Six out of every 10 recyclable items in the average Hilliard household end up in the trash. The city wants to change that.
Hilliard and the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio launched the "Recycle Right, Make a Difference" campaign on Aug. 9, aimed at teaching residents exactly what goes in the curbside recycling cart and what stays out.
The typical household captures only about 40% of recyclables it could, according to the city's announcement. Countywide, that gap adds up to more than 700,000 tons of recyclable material reaching the Franklin County Sanitary Landfill each year.
"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," SWACO Executive Director Joe Lombardi said in the announcement.
What goes in the cart
The campaign spells out five categories residents can place curbside:
- Paper and cardboard
- Plastic bottles, cups, jugs and tubs
- Glass bottles and jars
- Metal cups and cans
- Carton containers
Anything not on that list should be reused, donated, composted or disposed of safely.
What stays out
Plastic bags, batteries and wire hangers are among the items that do not belong. Those materials create delays, safety hazards and added costs at recycling facilities, the city said. The contamination problem affects both curbside carts and SWACO drop-off locations across Franklin County.
Why it matters locally
Franklin County's recycling industry supports more than 5,000 jobs and generates $1.3 billion in annual economic activity. Clean material streams from households feed that economy directly.
The city said additional recycling reminders and educational materials will follow the Aug. 9 launch, though no specific dates or events have been announced. Residents can also visit recycleright.org for guidance on what's recyclable.
SWACO, which serves Franklin County and neighboring areas, can be reached at (614) 871-5100.
