keep up to date on the latest news and updates with Franklin County recycling. New recycling opportunities are always popping up!
Plastic Free July Bingo Tips
Choose to Reuse with SWACO:
As part of the Choose To Reuse initiative announced in April, SWACO is encouraging Franklin County residents to go plastic free this July. In partnership with two local soap refilleries–Resen Refillery and Natural Market in Grove City and ReWash Refillery in Clintonville–SWACO is providing a discount to customers who come into the store and mention “Choose To Reuse” when checking out.
SWACO will offer 25% off in-store purchases, with a maximum discount of $25 for each customer during the month of July to promote the global movement, Plastic Free July. The offer is for in-store purchases only and can be unlocked by saying “Choose To Reuse” when checking out.
By shopping at a refillery, you’re helping reduce the 380 million pounds of plastics that end up in the Franklin County Landfill each year. Plastic can take hundreds of years to decompose and plastic that doesn’t make it to the landfill often becomes harmful roadside litter.
Plastic Pollution and Microplastics:
Plastic free laundry detergent can be in the form of laundry sheets, concentrated solutions, powders and more. Check out some of these places to find something that suits you: ReWash Refillery in Clintonville, Grove Collaborative online, Seventh Generation products, you can also switch out dryer sheets for wool dryer balls! If you can’t find plastic free laundry detergent, try to find another plastic free cleaner for your house, and you can still mark this box.
Alternatives to Ziploc and saran wrap: you can find reusable silicone zipper bags that you can wash and use over and over, you can use “Tupperware” or other containers such as mason jars, you can find beeswax covers to replace saran wrap. Some places even have compostable snack bags!
Alternatives to common plastic items, such a toothbrush: You can find bamboo toothbrushes, you can find sustainable baby toys, you can switch out feminine products for a diva cup, bamboo hairbrushes, you can look into sustainable and plant-based cat litter, stainless steel litter boxes, switch to a bamboo cutting board, reusable cupcake liners, silicone ice cube trays, buy aluminum single use cups over Solo cups, bamboo chopsticks, Swedish towels, natural fiber scrubbers/sponges, plastic free kitchen utensils, use hand soap refills, switch to cloth, paper, recycled or compostable wrapping paper for gifts. And so much more!
Central Ohio locations that accept plastic grocery bags.
Items made from natural fibers: look for natural fibers such as hemp, cotton, silk, wool, and linen. Avoid fibers like polyester, acrylic, spandex and nylon. If you are unable to replace an item, think about repurposing an old item to keep it out of the landfill, or buying textiles second-hand. You can also look into non-clothing items such as naturally made or plastic free scrubbers and sponges (made from walnuts, coconut, vegetable cellulose). Look for natural fibers and ingredients in baskets, rugs, table linens, towels, candles, cleaning products, soaps and more.
Textile Recycling Opportunities
Donate plastic plant pots and trays
Columbus Farmer’s Markets and Community Supported Agriculture