The Ohio State University Department of Athletics and Business Advancement continues to set the standard for sustainability in collegiate sports, earning its fifth 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.
Department: Facilities Information and Technology Services
Certification Level: Bronze
Certification Date: May 27, 2025
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) 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