Ohio County Solid Waste Authority (OCSWA) Outreach Improvements

The Ohio County Solid Waste Authority (OCSWA) outreach program impacts more than 1,000 households each month through recycling, environmental education, resource distribution, and community engagement. With support from the Northern Panhandle RC&D Council's Outreach Improvements Project mini-grant, OCSWA enhanced its campus as a hands-on environmental education site focused on conservation, sustainability, stormwater management, native plants, pollinator habitat, water conservation, composting, and waste reduction. Consistent with OCSWA's solid waste mission and the waste hierarchy, the project included a greenhouse, rain garden, dry creek bed, native plantings, rain barrels, and improved visitor access that provide practical demonstrations of reuse, recycling, and environmental stewardship. The project also promoted reuse through the distribution of 107 repurposed food-grade barrels for rainwater collection and the incorporation of recovered materials into site improvements. These enhancements improved drainage, reduced standing water and mosquito populations, increased pollinator activity, and created a more welcoming space for tours, workshops, field trips, and informal learning opportunities. Together, these improvements help residents understand how everyday choices related to waste reduction, water conservation, composting, and native landscaping contribute to a healthier and more sustainable community.