City of Westerville Zero Waste Plan

WHAT IS A ZERO WASTE PLAN?

Zero waste is a goal focused on preventing waste by encouraging and developing practices for the redesign and reuse of a product’s life cycle in an ethical, sustainable and visionary way.

THE GREEN TEAM'S MISSION

To develop and implement a zero-waste plan that reduces materials sent to the landfill by 80% by 2032 and aspire to 90% by 2040 by inspiring and engaging the Westerville community to rethink, reduce, reuse and recycle our waste.

80% LANDFILL MATERIAL REDUCTION BY 2032

90% LANDFILL MATERIAL REDUCTION BY 2040

WHO IS THE GREEN TEAM?

The team consists of representatives from the City of Westerville, Westerville City Schools, Otterbein University, SAFEX, JP Morgan Chase, Lynn Law, Westerville Public Library, Sustainable Westerville, Sunrise Rotary Club, Worthington Industries, Rumpke and SWACO.

STAGES OF A PRODUCT’S LIFE CYCLE

Zero waste strategies may be addressed at different phases of the product’s life cycle.

UPSTREAM Waste prevention through producer responsibility, product redesign, zero waste purchasing and policies that promote a circular economy.

MIDSTREAM Maximizes product longevity through reuse, repair, repurposing, donations and food recovery.

DOWNSTREAM Maximizes resource recovery through recycling, composting and other recovery options.

ZERO WASTE PARTNERSHIPS

The City of Westerville looks forward to continuing existing and creating new partnerships to meet the zero waste goals.

Re-use programs and infrastructure

Assistance with Zero Waste Plans for businesses

Organic waste collection and expansion

Multifamily housing recycling collection initiatives

Develop solutions for hard-to-recycle items such as household hazardous waste, electronics, etc.

Promotion of local zero waste efforts, sustainability practices and accomplishments (such as Westerville Library, Electric Division, Otterbein University and local businesses)

PHASES TIMELINE

Three phases for the Green Team's Mission to reduce materials sent to the landfill by 80% by 2032

PHASE 1 2022-2025

PHASE 2 2025-2028

PHASE 3 2028-2032

WWW.WESTERVILLE.ORG/ZEROWASTE