SWACO Introduces New and Improved Recycling and Food Waste Programing for Franklin County Businesses | SWACO

SWACO will today unveil a new and improved version of its Business Recycling Champion program at a special screening of the movie, Beyond Zero, in conjunction with the Columbus Chamber of Commerce.  Beyond Zero focuses on the efforts of a billion-dollar business to reduce its environmental impact to nothing and, eventually, to even less than that.  SWACO’s Business Recycling Champion program provides free education and recycling containers, and reimburses local businesses for the costs of starting up or improving their existing programs to divert waste from the landfill.

Seventy-six percent of the 1.2 million tons of waste that comes into the landfill each day could have been recycled or composted, and food waste is the largest category, with nearly a million pounds of wasted food thrown away in Franklin County every day.  The new Business Recycling Champion Program has been revamped to make it even easier for businesses to participate, and it now includes a Food Waste Champion component that encourages and reimburses businesses for diverting food scraps.

“One of our core missions at SWACO is to reduce the amount of material that is coming into the landfill,” said SWACO Executive Director, Joe Lombardi.  “It helps to preserve resources and also prolongs the useful life of the landfill.  We know that many businesses and entrepreneurs would like to be recycling and composting more, but we also understand the hurdles they face and the time it can take away from running their businesses.  That’s why we’re excited to have made it easier for Franklin County businesses to access SWACO expertise and funding to start up or improve their recycling or composting programs.”

The new programing already has its first big success, as one of the most recognizable names in Central Ohio, Worthington Enterprises, will be the first Business Recycling Champion under the revamped program.  Businesses can participate in either or both of the Business Recycling Champion and Food Waste Champion programs, and Worthington Enterprises will be doing both.  SWACO provides on-site technical assistance, free recycling and composting containers, customized signage, and is reimbursing the business for the first six months of hauling its recycling and food waste.

“We believe that taking these relatively small steps today can lead to big impacts tomorrow for our company, our community, and the world at large,” said Sonya Higginbotham, Senior Vice President and Chief of Corporate Affairs, Communications and Sustainability for Worthington Enterprises.  “We are grateful for SWACO’s collaboration throughout this process as well as our employees who are leading the way with their actions to a more sustainable future.”

“Sustainability isn’t just good for the environment—it’s good for business,” shared Christine Boucher, Director, Columbus Region Logistics Council at the Columbus Chamber of Commerce. “SWACO’s Business Recycling Champion program makes it easier for companies to launch practical, cost-effective recycling initiatives. It’s a smart investment in our Columbus region’s future and a meaningful step toward a more circular economy for Franklin County.”

Any business in Franklin County is eligible to participate.  See the below fact sheet or click here for more information about how your business can be a Recycling or Food Waste Champion.