City staff told the Development, Parks and Recreation Committee on July 14 that Reynoldsburg will pilot a food-waste drop-off program at Spangler Park using funding from the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO).

"We were awarded, it's not a grant, but it's funding from Swayco to begin a food waste drop off program here in Reynoldsburg and we would like to, get that moving," Director Bauman said in committee. Bauman said the reimbursement will be up to $4,900 depending on hauler costs and that the city expects to operate the pilot for about the last three months of the year.

Bauman told the committee the pilot will use an enclosed area at the Spangler parking lot with eight closed bins the hauler will empty weekly; staff estimated a hauler cost of approximately $400 per month. The enclosure will have gates and signage; the city will distribute biodegradable compost bags and SWACO will assist with marketing and mailings to notify residents. Bauman said residents will be asked to register for the program so the city can contact participants if contamination is found, but registration will not be technically required to drop off.

Committee members asked about contamination and animal access; Bauman said the bins are closed, the enclosure will have gates, and the hauler will inspect materials and report back if contamination is found. She also said if the pilot is successful the city will consider adding a second site.

Action: the committee voted to forward the ordinance to council for its first reading; the committee recorded an affirmative committee vote in favor of forwarding the ordinance.

Why it matters: the pilot offers residents a local option to divert food waste from landfill, focuses on multi-family neighborhoods and begins with modest funding and a limited operational scope to test demand and contamination controls.