Columbus has opened a new bulk trash collection center that aims to divert items from the landfill that could be reused or rehabilitated.
The new center opened Saturday at 1550 Georgesville Road. It is the second bulk collection in the city. The first one is located at 2100 Alum Creek Drive.
The centers help keep things like furniture or bulky items out of the landfill, if they can instead be rehabilitated or donated to consignment stores like Goodwill.
Columbus Division of Refuse Collection administrator Tim Swauger said this will help extend the life of the landfill while reducing carbon emissions.
"We accept yard waste, any recycling, styrofoam ... furniture and electronics, bicycles, anything that we can divert from the landfill," Swauger said.
Swauger said land for more centers like this is limited within the city limits, but Columbus and the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio are talking to neighboring suburbs to find land to add regional bulk waste centers.
"So really for the city as we're growing, the population continues to increase. We only have one landfill in the landfill down there. When it's full, there is no other convenient location that's available to open up a new landfill," Swauger said.
The city's other ways of handling larger items include scheduling bulk item pickups curbside.
Swauger said the city is able to keep up with demand from around the city, but it often takes two to four weeks to pick up these items. He said there are some areas where pickup does take longer, but when that happens the city diverts resources to keep up with increased demand in those areas.
Swauger also said these centers also help reduce carbon emissions and transportation costs.
"Everything we're doing now is designed for the environment to reduce our emissions. But also it's economics because of the additional cost to come when you don't have a conveniently located landfill," Swauger said.
The two convenience centers are open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
