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Gahanna proclaims Food Waste Action Week; SWACO accepts recognition for composting partnership
Summary
Council recognized Food Waste Action Week and highlighted Gahanna’s partnership with the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO) that supports a free compost drop-off at Friendship Park and grants for local recycling improvements.
Gahanna City Council on March 17 adopted a joint proclamation recognizing March as Food Waste Action Week and highlighted the city’s partnership with the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO) to expand composting and recycling services.
“Finding solutions and providing awareness is important for us and important for our community to help divert that material from our landfill,” said Joe Lombardi, executive director of SWACO, accepting the proclamation on behalf of the agency’s staff.
Councilwoman Padova introduced the resolution and noted that nearly 1,000,000 pounds of food reach the Franklin County sanitary landfill each day and that food is the single largest material discarded by weight in the region. Padova said the city’s Friendship Park compost drop‑off site and the Save More Than Food public education campaign, supported by SWACO grants, are intended to make it easier for residents and businesses to divert food from landfills.
Lombardi thanked Gahanna for the partnership and described regional investments in education and grant funding that support municipal composting and recycling programs. He and SWACO assistant executive director Scott Perry were present to accept the recognition.
Padova urged residents to make simple changes—meal planning, correct sorting and attention to date labels—and pointed residents to savemorethanfood.org for resources. Council members and staff thanked SWACO and city volunteers for program work and encouraged wider use of the Friendship Park drop‑off.
Ending — Next steps
The proclamation is largely symbolic but signals continued city support for diversion programs and public education. City staff and SWACO said they will continue outreach and explore partnership opportunities to expand composting and recycling access.
