Through grantmaking and other strategic initiatives, The Columbus Foundation is committed to supporting environmental conservation and sustainability. However, one lesser-known way the Foundation is working to improve the environmental health of the community is through its workplace composting program.
Since June 2022, The Columbus Foundation has offered on-site compost collection to staff and guests. In partnership with Compost Clubhouse, a central Ohio organization that provides compost collection services, the Foundation has diverted food scraps and other compostable waste from landfills. Food waste in landfills is a significant source of harmful greenhouse gas emissions.
One bucket of food scraps at a time, the impact has been substantial. Thanks to the dedicated participation of staff, The Columbus Foundation has diverted more than 18,500 pounds of waste from landfills—the equivalent of removing more than 15,800 cars from the road.
“This program is an important reminder that small, individual actions can lead to big, collective impact,” said Kate Oliphint, Director of the Center for HumanKindness at The Columbus Foundation, who helps facilitate the compost program. “Importantly, it also gives us the opportunity to put our values into practice and show our environment—and community—a little more kindness.”