BRIGHT CLIENT
SWACO
WASTE NOT
WANT NOT
SWAC O … M o re T h a n J u s t A L a n d f ill
W
hen you hear the words
“trash,” “landfill” or “solid
waste,” what do you think of?
Whether it’s nasty smells, unsightly lit-
ter or environmental hazards, it’s prob-
ably not good. But Solid Waste Author-
ity of Central Ohio (SWACO) is working
to change Central Ohio’s mindset about
trash through reduce, reuse and recycle
initiatives, educational programming and
community outreach.
SWACO, one of 52 solid waste districts
in Ohio, is an independently operated
organization consisting of the Franklin
County Sanitary Landfill, two transfer
stations and a robust set of programs to
support waste reduction practices. While
the authority is the only district that owns
and operates a landfill, its various initia-
tives are what help SWACO accomplish
its mission to improve the solid waste
stream through effective reduction, recy-
cling and disposal.
We are constantly educating
people and sharing with them
the engineering marvel that our
landfill really is.
“We really want to see as little as pos-
sible go into our landfill,” said David Lo-
gan, SWACO’s accounting and finance
manager. “We utilize the disposal fee
customers pay to use the landfill, which
is our main source of revenue, to sup-
port the disposal and diversion activi-
ties we undertake.”
What A Waste
Even though Franklin County residents
recycle more waste than the national
average, each resident still throws away
nearly 5 pounds of material every day.
That amounts to about a million tons
of waste coming into the landfill each
year – and around 70 percent of these
landfill materials had the potential to be
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recycled or composted. So it’s easy to
see why SWACO is working hard to find
opportunities to help increase diversion.
Currently, the Franklin County Sanitary
Landfill is expected to last around 43
years but, according to Patrick O’Block,
assistant accounting and finance man-
ager, by increasing diversion and reduc-
ing the amount of waste, SWACO hopes
to extend its life beyond that.
By Abbey Kanellakis,
practice growth manager,
[email protected]
(Dublin office)
surrounding area and groundwater
through a multi-step process that in-
cludes a cell membrane liner, leachate
(wastewater) collection system and a
gas collection and control system. The
waste is covered daily with auto shred-
der residue (foam, plastic and other
non-metal materials from car seats and
dashboards) that saves money, speeds
Through its various diversion programs,
SWACO is working hard to fulfill its mis-
sion. Last year, those efforts alone in-
cluded awarding $178,000 to 14 local
organizations to implement or continue
waste reduction, recycling, reuse and
composting programs. The organiza-
tion also received a grant from a national
nonprofit that made it possible to assist up operations and is a more environmen-
five communities with the purchase of tally friendly approach than soil.
new, larger wheeled recycling carts for
residents. SWACO also offers residents “We do a lot of great work here while
an e-waste collection program, free keeping the environment in mind. We
permanent (and mobile) household haz- are very proud of our beautification
ardous waste collection sites and com- project. People can’t tell that there is a
plimentary webinars, workshops and landfill there because of the attractive
presentations on diversion programs. Fi- landscaping and lack of smell. This is
nally, SWACO implemented its first-ever a testament to our operations team’s
broad scale residential recycling educa- ability to manage the environmental im-
tion program, “Recycle Right, Make a pact,” said Patrick.
Difference,” which helps residents deter- “We are constantly educating people
mine what to recycle and what to avoid.
and sharing with them the engineering
marvel that our landfill really is,” David
That’s Not A Load of Rubbish!
commented. “Sanitary landfills are highly
“We had to work to change people’s per- regulated and constructed with the ut-
ceptions about the landfill,” said David.
most regard for public health and safety.”
A landfill is not a dump that just piles To take a landfill tour or learn more
trash on the surface without any protec- about SWACO’s recycling services, visit
tion. SWACO’s newest sanitary landfill www.swaco.org.
cell is 18.6 acres and is EPA-approved.
Waste materials are separate from the
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