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The Environment Committee of
the Columbus Community Coalition has come up with a
superb idea! They have started an online petition for
residents to ask the City of Columbus for a long-overdue
no-fee curbside recycling program.
Click Here to sign the petition.
The Solid Waste Authority of
Central Ohio (SWACO) has recently offered to coordinate
an area-wide recycling program.
A free curbside recycling program
in Columbus is long overdue. While drop-off efforts are
to be commended, they do not divert enough waste from
the landfills, and they do not send a “green city”
message to current and potential residents. In
comparison to the 50 largest cities in the US, Columbus’
recycling efforts fall short. We have the opportunity
now to make a difference in the city’s long term
financial outlook, bring new green businesses to our
region, and attract and retain valuable talent.
Among the 50 largest cities, only
3, including Columbus, lack some form of a free curbside
recycling program. Even Cleveland and Detroit, who have
far greater financial issues than Columbus, have started
pilot programs with the intention to create citywide
initiatives. Furthermore, Columbus is the only large
Ohio city without a free curbside recycling program.
This situation puts Columbus at a
competitive disadvantage. The young talent pool that
Columbus is trying to attract desires environmental
consciousness and the ability to make a positive impact.
The lack of a recycling program could also turn off
green businesses looking to relocate. Green businesses
will certainly look at environmental features provided.
A recycling program could be an
economic development opportunity—the city might donate
recycled material to local businesses. In the long run,
recycling will help Columbus become fiscally
sustainable, including reducing dumping costs and
prolonging the life of our landfills.
The Columbus Community
Coalition fosters and enhances relationships among
community groups by advocating to improve the quality of
life in Columbus. In addition to the recycling
committee, they have committees on health and education.
You can find them on the web at
www.columbuscoalition.org.
Please share the link with others
to help support this effort. petition will be kept up
until we get a real recycling solution for our city.
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