Athens-Hocking Solid Waste District volunteer event made possible thanks to ServeOhio grant

The Athens-Hocking Solid Waste District (AHSWD) has been awarded a 2023 ServeOhio Day Project Grant to improve the counties’ only center for hard-to-recycle materials facility.

On Friday, June 23 from 9 a.m.–4 p.m., AHSWD will host a ServeOhio Day of Service Volunteer beautification service project at its Sutton Road recycling center, located at 33845 Sutton Road in Logan.

“Our goal with the ServeOhio Day 2023 beautification project is to create a space for resident recyclers to enjoy as they come to our drop-off location by having a small, interactive greenspace with native pollinator plants, upcycled garden art, and educational information,” AHSWD AmeriCorps member Alicia Caton said.

During the day of service, volunteers will help build and install raised garden beds, plant native pollinator plants, assemble a rainwater catchment system, landscape, garden, and create and install various upcycled sculptures made from recycled or reused materials.

The ServeOhio Day Project Grant supports projects that create or improve community assets or infrastructure through volunteer engagement and educational events that encourage volunteerism.

By forming a unique connection and sense of place with the Sutton Road recycling center, the space will encourage community members to divert materials from the landfill and recycle, Caton added.

Caton’s service term began in September 2022, with a focus on the Sutton Road recycling center, which opened to the public (by appointment only) this past spring.

“The center serves as a year-round facility to collect common unwanted items such as household goods and appliances, electronics, books, batteries, bulbs, clothing and textile, scrap metal. and more,” Caton said. “Instead of residents having to wait for our recycling day events held four times a year, they can call us to schedule a drop-off of their unwanted items.”

After a donation, AHSWD works with local partners such as Rural Action, Goodwill, New-To-You Thrift Shoppe, Habitat for Humanity, and more, to recycle or reuse the items — ultimately diverting them from the landfill.

“Before we knew about the ServeOhio grant, we had interest in bringing some life and color to the space, but thought we would save it for the future,” Caton said. “When we learned about the grant, we expanded on our initial ideas we had previously had about beautifying the space and put everything into a project plan — one that involved the community’s help, coming together to beautify our recycling center to help create a sense of place and motivate people to recycle.”

All are welcomed and encouraged to volunteer. Lunch will be provided. To participate, sign up here. Contact Caton with any questions at alicial.caton@gmail.com or (740) 753-6885.