The Hilliard Recreation and Parks DepartmentWhen it comes to the environment in 2022, is it big thinking?
We are naturally inclined to care for parks. But we wanted to go a step further this year, Ed Merritt, the department director, said. While we have always considered the environment in planning our programs, there are still areas for improvement.
The focus of this years projects will be on the Hilliard Family Aquatic CenterThe Hilliard Senior CenterCelebration at the Station concert series.
Anastasia Bradley, aquatics supervisor at the Hilliard Family Aquatic Center is determined to find a way for food waste to be kept out of the landfill.
Bradley stated that it is not a secret that food waste greatly contributes to the landfill’s inexplicable materials.
It’s true: Nearly 1,000,000 pounds of food waste are disposed in Franklin County each day. Bradley plans to partner at the Hilliard Family Aquatic Centre.GoZEROServicesYou should have composting bins readily available.
We don’t know how much food will be diverted from landfills this year, but it is important that we do our part and educate others.” Bradley said.
Amy Van Huffel, recreation supervisor at the senior center is also looking to get into composting.
“We have an amazing senior meal program and see an opportunity for something special with composting, growing food, and as well,” Van Huffel said.
Van Huffel’s Food, GardenTable program would allow the food to go through a complete life cycle. Phase 1 would include the addition of a composting site near the kitchen so that food scraps can be easily turned into valuable resources that gardeners can use to enrich their soil. Phase 2 would include reserving space at a community garden located just a stone’s throw from the composting area and kitchen. Alison Scherer, senior chef in the kitchen, hopes to grow foods for special senior lunches.
Van Huffel is enthusiastic about the plan and believes it will be supported by the senior center’s cooks, volunteers, and other staff.
She stated that seniors care about the environment, and are willing to help.
In 2021, the Celebration at the Station series saw the implementation of a composting cup program. This program saved more than 22,000 cups from the landfill.
City leaders are determined to build on this success in the coming year.
Kristan Turner, special events coordinator, was informed by Rumpke that they now accept cups made of polypropylene in the recycling program.
Turner stated that “This could prove to be a game-changer.”
The city is looking at a recycling model for the cups.
It is a matter of which cup is most efficient, easiest to manage, and ultimately what keeps the most cups from the landfill,” Turner explained.
She explained that it could be complicated as party cups made of polystyrene are still not recyclable.
All of these projects can be made possible by the support of Hilliard Environmental Sustainability Commission.
Geoff Dew serves as the recreation supervisor at the Hilliard Recreation and Parks Department.
