Almost 2 Million Tons of waste was generated in Franklin County in 2016, with 44% recycled by residents. However, not all the waste deposited to the landfill is deemed waste. According to SWACO, there was a potential to recycle up to 26% more of the total waste generated. In other words, 70% of the landfill waste is recyclable (SWACO 2016).
Idea
Whitehall is home to almost 19,000 residents, whom all produce waste and some recycle. This overreaching goal is modeled after The Columbus Green Community Plan (Green Memo III), to increase recycling efforts for a cleaner and sustainable community.
Goal
Increase recycling access/use to all Whitehall residents.
Strategies
- Improve policies to promote recycling, composting, and building material reuse.
- Implement best practices for waste reduction at city wide festivals.
- Add recycling bins in public spaces.
- Implement, meet, and exceed, recycling goals at public schools.
- Get the word out through Community Newspapers/Newsletters and through Social Media
- Set community Goals, and show the benefits.
- Engage new homeowners with welcome packets detailing the community's recycling programs.
- Create community drop off locations or events.
- SWACO grant opportunities. link
- Educate citizens about what is recyclable. Make that information available on the city's website.
- Communicate, Communicate, Communicate!!!
The more visible and vocal a community is regarding recycling efforts, then the more likely residents, visitors, and businesses will increase their recycling attempts. Having a city wide recycling competition, that is publicized and highlights the top recyclers, would help encourage recycling. This is where schools can be put into play, for the youngest citizens are often the strongest change agents. Laying the grounds at an early age will encourage recycling behavior as the years progress.
Recycling can be difficult if people do not know what is recyclable, and what is not. Getting the word out is imperative for any Recycling Initiative to be considered a success. People will also not recycle if receptacles are not nearby. As the saying goes, "the path of least resistance will win," resulting in recyclable materials ending up in the landfill, or worse thrown outside in neighborhoods. The above strategies can help provide recycling receptacles at city wide festivals, or having recycling bins placed in various locations throughout the city for regular weekly pickups. This would cost the city some money, however it would help benefit the community by helping reduce the amount of litter waste.
MORPC Sustainability Agenda
This Recycling Initiative will help the City of Whitehall in their efforts to achieve the MORPC Sustainability Agenda's target, for the goals listed in the chart below. Depending on how aggressive the City is with this initiative will determine if the City achieves its 2020 target.
| Element | Description | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| 2.3 | Reduce the amount of municipal solid waste per capita disposed in the landfill | Reduce amount of waste produced |
| 3.1 | Increase the number of businesses in Central Ohio with established sustainability policies and practices. | To show businesses the financial benefit of being sustainable |
To view the full MORPC Sustainability Agenda 2017-2020, please click on the link below,
MORPC SUSTAINABILITY AGENDA 2017-2020 document
Examples
There are many cities surrounding Columbus that are taking on a Recycling Initiative within their communities. These efforts are aimed to increase recycling, and to reduce waste filling landfills and littering their communities. To list a few of the cities, Upper Arlington, Worthington, Bexley, and Reynoldsburg all list what items are recyclable. This is a simple list that the City of Whitehall can adopt to their current website.
Recyclable Material List
Local Waste Management Recyclable Materials
Sources
- SWACO. 2016 Community Impact Report. Online https://www.swaco.org/DocumentCenter/View/390. Accessed 12 April 2018.
Image:
- SWACO, Recycling Right. Online https://static1.squarespace.com/static/522fccafe4b05dc312e96aa5/t/5a6e3433f9619a15b608d7bf/1517171771602/CITY_CityOfWhitehall.pdf. Accessed 12 April 2018.