Ohio Agency Awards More than $300k in Grant Money

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has announced that a total of $318,337 in College and University Recycling & Waste Reduction Program funds has been awarded to nine Ohio public colleges and universities.

The money will help these institutions develop or expand campus recycling and waste reduction programs, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Recycling & Litter Prevention.

All Ohio public colleges and universities were eligible for this competitive funding. Each recipient will provide a 50 percent match, based on the funding amount awarded.

Grant recipients by region are:

The Ohio State University received $31,900 for special recycling containers to be used at home football games. This project expects to gather 16 tons of recyclables such as cans and plastic that would otherwise end up in a landfill.

The University of Akron was awarded $12,900 for the purchase of containers to conduct campus-wide recycling. Numerous materials will be collected. Software will also be purchased to accurately track and monitor solid waste generated and recycled on a monthly basis. Diversion rates will be tracked to determine success of the recycling program.

Youngstown State University received $4,200 to expand the food waste composting pilot project at its main dining hall.

Bowling Green State University was awarded $60,000 to expand campus-wide recycling for paper, plastic, cardboard and aluminum. Recycling containers will be purchased for 28 locations. The funds will also pay for a waste audit to establish the volume of campus-generated electronics, and to determine the best recycling option for these items. An additional 250 tons of materials are expected to be recycled.

Owens Community College was awarded $50,000 to expand their current recycling program with the purchase of bins and material-handling equipment. This expansion will place 25 collection centers across the main campus and the branch campus in Findlay. An additional 63 tons of office paper, newspaper, beverage containers, ink jet cartridges (new program) and cell phones (new program) will be recycled annually.

Ohio University was awarded $50,000 to purchase and install solar panels to power its food waste in-vessel composting project.

Shawnee State University received $30,000 to launch a new, campus-wide recycling program. This funding will cover recycling containers, service fees and awareness costs. This project expects to recycle 100 tons of paper, plastic, cardboard and aluminum cans annually.

Miami University was awarded $31,689 to expand special event recycling.

Wright State University received $47,648 to expand classroom and facility recycling. Cardboard will be baled and recycled at the student union as a result of grant-funded equipment.