Waste Matters: AmeriCorps Positions Open, Goodbye to our Director, Local Mulch & Specialty Soils

Waste Matters March 2015

Positions Available. Join Our Team!

The Zero Waste Program has two exciting positions open! Spend a year with us helping area businesses move towards zero waste, organizing dumpsite cleanups, and partnering with events to help them achieve zero waste. Both positions provide a unique opportunity to get personal, hands-on experience helping the local region reach zero waste.

These positions are part of the Ohio Stream Restore Corps. This position allows you to receive all of the benefits of the AmeriCorps program, including a financial stipend and an educational award. These zero waste positions are two of 26 positions available spanning across watershed restoration, environmental education, trail maintenance, ecotourism, zero waste and more.

Apply by April 1 for full consideration, but applications accepted through June 1.

Position starts Aug 15, 2015. Apply Now!

Latta Turns Brush into Local Product

Latta Earthworks Compost Site provides Athens residents and local businesses with a unique avenue to dispose of their yard waste. Owned and operated by Chad Latta, this site uses the collected materials and turns them into specialty soil blends and mulch. Chad sells these products back to the community, and as a unique perk, all of his products are created from recycled, local material. Latta Earthworks accepts leaves, grass, woodchips, and horse manure for free and only charges a small tip fee for brush and logs.

The site is located on Baker Road, 0.3 miles off Radford Rd. and is open from dawn to dusk, weather permitting. Alternatively, you can schedule pickups of your material by contacting Chad who can supply a 12-yard dumpster. Chad can be contacted by phone or email to purchase mulch or specialty soil blends or to schedule a yard waste pickup at (740) 591-1084 and [email protected] . To learn more about the history of Latta Earthworks, check out Chad's Story.

We Bid Farewell to our Director

Kyle O'Keefe has dedicated a large portion of his life to zero waste. Not content with simply producing less waste himself, Kyle turned his passion for improving resource management for the benefit of the community into a career. As the founding director of the Rural Action Zero Waste Program, he played a crucial role in getting this program off the ground. Even though he worked at Rural Action for four and half years, his dedication to zero waste extends back much further.

Kyle was interested in the concept of resource management from a young age. This concept drove him to pursue a career where he could influence people to see the importance of zero waste as he did. He said, "I've always believed that our success and survival depends on how we design for our resources to be managed; how we design for abundance. The concept and philosophy of zero waste and recycling is central to that, and in many ways it's the front lines for creating the needed change."

Due to Kyle O'Keefe taking a new position at the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio, Zero Waste Program Manager, Erin Sykes, has taken over as the interim director of the program. She can be contacted via email at [email protected] or by phone at (740) 677-4047 Ext. 28. We plan to post a position sometime in April.

ReUse Industries Holds 2nd Annual Upcylcing Competition

ReUse Industries in Athens Ohio is putting on its 2nd annual Appalachian Ohio Reuse Competition. This competition challenges entrants to make their own upcycled creation in one of five categories with over $3,000 in cash prizes to be awarded. The intent to enter deadline is March 14th and the final creation must be turned in between Match 31st and April 5th.

There is a single category for artistic pieces and four functional categories for clothing and jewelry, home and garden, furniture, and technology. The winners will be determined at an exhibition showcasing the entries during an event on April 22nd, Earth Day.

Last year the event had over 100 entries with competitors from eight different countries. Rural Action is co-sponsoring this event along with the Sugar Bush Foundation and the Ohio University's Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs. Check out full details and rules for the competition here.

Cycle Path Pledges Zero Waste

Cycle Path Bicycles has recently taken our Zero Waste Business Pledge. They have already taken several steps toward zero waste, including recycling #2 and #4 plastics as well as steel spray cans. They are also improving communications with the public and encouraging them to use old parts for repairs instead of just buying brand new ones. Additionally, they are using unsalvageable parts to create recycled bicycle art pieces!

Check out others who have taken the pledge

Slideshow Of Partners' Work!

We want to share your story, too. Email us photos of the good work you are doing to lead Southeast Ohio towards zero waste.

View the slideshow

Upcoming Partner Events & Recycling Opportunities:


March 23rd Composting Workshop New Lexington Library 6-8pm Additional Information	March 28th Independent Fest Lake Snowden noon-10pm Volunteer Opportunity Email Organizer	March 29th Electronics Recycling Day Peden Stadium Parking Lot 10-2pm Additional Information


April 11th Free Scrap Tire Dropoff Salt Creek Township Garage 9-noon Additional Information	April 11th Free Scrap Tire Dropoff Wayne National Forest HQ 8-noon Additional Information	April 11th Tire, Recycling, Trash Dropoff Lodi Township Garage 8-noon Additional Information


April 11th Tire, Recycling, Trash Dropoff Athens Co. Engineer's Depot 8-noon Additional Information	April 11th Tire, Recycling, Trash Dropoff Alexander Township Garage 8-noon Additional Information	April 13th Composting Basics Somerset Courthouse 6-8pm Additional Information


April 18th Free Scrap Tire Dropoff Ward Township Garage 9-noon Additional Information	April 18th Ultimate Recycling Day (Hard to recycle materials) New Lexington Kroger 9-noon Email Organizer	April 18th The Number Fest 13th Edition 8003 W Union St 1-10:30pm Volunteer Opportunity Email Organizer


April 19th Athens Beautification Day College Green noon-5pm Email Organizer	April 25th Free Scrap Tire Dropoff Marion Township Garage 9-noon Additional Information	April 25th Columbus Earth Day Columbus Commons 1-10pm Volunteer Opportunity Email Organizer


April 27th Reuse Workshop: Tote Bags From Feed Bags Perry County District Library 6-8pm Additional Information	April 28th Composting Basics New Straitsville Library 5-6:30pm Additional Information