Food waste makes up 15% of all waste in the Franklin County Sanitary Landfill, and all of this waste could have been composted. Composting is simple and easy for Franklin County residents: There is a network of food waste drop-off locations across Central Ohio! From Grove City to New Albany, these locations make composting quick and convenient. 

 When you drop off your food scraps at these locations, they are collected and taken to a composting facility for processing. Food scraps, particularly fruits and vegetables, are rich in nitrogen. When combined with carbon-rich materials like dried leaves, cardboard and shredded paper, they create the ideal ingredients for nutrient-rich compost. 

What do the food waste drop-off locations accept? 

  • Fruits and vegetables, salad  
  • Coffee grounds, paper coffee filters, loose tea, and tea bags made of paper and cotton 
  • Foods cooked in fats and oils, prepared foods, leftovers  
  • Moldy or expired foods unpackaged food  
  • Meat and bones (cooked or raw)  
  • Seafood, shellfish, fish, bivalves, and mollusks  
  • Shells (e.g., crab shells, oyster shells, clamshells, and mussel shells)  
  • Dairy products (including spoiled dairy products)  
  • Eggs and eggshells  
  • Bread, grains, cereals, rice, and pasta (cooked or uncooked)  
  • Nuts, nutshells, seeds, and beans  
  • Corncobs, avocado pits and other fruit pits  
  • Pickles, kimchi, and other fermented foods  
  • Food and beverage-soiled napkins and paper towels  
  • Pumpkins, gourds, and squash  
  • Pastries, desserts, and candies  
  • Uncoated paper cups, plates, bowls, and paper bags  
  • Flour, cornmeal, and spices  
  • BPI certified compostable products 

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Columbus 

The city of Columbus operates a 24-hour free food waste drop-off program! The program includes the following seven locations: 

  • Bill McDonald Athletic Complex, 4990 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, OH 43214 
  • Dodge Park and Community Center, 667 Sullivant Ave., Columbus, OH 43215 
  • Scioto Southland Park, 3901 Parsons Ave., Columbus, OH 43207 
  • Beatty Park Community Recreation Center, 247 N. Ohio Ave., Columbus, OH 43203 
  • Northeast Park and Howard Recreation Center, 2505 Cassady Ave., Columbus, OH 43207 
  • Linden Park Community Center, 1350 Briarwood Ave., Columbus, OH 43211 
  • Carriage Place Park Community Center, 4900 Sawmill Road, Columbus, OH 43235 
Westerville 

Westerville residents have access to 24/7 composting locations! Simply bring your food scraps in a bucket and empty them into a 64-gallon receptable at any of the sites below. 

  • Highlands Park Aquatic Center, 245 S. Spring Road, Westerville, OH 43081 
  • Huber Village Park, 362 Huber Village Blvd, Westerville, OH 43081 
  • Towers Park, 161 N. Spring Road, Westerville, OH 43081 
  • Westerville Parks Maintenance, 469 Westdale Ave, Westerville, OH 43082 
  • Westerville Public Service, 350 Park Meadow Road, Westerville, OH 43081 
New Albany 

To use these locations, New Albany asks residents to register first. 

  • Public Service Building, 7800 Bevelhymer Road, New Albany, OH 43054 
  • Village Hall, 99 West Main Street, New Albany, OH 43054 
  • Temple Beth Shalom/All Saints Episcopal Church parking lot, 5089 Johnstown Road, New Albany, OH 43054 
  • Taylor Farm Park, 5526 E. Dublin-Granville Road, New Albany, OH 43054 
Gahanna 

To use these locations, Gahanna asks residents to register first. 

  • Friendship Park, 150 Oklahoma Ave., Gahanna, OH 43230 
  • Woodside Green Park, 213 Camrose Court, Gahanna, OH 43230 
Upper Arlington 
  • Municipal Services Center, 3600 Tremont Road, Upper Arlington, OH 43221 
  • Amelita Mirolo Barn, 4395 Carriage Hill Lane, Upper Arlington, OH 43220 
  • Fancyburg Park, 3375 Kioka Ave., Upper Arlington, OH 43221 
Bexley Curbside Composting 

The City of Bexley has a Curbside Food Waste Recycling program. For more information, visit this link. 

  • Bexley City Hall, 2242 East Main St., Bexley, OH, 43209 
Dublin 
  • City of Dublin Service Center, 6555 Shier Rings Road, Dublin, OH, 43016  
 Grandview Heights 
  • Warehouse building, 1481 Goodale Blvd., Grandview Heights, OH, 43212 
Grove City 
  • Former Brookpark Middle School, 2803 Southwest Blvd., Grove City, OH, 43123 
Hilliard 
  • Hilliard Municipal Building, 3800 Municipal Way, Hilliard, OH, 43206 
Reynoldsburg 
  • Huber Park, 7260 East Livingston Ave., Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068 
Whitehall 
  • Whitehall Municipal Building, 360 South Yearling Road, Whitehall, OH, 43213 
Worthington 
  • Recycle Convenience Center, 345 East Wilson Bridge Road, Worthington, 43085 

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SWACO Recycling Locations 

SWACO has three drop-off locations open to the public. 

  • Recycling Convenience Center, 2566 Jackson Pike, Columbus, OH 43223 
  • Household Hazardous Waste Facility, 645 E 8th Avenue Columbus, OH 43201 
  • Indianola Presbyterian Church, 1970 Waldeck Avenue, Columbus OH 43201 

The Recycling Convenience Center is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM, as well as Saturday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The Household Hazardous Waste facility is open from Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, as well as the first Saturday of each month from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The Indianola Presbyterian Church facility is open 24/7. 

These programs have already gone a long way to promote sustainability and waste diversion. In Westerville, the composting program has diverted 500,000 pounds of food waste since 2020. In Bexley, where 40% of the community participates in the program, curbside composting has diverted over 2 million pounds of waste from the landfill! While composting your rotten vegetables and eggshells may seem like a small act, you are contributing to an amazing cause: extending the lifespan of the landfill and converting waste into resources.  

FAQ

  • Do I need to schedule my drop-off in advance?  No, you do not need to schedule in advance. 
  • How can I tell if my utensils are compostable? All compostable utensils must be BPI (Biodegradable Products Institute) certified, which is indicated on their packaging with a BPI Compostable logo. 
  • Where do the food scraps go once collected? It depends on who hauls the food scraps. Some haulers have their own compost facility while others take them to a local composting facility. If you drop off at one of the Columbus locations, your food scraps will go to the SWACO Class II Composting Facility at 2100 Alum Creek Drive. 
  • What happens with the finished product? The composting facilities sell their products at local garden stores. The compost from the SWACO Class II Compost facility will be given away for free to local community gardens. 
  • Where can I learn more? Go to SWACO’s Save More Than Food website and find your location on a map! All locations have their own websites with additional information.