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!
Exciting changes are taking root in Columbus’ Near East Side. A $50,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) brought together The Ohio State University Facilities Operations and Development (FOD) Sustainability and Landscape Services team, Chadwick Arboretum, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and the City of Columbus to plant 180 trees at Saunders Park and along Leonard Avenue at Outpatient Care East.
The Arbor Day Foundation recognized The Ohio State University as a 2025 Tree Campus for its dedication to enhancing community well-being through tree education, investment and community engagement.
Department: Student Life Facilities and Sustainability
Certification Level: Silver
Certification Date: June 6, 2024
The Campus Race to Zero Waste is underway, and Ohio State is once again stepping up to compete with colleges and universities across the country. Over the next eight weeks, Buckeyes will work together to increase our landfill diversion rate and prove that sustainability is a team sport.
This competition isn’t just about numbers. It’s about everyday actions adding up to real impact. Whether you’re in an office, classroom, lab, or residence hall, your choices matter, and they can help Ohio State rise to the top.
Simple Ways to Make an Impact
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.
The Lantern recently featured Facilities Operations and Development (FOD) in an article detailing the crews who spend each Sunday cleaning the 'Shoe after home game days.
Over 350,000 pounds of waste materials were gathered in 2024, according to Logan Gould, zero waste coordinator for FOD.
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.