Enjoy Summer -Sustainably!

Jun 18, 2025

Summer in central Ohio is full of outdoor adventures, community events, and time with friends and family. As you soak up the sunshine, it’s also a great opportunity to make environmentally conscious choices that help reduce waste.

Make the most of the summer season by committing to do these simple actions:

• Visit a refillery to stock up on bulk items like sunscreen, aloe gel, laundry detergent and more. This is a great way to reduce packaging.
• Had a summer cookout? Try turning leftovers like sweet potatoes into a delicious smoothie! Find the smoothie recipe and more creative ideas at org/FreshTakes.
• Don’t forget to recycle commonly used items such as juice jugs, berry containers (clamshells) and metal cans.
• Heading out with friends? Try carpooling to reduce your carbon footprint. If you’re staying close to home, walk to your local farmers market or park instead of driving.
• Compost your food scraps whenever possible. In Franklin County, you can compost at home, bring food waste to the SWACO Recycling Convenience Center, or use one of the 30+ community food waste drop-off locations across central Ohio.
• Just mowed the lawn? Add the grass clippings to your yard to help return nitrogen to the soil. If you have too many clippings, consider composting them or placing them in a brown bag or container clearly marked as yard waste for curbside pickup.
• Working on summer chores like replacing a propane tank or getting rid of lawn chemicals? These items can’t be recycled and shouldn’t go in your regular trash. Take them to SWACO’s Household Hazardous Waste Facility at 645 E. 8th Ave. Click here to learn more.

Finally, the summertime in central Ohio is packed with festivals and events — and many are making sustainability part of the experience. Look for events participating in the SWACO Container Loan Program. These events are working with us to provide either composting and or recycling containers, to make it easy for attendees to help divert waste.