Many households throw away recyclable materials every week without realizing it. That’s adding up to more than 700,000 tons of recyclable materials ending up at the Franklin County Sanitary Landfill each year.
The City of Hilliard and SWACO are teaming up to introduce Recycle Right, Make a Difference – an initiative aimed at improving the rate of recycling here in Hilliard and in greater Franklin County.
Today’s average household only captures about 40% of the recyclables they could, leaving plenty of room to recycle more.
Which items are accepted as part of residential recycling in Hilliard?
- Paper and cardboard
- Plastic bottles, cups, jugs and tubs
- Glass bottles and jars
- Metal cups and cans
- Carton containers
Items not on this list should be reused, donated, composted, or disposed of safely.
Look for more information in the coming weeks about recycling reminders, what belongs in your recycling cart, and common items to keep out.
“We’re proud to be partnering with the City of Hilliard to bring recycling education to residents who we know are excited about sustainability,” said SWACO Executive Director, Joe Lombardi. “Recycling really works. It preserves resources, extends the life of our landfill, and supports Ohio’s circular economy, and this campaign is all about making it easy to Recycle Right.”
With this in mind, another goal of Recycle Right is to reduce the amount of non-recyclable items that are being put in curbside recycling carts and SWACO drop-off locations. Every year, items like plastic bags, batteries, and wire hangers create delays, safety dangers and add cost to the recycling process.
Recycling isn’t just good for the environment; it’s good for Ohio’s economy. Franklin County’s recycling industry supports more than 5,000 jobs and generates $1.3 billion in annual economic activity.
