WastED - A Waste and Recycling Podcast by SWACO

SWACO's Greenprint Initiative and The Future of Waste, Recycling and Composting

Seventy-six percent of what we bury in the landfill could have been reused, recycled, or composted and that single number changes how you look at “trash.”  Hanna and Joe sit down with Jonathan McCracken, SWACO’s Director of Sustainability and Operations, to unpack Greenprint, our roadmap for building a stronger, more convenient, more practical waste reduction system. We talk through the real-world problem first: landfill tonnage stays relatively flat while the region grows, and more than a million tons of material still head to the landfill each year. From there, we get specific about solutions, starting with the new Class II composting facility at the City of Columbus convenience center on Alum Creek Road. Jonathan explains how an in-vessel composting unit processes food scraps and how the eventual compost supports community gardens. Partnerships show up everywhere, from expanding recycling convenience centers with municipalities like Worthington to making it easier to drop off the hard stuff like batteries, styrofoam, and electronics. We also share updates on pilot programs to reshape landfill diversion, including a textile and clothing recycling effort that recovered 26,000 pounds of clothing!  Along the way, Jonathan connects his lessons from Capitol Hill and USDA rural development work to local sustainability and the circular economy. If you care about composting, recycling, waste reduction, and practical sustainability in Franklin County and beyond, hit play, then subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

Earth Day Is Every Day.  How SWACO and Columbus Partner For A Sustainable Tomorrow

Earth Day is a lot more than a feel-good day when you remember one uncomfortable fact: our trash moves. What starts as litter on a Columbus street or a bottle in a storm drain can end up far downstream, as in the Gulf of Mexico!  That’s why the choices we make at home matter at a city scale. For Earth Month, we sit down with City of Columbus leaders Kelly Scocco and Tim Swauger to talk about what “Our Power, Our Planet” looks like when you’re responsible for real-world waste, recycling, and neighborhood cleanliness. Hanna and Joe dig into the practical side of waste reduction and why the best recycling program starts before you ever open the cart. You’ll hear how Columbus pushes reduce and reuse efforts first and how consistent rules across our region make participation easier.   We also talk honestly about population growth, the pressure it puts on collection systems, and why protecting landfill capacity is a long-term sustainability issue, not just a budgeting problem. Then we get into the exciting news: SWACO and the city have partnered to open Franklin County’s only class two composting facility.  This creates a local home for food waste drop-off and a tangible circular economy win as organics become usable compost in about a month. We also spotlight Keep Columbus Beautiful, the year-round initiative organizing cleanups, school outreach, and diversion efforts that help residents take action every day. Don't forget to subscribe and share this with a friend who wants to live more sustainably, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

How Central Ohio Construction Is Cutting Waste For A More Sustainable Future

Central Ohio is packed with cranes right now, but what happens to all the materials when roads get milled and buildings get renovated?  Joe and Hanna dig into the part of construction most people never see: the waste stream, the hidden costs of landfilling, and the practical steps that make recycling real on busy job sites. We’re also celebrating SWACO breaking ground on a new education center and administrative office building designed to be sustainability-forward, LEED-aligned, and net zero energy. From geothermal and solar to a mass timber structure and strong waste diversion goals, the project is built to “walk the walk” and to teach. The new space will welcome thousands of students and community members with interactive learning on composting, recycling, engineered landfills, the circular economy, and green jobs. Ryan Smith from RAP Management joins us to explain why recycled asphalt product (RAP) is both a huge opportunity and a huge challenge. Ryan shares how European technology, brought from Switzerland, can increase recycled content while delivering high-quality asphalt, plus some jaw-dropping scale of diversion numbers! Josh Lloyd from Turner Construction Company walks us through sustainable construction and demolition recycling in the real world: choosing haulers who recycle, keeping loads clean to avoid contamination, and using LEED as a common language for healthier materials and better procurement. He also shares an inspiring job-site food rescue effort that has already diverted over 13,000 pounds of food to families in need. If you care about sustainable construction, recycled asphalt, LEED certification, or reducing construction waste in Central Ohio, you’ll get clear examples you can point to and ideas worth pushing.   Subscribe, share this with a builder or planner in your life, and leave us a review with your biggest question about cutting waste on job sites.

How the SWACO Scholarship Program Lowers College Costs And Builds Careers

College costs keep climbing, but the need for skilled environmental leaders has never been more urgent. Hanna and Joe welcomed Kaylee Oiler, the SWACO contract administrator who oversees our scholarship program, to unpack how we help launch real careers in sustainability, engineering, policy, and solid waste management.  From the eligibility basics to the essay that seals the deal, we break down what matters most and why these awards are designed to drive impact you can see. We walk through the essentials: who can apply, accepted degree paths, and the timeline for the application window and scholarship announcements. Kaylee explains how our eight-person review committee evaluates passion, purpose, and a clear plan to serve communities—especially through projects that improve recycling, expand composting, or modernize landfill operations.  Along the way, we talk about the bigger picture: how SWACO’s decades of student engagement—from classroom visits to landfill education—feed a growing pipeline of talent. Universities now offer far more options in environmental science, environmental engineering, public policy, and circular economy fields, creating paths for students who want to pair technical skills with community impact. When we invest in these learners, we invest in cleaner neighborhoods, smarter infrastructure, and a stronger local workforce. If you or someone you know is a graduating senior or GED student with a passion for sustainability, now’s the time. Apply at SWACO.org by March 31, share this episode with a friend who needs the nudge, and help us build the next generation of waste and recycling leaders!

Two Local Partners Help Families and Our Landfill

The gift of giving doesn’t have to end when the holidays are over. What if your old sofa could be the reason a family sleeps better, studies at a real table, and finally feels at home? We sit down with Brody Olson of Two Men And A Junk Truck and Phil Washburn of the Furniture Bank of Central Ohio to share how a simple reroute—from landfill to living room—creates outsized impact across Central Ohio, including helping you sustainably clean up from the holidays.   Joe and Hanna walk us through the origin of their partnership, why speed matters, and how donations move from a pickup truck to a family’s home in a matter of days. Phil explains the referral network that identifies households leaving homelessness, domestic violence, or disaster, and why the most requested items are the most basic: sofas, beds, and dressers.  Brody opens the hood on junk hauling, the kinds of usable items they see every day, and the moment he realized mattresses—when clean and safe—can be accepted and immediately put to use. How about this for a staggering number - nearly 3,000 tons of furniture going to families in need while keeping all those items out of the landfill! This great conversation also gets practical. If cardboard is piling up, try renting heavy-duty boxes, saving your best ones for the next move, or circulating them through neighborhood groups. Plus, we highlight community access points: affordable thrift stores, neighborhood food pantries and upcoming events that make responsible drop-offs easy. Mark your calendar for Furniture Bank Day on April 25, 2026, and keep an eye out for Earth Day and World Cleanup Day collection drives. If you want less waste and more impact, this is your playbook!  Subscribe, share this episode with a neighbor who’s decluttering, and leave a review telling us one item you’ll pass on to a new home this month.