GreenSpot Household eNewsletter--September 2019

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Greenspot

GreenSpot eNewsletter--September 2019

Topics in this edition include:

  • Member benefit: tour the landfill!
  • Member benefit: The Compost Exchange teams up with GreenSpot
  • Plastic-free in the bathroom?
  • Air quality pollution and solutions
  • Pivot app to the rescue
  • GreenSpot and Sawmill Wetlands Education Area
  • Race for Global Water-Columbus
  • Hoover Reservoir Litter Cleanup
  • Did you know they are a GreenSpot? Prime AE Group
Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO) logo

Member benefit: tour the landfill!

Ever wonder what happens to the trash after the garbage truck picks it up? Come learn about waste and waste reduction at the SWACO landfill and take a tour! How much in the landfill could have been recycled? Come on the tour and you’ll find out. The tour will take place Thursday, September 19th 10am to noon. For more information and to reserve your spot (space is limited to 20 people) please email GreenSpot@columbus.gov. This tour is strictly for GreenSpot members.


The Compost Exchange logo

Member benefit: The Compost Exchange teams up with GreenSpot

Are you ready to help improve our water, air and soil? The Compost Exchange makes it easy with their two composting services: Curbside (must be within their territory), which is a 4 month subscription and they come to you, OR Drop Off Booths, which is a 6 month subscription. Subscriptions are renewed automatically unless you opt out. Easy, Convenient, Affordable!

Both services use repurposed pickle buckets collection systems that come with complete instructions. Sign up for either service and get an additional month free because you are a GreenSpot member! This deal expires at the end of September 2019.

To take advantage of this GreenSpot member benefit, the first step is to contact GreenSpot at GreenSpot@columbus.gov to express interest and let them know which service you chose.

Next, follow the instructions you’ll be given and bam! You are helping make Columbus a little greener, one bucket at a time!


silk dental floss in compostable packaging.

Plastic-free in the bathroom?

It can be done! Reducing the amount of plastic in your life is good for the planet and our community. Below are alternatives to plastic. Try one or all of them! 

  • Soap. Is that bar of soap wrapped in plastic? If so, consider purchasing soap that is sold in a paper wrapper or cardboard. Additionally, ditch the plastic soap dispenser and put out a bar of hand soap.
  • Shampoo. There are shampoo bars you can use that will displace that plastic shampoo bottle.
  • Mouthwash. Check with your dentist, but a simple solution of xylitol, water, and a couple drops of essential oil can do that trick. No more plastic mouthwash bottles to deal with!
  • Dental floss. Skip the plastic and go for the compostable silk floss.
  • Toothbrush. You can purchase a toothbrush with a bamboo handle or one that has replaceable heads.
  • Shaving. Try a shaving bar instead of shaving cream that comes in a plastic tube or bottle and skip the plastic razors and try a safety razor instead.
  • Toilet paper. Some toilet paper comes wrapped in plastic. Ditch it and go with TP that is wrapped in paper.
  • Deodorant. This is probably the most difficult. There are alternatives that come in tins or you can make your own (search the internet).

MORPC logo

Air quality pollution and solutions

We breathe more than 50 million gallons of air in our lifetime. Here in central Ohio we have our own challenges to air quality but also have solutions. Check out the video that The Ohio State School of Environment and Natural Resources Environmental Professionals Network and the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission created highlighting this issue. Dr. Brooke White (Senior Air Quality Specialist with MORPC) convenes an array of experts to address the many sides of air quality (health and lungs, trees, transportation and overall environment)...all told through an engaging video-based format posted on YouTube!


Pivot app logo

Pivot app to the rescue

Get early access to Pivot, Smart Columbus’ multi-modal trip planning app. Download Pivot today to empower the way you get around Central Ohio. Pivot helps you get around town based on your preferred way to move like the bus, bike, scooter, personal vehicle and more. Choose the best travel option for you to save time, money, and the environment. Take charge of the way you connect to all that Central Ohio has to offer through this new mobility app powered by Smart Columbus.

Current mobility providers connected in the app include:
• COTA bus
• Campus Area Bus Service
• Smart Circuit
• Yellow Cab
• CoGo
• Lime
• Bird
Download today


Sawmill Wetlands photo of observation station

GreenSpot and Sawmill Wetlands Education Area

GreenSpot is teaming up with Friends of Sawmill Wetlands and the Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District to hold a Conserve and Protect Water at the Sawmill Saturday on October 5th from 10am to noon. There will be several groups there with conserve and protect water theme. In fact if you visit each of the tables you will receive a FREE water saver kit (while supplies last)! Check the Friends of Sawmill Wetlands Facebook page for regular updates.


Race for Global Access to Water logo

Race for Global Water-Columbus

The City of Columbus, City of Westerville, and Ohio Section of the American Water Works Association teamed up to hold a 5K race to raise funds for Water For People--nonprofit organization with a mission to build a world where all people have access to safe drinking water and sanitation. 1.8 billion people around the world don't have access to safe water and 2.4 billion lack access to adequate sanitation. Women and children spend more than 4 hours walking for water each day, and more than 840,000 people die each year from water-related diseases. For more information and to sign up click here


Hoover Clean Up cartoon image of frog with trash bag

Hoover Reservoir Litter Cleanup

Join Columbus Watershed Management
Saturday, September 28th, 2019
9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Hoover Reservoir

There will be drinks and snacks. Gloves and bags will be provided. All volunteers should meet at the west side of Hoover Dam, lower lot. Take State Route 161 to Sunbury Road north North on Sunbury Road to the Hoover Reservoir Marina.
Turn right upon entering the marina and take the roadway
down the hill to the lower west dam parking lot.

For more information please call the Columbus Division of Water,
Watershed Management Section at 614-645-1721.


Prime AE Group logo-higher res

Did you know they are a GreenSpot? Prime AE Group

GreenSpot member PRIME AE Group, Inc. (PRIME AE) makes going green a priority within their offices and for the outdoor and indoor spaces they help build. Some of PRIME AE’s green efforts include:
• Placing recycling bins at each employee’s desk
• Installing LED lighting with sensors in each work area
• Stationing an electric car outlet in front of the office space, which is now used every day
• Ensuring that only Energy Star appliances are purchased
• Maintaining awareness and quick repair of dripping faucets and other inefficiencies
• Securing many architectural and engineering projects that are Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified (check out one of PRIME AE’s many projects that are LEED certified!)

PRIME AE has also cultivated a company recycling initiative that has promoted decreasing the use of plastic and paper products and increasing the use of products made from recycled materials. Office breakrooms are stocked with stainless-steel utensils, plastic plates, and glassware; toner cartridges are collected and recycled; all packing materials, such as bubble wrap, are recycled; and hundreds of pounds of electronics and furniture have been recycled or donated!

The Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO) recently visited PRIME AE’s office to further educate employees on the recycling process, providing them with an understanding of how little changes go a long way and encouraging them to utilize these changes within their homes.


GreenSpot is a program of the City of Columbus Department of Public Utilities. Stay connected through our website.

 www.ColumbusGreenSpot.org