We're Hiring an Education and Outreach AmeriCorps!

We are accepting applications for one

position with the Rural Action Zero Waste Program.  The member will focus on education for K-12, college students, and adults.  Read more about what this AmeriCorps member does.

In addition to education, this person also provides support to two other AmeriCorps members who facilitate dumpsite cleanups, conduct waste assessments of local businesses, and work to make local events zero waste.

This zero waste education position is one of 26 positions in a program called the Ohio Stream Restore Corps, which is coordinated by Rural Action.  Members work for Rural Action, Wayne National Forest, Raccoon Creek Partnership, Buckeye Trail Association, Appalachia Ohio Alliance, Muskingum Watershed Conservancy, Burr Oak State Park, Ohio Hill Country Heritage Area, and the Village of Somerset. 

Members serve from August 10, 2014 - August 10, 2015.  Learn about all of these positions, and APPLY!  Deadline to apply is June 7th!

Would you like recycling to be more convenient in Hocking County?  Would you like to see illegal dumping cleaned up ?  We know that there are many people who care about these issues in Hocking County.  Will you help Hocking County Resident Kris Laszlo let her commissioners know that people in Hocking County care by signing that you support these things?

If you are a Hocking County Resident or Employee, encourage your commissioners to address these issues by supporting the Athens-Hocking Zero Waste Action Plan.  Click here to sign a statement of support.  It will take less than two minutes.  This statement of support will be shared with the Hocking County Commissioners by Kris Laszlo, a resident of Hocking County who is working to increase recycling. 

Read the plan!

On May 15, 2013, we hosted the  Ohio By-Product Synergy Network for its first meeting ever in Southeast Ohio.  Over 40 non-profit and for-profit company representatives and supporting organizations gathered to "speed date" their garbage.  The BPS Network matches companies, so that one company's waste stream becomes another company's raw material for manufacturing or product development.

Benefits of matchmaking include: increased revenues from by-product sales; reduction in waste disposal costs; substitution of lower-cost, locally sourced recycled feed stocks; reduced demand for virgin materials leading to resource conservation; and reduction in energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.

Rural Action seeks to not only increase the number of BPSN Network members in Southeast Ohio, but also to flesh out its research of companies in the region who use recycled material.  This research will enable us to identify gaps in the supply chain, find additional sources of recycled material for industry, and increase resource recovery.

In March 2014, the Athens Hocking Zero Waste Committee launched to oversee the implementation of the Athens-Hocking Zero Waste Action Plan.  We're excited to report that several action steps are already underway or have been completed:

> The Athens-Hocking Recycling Center (AHRC) met with the Carton Council to figure out if they will be able to accept plastic-lined paperboard cartons, such as those used for juice, milk, and broth.  Discussions are still in process.   

> Tri-County Career Center is composting its food scraps.   

> The Athens-City County Health Department promotes its number as a hotline for illegal dumping and burning. (740-592-4431 ext. 248)

> Through a partnership with Mondo Polymers in Marietta, the AHRC is now accepting #2 plastic bags for recycling into guardrail blocks.   

> 5 events in Athens and Hocking Counties are taking steps towards zero waste for the first time.  

> Household batteries are being accepted at the AHRC for recycling.   

> The AHRC is piloting a pay-as-you-throw trash and unlimited recycling program.

If you drop off your recyclables at the Athens Hocking Recycling Center (AHRC) on State Route 13 in Chauncey, you may notice a new face.  Nate Beail-Sarkas is at the center from 10am-4pm to help people navigate the old and new elements of the recycling dropoff center.  The new elements at the center include: 

> Household battery recycling

> Trash collection for $2 per 30 gallon bag with unlimited free recycling

> #2 and #4 plastic including clear plastic bags, shrink wrap, and bubble wrap

> Yard waste composting including grass clippings, leaves, and branches

> Scrap metal recycling

Commingled glass is also being accepted both at the center and at curbside.  There is no need to separate by color anymore.

The AHRC would also like to increase the rural areas that it can provide with curbside recycling and trash.  Call Tina at 740-797-4208 to express your interest and to find out if your road is being considered.

When a former composting arrangement fell through for Tri-County Career Center, the culinary arts teacher, April Rose, did not want to throw food waste into the trash. So Rose and Amy Stevens' 4th period class felt compelled to find a way to continue composting.

"It seemed sacrilegious to just throw it away," says Stevens. 

We received three grants this spring including:

> Cigarette Litter Prevention Program grant from Keep America Beautiful to purchase a litter sweeper, cigarette receptacles, and signage for use in public space and use at events.   

> A Community Development Grant from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) to purchase bins and signage for our zero waste events.   

> A Litter Cleanup Grant from the OEPA to pay for trash disposal costs for 6 dumpsite cleanups in 2014 and 2015.

Special thanks to ReUse Industries for highlighting us as a program partner this past year.  A percentage of its profits were donated to us.