Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio

What Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio does

Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO) is a political subdivision and independent government authority organized under Ohio state law to manage solid waste across Franklin County. Founded in 1989, SWACO operates the Franklin County Sanitary Landfill (handling over 1 million tons of material per year), two transfer stations (Jackson Pike and Morse Road), and a Recycling Convenience Center, along with multiple drop-off sites distributed across the county. The organization serves four primary customer segments: residential households, businesses (including a Business Champion program that provides free containers, signage, and hauling reimbursement), K-12 schools, and multifamily properties, with additional programming for municipalities and community organizations.

SWACO's service portfolio spans disposal operations, recycling education and outreach, food waste diversion via the Central Ohio Food Waste Initiative, multifamily recycling support, and grant-funded community waste-reduction programs. Its subsidiary brands include Circular Ohio, RecycleRight, and Save More Than Food. SWACO is pursuing a 350-acre Green Economy Business Park in Grove City to attract recycling-reliant and sustainable manufacturing operations, and is partnering with Rev1 Ventures to develop landfill gas-to-renewable energy projects. There are no indications of proprietary software platforms beyond informational websites and static templates (waste audit tools, recycling plan PDFs); the underlying technology is physical waste-management infrastructure.

SWACO's revenue model rests primarily on landfill tipping fees charged at the Franklin County Sanitary Landfill and transfer stations, supplemented by drop-off fees for special items (electronics, tires, paint) at the Recycling Convenience Center. Business recycling programming is offered at no cost to participating businesses, and many residential and educational services are free, funded by tipping-fee revenue. As a public authority, SWACO is governed by a Board of Trustees, operates as a non-profit political subdivision, and is exempt from income tax with no private-equity or corporate ownership structure. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio

Legal name

Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio

Website

https://swaco.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

SWACO is a government solid waste authority for Franklin County, Ohio, operating the Franklin County Sanitary Landfill, transfer stations, and Recycling Convenience Center, while delivering free business, multifamily, school, and community recycling, food waste diversion, and education programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Solid Waste Management

NAICS

Solid Waste Landfill (562212), Solid Waste Collection (562111), Waste Collection (56211)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Solid Waste & Recycling Services Administration (BPAIACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Recyclables Transfer & Consolidation (Single/Source-Separated) (BPALABAD), Recycling Transfer & Consolidation (Single-Stream, Dual-Stream, Source-Separated) (EUAIABAC), Consumer E-waste Collection & Take-Back Programs (EUAIAIAA), On-site Waste Collection & Segregation (Front-of-House/Back-of-House) (BPABALAA)

Keywords

• Solid waste management
• Recycling services
• Landfill operations
• Waste disposal
• Recycling education

Headquarters

HQ city

Grove City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Waste Disposal Tipping Fees: SWACO generates revenue through tipping fees charged at the Franklin County Sanitary Landfill and transfer stations for waste disposal services provided to residents and businesses.
2. Recycling Convenience Center Fees: Revenue generated from drop-off fees for special items at the Recycling Convenience Center including electronics, tires, and paint disposal.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

SWACO is a government solid waste authority that operates the Franklin County Sanitary Landfill, two transfer stations, and a Recycling Convenience Center, processing over 1 million tons of material per year. It provides free business recycling programs with containers, signage, and hauling reimbursement, plus technical assistance, multifamily recycling support, school education programs, and community waste reduction grants. The authority also leads regional initiatives including Circular Ohio, the Central Ohio Food Waste Initiative, and a planned 350-acre Green Economy Business Park.

Product overview

SWACO (Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio) offers a comprehensive portfolio of waste reduction, recycling, and sustainability programs for residents, businesses, schools, and communities in Franklin County. The core offerings include the Business Champions Program with free recycling containers, signage, and hauling reimbursement; the Multifamily Recycling Program with Property Manager's Toolkit; Technical Assistance for waste audits and program development; and the Business Recycling Toolkit with seven-step implementation guides. Regional initiatives include Circular Ohio (educating about the circular economy), the Central Ohio Food Waste Initiative, and the Green Economy Business Park development. Facility services include the Recycling Convenience Center accepting standard recyclables and special items. Educational programs target schools (E-Waste Diversion, Green Teams, grants), and grant programs support community and event waste reduction. The organization connects these programs through RecycleRight.org as a public resource portal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Circular Ohio: Initiative showcasing Ohio's circular economy and recycling industry
• Recycle Right
• Save More Than Food

