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Mission Statement
To provide leadership, financial and technical support to advance waste reduction, recycling and litter prevention programs that positively impact the citizens of Ohio.
Historical Background
Created in 1980, the Division of Recycling and Litter Prevention (DRLP) has grown from an office offering litter control assistance into a division providing comprehensive financial and technical assistance in the areas of recycling, waste reduction, market development, and litter prevention.
Funded by a two-tier Ohio corporate franchise tax, the division operates on a $10 million budget annually. In 1994, DRLP's funding mechanism became permanent. Since 1980, the division has provided more than $120 million in grants to develop and strengthen Ohio's local recycling and litter prevention programs.
Main Purpose
Annually, more than $7 million is awarded to more than 100 cities, counties, and solid waste management districts through its grant programs. The division assists in implementing Ohio's Solid Waste Management Plan and encourages state agencies, businesses, and citizens to reduce waste, recycle materials, and buy recycled-content products. District offices are located in Columbus, Findlay, New Philadelphia, and Waynesville.
Priorities
- Financial Assistance: Provide assistance to Ohio's counties, solid waste districts, and cities with a population greater than 50,000 by funding activities such as curbside recycling, litter collection, waste reduction, materials recovery facilities, market development, awareness and educational programs, and other innovative local projects.
- Education: Increase the number of exposures to environmental issues, specifically recycling and litter prevention, in public/private education.
- Awareness: Increase the public's level of awareness on issues related to recycling, litter prevention and waste reduction, and increase visibility as a provider of such resources.
- Outreach: Provide technical and informational support in the areas of waste reduction, recycling, litter prevention, and market development.
- Planning and Evaluation: Assess the scope and effectiveness of community programs through a formal evaluation program.
Significant Accomplishments
- Waste reduction and recycling continues to increase. In 1990, Ohio's recycling rate was 26 percent, in 1995, 32 percent, and in 1996, it climbed to 42 percent.
- Ohioans have more recycling opportunities than ever before. In 1990, there were 130 curbside recycling programs and 869 drop-off recycling sites across the state. In 1995, these figures grew to 372 and 2,552 respectively.
- Since 1995, more than 20 Ohio businesses have received $2 million in Recycling Market Development Grant funding. Results include 100,000 tons of recycled materials and 100 jobs created and/or maintained.
- Since 1994, the division has partnered with the Steel Recycling Institute and the Institute of Scrap Recycled Industries to coordinate the annual Ohio Appliance Recycling Round-Up. Last year, 28 solid waste management districts collected more than 16,000 appliances throughout 54 Ohio counties.
- Ohio's Voluntary Newsprint Recycling Agreement, signed with the Ohio Newspaper Association (ONA) in 1994, has yielded exciting results. In 1998, ONA newspapers contained 34 percent recycled newsprint, exceeding 1998's goal of 31 percent.
- Windows on Waste, DRLP's new environmental studies guidebook was developed to help elementary teachers meet the state's Competency-Based Educational Standards and State Proficiency Test Learning Outcomes.
- The Ohio Buy Recycled Business Alliance, created by the division in 1995, is a non-profit business association committed to purchasing recycled-content products. Members of the nationally recognized alliance encourage and promote the importance of "buying recycled" in the workplace.
Advisory Board
The 13 members of the division's Advisory Council are appointed by the governor and meet quarterly.
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