The Ohio State University once again demonstrated that championship-level athletics and resource stewardship go hand in hand.
Across seven home football games, Ohio State achieved a season waste diversion rate of 92.73 percent, surpassing its 90 percent zero-waste benchmark. More than 257,000 pounds of material were diverted from landfills through recycling, composting, and reuse, while just 20,152 pounds were sent to landfill.
The results are in from Facilities Operations and Development’s (FOD) 2025 Waste Characterization Study, which examined waste and recycling across Ohio State’s Columbus campus. This study was made possible through funding from Coca-Cola Consolidated, supporting the university’s ongoing resource stewardship efforts.
The study revealed a clear opportunity: more than half of what is currently thrown away could be recycled or composted today using existing campus infrastructure and programs.
What’s in the trash?
Molly Kathleen, Zero Waste Manager for Facilities Operations and Development (FOD), was recognized by the University Staff Advisory Committee (USAC) in its Staff in the Spotlight.
According to Kathleen's nominator: "Their ability to create an inclusive, respectful environment empowers everyone involved to take pride in their role and contribute to the university’s mission.”
CBS Evening News traveled to Ohio Stadium and that team up north's stadium to keep the rivalry strong and see which team diverts the most waste from the landfill during and after home game days.
Lately, that's been Ohio State, where Mary Leciejewski is associate director of environmental sustainability.
"I mean, it just comes with the territory," Leciejewski said.
Ohio State has been ranked 28th on the Princeton Review’s list of Top 50 Green Colleges.
Don’t let your pumpkins haunt the landfill after spooky season is over! Help next year’s pumpkins grow by composting your old jack-o’-lanterns, gourds, and cornstalks.
Now through Tuesday, December 2, faculty, staff, and students living off-campus can drop off pumpkins, gourds, and cornstalks in the labeled roll-off dumpster in the Uniprint parking lot located at 2500 Kenny Road. The site is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Behind every compost bin, recycling audit and sustainability tabling event at Ohio State is a passionate team of student interns working to help make the university a leader in zero-waste practices. These interns are not only gaining hands-on experience, they’re also helping shape a more sustainable campus.
For many of the students, the internship is more than just a job.
For the third consecutive year, Ohio State Athletics has been recognized as a national leader in sustainable athletics, receiving the 2025 Play to Zero Waste Champion Award from the Green Sports Alliance.
In 2024, the Recycling and Refuse Services team helped divert more than six tons of hard cover books from the landfill through our hard cover book recycling program, thanks in large part to faculty and staff who reached out during office cleanouts.
These cleanouts provide an excellent opportunity to responsibly recycle large volumes of materials that accumulate over time. Whether you're moving offices, clearing out storage, or just doing a bit of spring, or (fall) cleaning, Ohio State’s Zero Waste team is here to help make your efforts more sustainable.
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.