Products and services

• Business Recycling Program Comprehensive recycling support for businesses including free containers, signage, and 6 months of hauling reimbursement to help launch and sustain recycling programs at no cost to the business.
• Business Champions Program Recognition and support program for businesses that implement recycling or food waste diversion, offering technical assistance, free containers, signage, and hauling reimbursement.
• Multifamily Recycling Program Recycling support for apartment and condominium complexes, connecting property managers with recycling services and providing free educational materials.
• Technical Assistance Expert consultation for businesses on starting, improving, or expanding recycling programs, including site visits, hard-to-recycle material solutions, and food waste diversion strategies.
• Recycling Convenience Center Drop-off recycling facility at 2566 Jackson Pike, Columbus, OH accepting cardboard, paper, glass, metal cans, plastic bottles, and special items including appliances, electronics, batteries, tires, paint, and household hazardous waste for all Franklin County residents.
• Franklin County Sanitary Landfill Disposal Primary disposal facility accepting waste from residential and commercial customers under tipping fee pricing. Processes over 1 million tons of material annually.
• Transfer Station Services Waste consolidation and transport services at Jackson Pike and Morse Road transfer stations, with direct customer access during operating hours.
• Central Ohio Food Waste Initiative Collective regional effort to tackle food waste through business resources, partnerships, and the Save More Than Food website.
• Circular Ohio Educational initiative highlighting Ohio's circular economy and the journey of recyclables from curbside to new products, featuring local recycling-reliant businesses.
• Green Economy Business Park 350-acre greenfield development in Grove City, Ohio to attract recycling-reliant businesses, manufacturing jobs, and sustainable materials management companies. Site has existing gas, power, water, sewer and fiber utilities, located a half-mile from I-71 near downtown Columbus.
• Community Waste Reduction Grant Grant funding for community organizations implementing waste reduction initiatives in Franklin County.
• Event Waste Reduction Grant Grant funding for events seeking to reduce waste and increase recycling and composting.
• School Programs Comprehensive K-12 recycling education including E-Waste Diversion Program, school recycling resources, grants for schools, Green Teams, kid's games, and landfill tours.
• Property Manager's Toolkit Loan program providing free signage, posters, yard signs, vinyl banners, and educational materials for property managers to educate tenants on recycling and attract environmentally conscious residents.
• Business Recycling Toolkit Seven-step guide and downloadable resources for businesses to design and implement successful recycling programs, including planning templates and waste audit tools.
• RecycleRight Public Portal Public-facing website for Franklin County residents providing recycling education, search tools for recycling locations, and quizzes to test recycling knowledge.

Quantifiable outcome

• 76% of landfilled materials could have been diverted from landfill
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rev1 VenturescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSWACO is working with Rev1 Ventures to develop public-private partnerships for renewable energy projects, including converting landfill gas into renewable energy sources for Central Ohio residents.
• Environmental Crimes TaskforceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative task force addressing environmental crimes related to illegal dumping and improper waste disposal in the region.
• Grove CitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSWACO is working with Grove City for rezoning approval of the Green Economy Business Park project located across from the Franklin County Sanitary Landfill.
• Central Ohio Food Waste InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollective effort to tackle food waste in Central Ohio region through coordinated programs and resources for businesses and residents.
• Ohio EPA - Encouraging Environmental Excellence (E3) ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSWACO refers businesses to Ohio EPA's E3 Program which recognizes organizations for exceptional achievements in environmental stewardship.
• Ohio EPA Materials MarketplaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSWACO directs businesses to Ohio EPA's free online platform for connecting businesses to find reuse and recycling solutions for waste materials.
• Sustainable Ohio By Products Synergy NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSWACO refers businesses to quarterly meetings and engagement opportunities for finding diversion solutions through this collaborative network.
• U.S. Green Business Council (TRUE Program)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSWACO promotes the TRUE Zero Waste Rating System designed to promote zero waste practices and certification for workplaces.
• The Recycling PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization focused on improving recycling in multifamily properties; SWACO references their research on apartment recycling challenges.
• City of ColumbuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSWACO and City of Columbus partner to offer free household hazardous waste collection for Franklin County residents.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Republic Services: Major U.S. solid waste and recycling company providing collection, transfer, recycling, and disposal services across dozens of states. Comparable end-to-end waste-management offering including landfill operations, recycling processing, and sustainability/circular-economy programs.
• Waste Management, Inc. Largest North American solid waste services company offering collection, transfer, recycling, and landfill disposal nationwide. Operates landfills and transfer stations that compete for regional haul volume and replicate SWACO's integrated service portfolio at much larger scale.

Direct peers

• Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District: Ohio solid waste district serving Cuyahoga County (Cleveland area) with recycling, waste reduction, business programs, and education. Direct statutory peer in the same state regulatory framework as SWACO.
• Hamilton County R3source: Solid waste management district for Hamilton County, Ohio providing recycling programs, business outreach, education, and waste-reduction services analogous to SWACO's mandate. Closest government-authority peer in Ohio with similar residential/business recycling programs.
• Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County: Florida government solid waste authority operating landfills, transfer stations, recycling facilities, and education programs for Palm Beach County. Closest structural analog in another state—same political-subdivision model with integrated disposal and recycling mandate.
• Rumpke Waste & Recycling: Family-owned regional waste hauler headquartered in Ohio operating landfills, transfer stations, recycling facilities, and commercial/residential collection across the Midwest. Direct overlap with SWACO in collection, transfer, landfill disposal, and recycling services for Ohio generators.

Regional players

• Stark-Tuscarawas-Wayne Joint Solid Waste District: Multi-county Ohio solid waste district operating recycling, drop-off, and waste-reduction programs in northeast Ohio. Comparable government-authority role and service mix to SWACO but serving a different geographic region.
• RecycleBC: Extended producer responsibility organization managing residential recycling for British Columbia. Comparable program-architecture role (financing and coordinating residential/business recycling) but operating under a different regulatory and geographic framework.

Emerging players

• ReCollect Systems: Technology vendor providing digital tools for solid waste authorities and haulers (collection calendars, recycling search, education portals). Adjacent comparator to SWACO's RecycleRight.org public resource portal and could be considered an enabling partner or threat to in-house education tech.

Others

• SCS Engineers: Environmental engineering and consulting firm serving solid waste authorities on landfill design, gas-to-energy, permitting, and compliance. Relevant peer/ecosystem participant for SWACO's landfill operations and gas-to-energy partnership work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCqjJhHX_feobuqTpbddUQ0w
• Xx.com/SWACOGreen
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/swaco

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio