As the new academic year begins, many departments are organizing offices, storage rooms and shared spaces to prepare for the return of students, faculty and staff. Before sending unwanted materials to the landfill, consider how your cleanout can support waste reduction efforts across campus.
Help make a positive impact on the environment and free up space during the plastic pot recycling event that runs from Monday, July 6, through Monday, July 27. Facilities Operations and Development (FOD) Recycling and Refuse Services and the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) are teaming up to collect your unwanted plant pots, cell packs, and trays so that they can be recycled. Help keep material out of the landfill and promote sustainable gardening practices like reuse.
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Are you preparing for an Independence Day holiday gathering? Here are a few tips to help you and your guests have an eco-friendly 4th of July.
The Ohio State University Department of Athletics and Business Advancement continues to set the standard for sustainability in collegiate sports, earning its fourth consecutive Green Sports Alliance Play to Zero Waste Champion Award.
FOD's Logan Gould, Zero Waste Coordinator, and Meredith Laidly, Resource Stewardship Coordinator, accepted the award on behalf of Ohio State during the 2026 Green Sports Alliance Summit.
Facilities Operations and Development (FOD) is leading a university-wide effort to reduce the environmental impact of paper towel waste by installing high-efficiency hand dryers or a more sustainable single-use option.
In 2025, paper towels accounted for approximately 6.7% of all campus waste, more than 1,600 tons annually.
The Ohio State Facilities Operations and Development (FOD) Recycling and Refuse Services team and the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) have expanded composting efforts across most CFAES buildings on the Columbus campus. The initiative adds paper towel composting in restrooms and expands front-of-house composting in applicable areas.
Earth Day is Wednesday, April 22. In honor of this milestone, we want to recognize and appreciate the work FOD does to support our resource stewardship initiatives on campus.
This spring, the Facilities Operations and Development (FOD) team is proud to host a campus litter cleanup on April 17, 2026! Students, faculty, and staff are invited to join us for a hands-on opportunity to help beautify our campus. One-hour shifts will be available between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM, making it easy to fit volunteering into your day.
This spring, the Facilities Operations and Development (FOD) Recycling and Refuse Services team is ready to help faculty and staff turn your office cleanouts into a sustainability win. In 2024, we diverted more than six tons of hard cover books from the landfill, proof that your efforts really make a difference!
Ohio State is pleased to announce the opening of a new compost drop-off