District Recycling

Possible Academic Connections: Marketing, Graphic Design

Recommended project length: Semester, year or thesis/dissertation

Remote learning possible? Likely

Connection to OHIO Sustainability & Climate Action Plan: Waste, Climate

Brief description: Create an educational campaign for Solid Waste District Drop-Off recycling locations to improve recycling regionally.

Project Description

For a semester-length project, students will create an educational campaign for the Solid Waste District to promote our 22 District Drop-Off locations and to urge users to follow guidelines and not use plastic bags in the recycling bins (curbside or in the Drop-Off locations).
The goal is to reduce the contamination of plastic bags and eliminate unacceptable items in the recycling bins. Currently, contamination is around 9%, so that means the District pays for garbage in recycling containers to pick up, transport, process, and then dispose of material that is not recyclable at this time.
- Research current recycling guidelines for the AHSWD
- Contact Jane Forrest Redfern to learn the expectations for the educational campaign
- Determine barriers to proper recycling by county residents
- Create educational and marketing materials to promote proper recycling

Initial Interview with Coordinator
Data from an outreach project from the summer of 2021
A tour of the Material Recovery Center in The Plains or view a YouTube video with an audio description of the Director of Athens Hocking Recycling Center.
The opportunity to do a waste audit at a Drop-Off site and then do a follow-up one to see results after the plan is implemented to see the impact of one site.

Please send final project deliverables to sustainability@ohio.edu for tracking and reporting purposes.