Central Ohio communities benefit from SWACO consortium program

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The Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO), headquartered in Columbus, says its community consortium program was created in 2005 to help its 41 communities receive more value from their waste hauling contracts by using a competitive, collaborative bidding process for curbside trash, recycling and yard waste collection services. 

Today, 27 communities in Franklin County, representing more than 108,000 households, participate in a consortium. The consortium and contract assistance help ensure that communities receive the best available services at the lowest price, SWACO says. The consortiums also seek to implement best practices for diverting material from landfill and reducing waste. 

Last year, SWACO says it assisted eight communities with their service contracts. As a result, the Ohio communities of Sharon Township and the village of Lockbourne began offering curbside recycling for the first time in January 2018. Upper Arlington, Worthington, Lockbourne and Norwich Township, representing 20,000 households, increased their recycling capacity by switching from 18-gallon recycling bins to 64-gallon recycling carts in January 2018. Cart-based recycling programs provide more convenience to residents and can increase residential recycling by 30 percent. As a result, these types of programs are considered a best practice SWACO says. 

While they did not alter their recycling services in 2017, Clinton and Pleasant townships and the village of Brice all renewed their contracts for services at a lower price, according to the authority. In recent negotiations, SWACO says it helped to save these three communities $144,110 over the next three years. 

“By working together, these communities have been able to provide great value for their residents,” says Kyle O’Keefe, SWACO director of innovation and programs. “They’ve also been able to upgrade their recycling services, which will increase recycling for the entire region. It’s a true win-win and proof that by working together we can move toward a more sustainable Franklin County while still focusing on the bottom line.” 

SWACO’s community consortium program is open to any municipality in Franklin County. For additional information on this program or for a list of participating communities, click here.