Ohio EPA Launches New Beautification Program

ZANESVILLE, OH – The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency recently launched a new Beautification Program.

The Southeast Beautification Program is a three-pronged approach to help combat the illegal dumping and burning of trash in our area.

The program includes $1.9 million in funding for litter cleanup events, special waste collection programs, educational programs, and new equipment for solid waste management districts.

Anne Vogel, the Ohio EPA Director, says they wanted to renew focus on education, get modernized equipment, and innovative new approaches to trash collection.

“Making services available, making collection available, making recycling available in schools.” Vogel said. “Trying to eliminate the problem of where to put your trash is what we are focused on.”

In all, 15 counties received funding as a part of the Southeast Beautification Program.

The counties in our area were Guernsey, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble and Washington and they received $344,784.

Rick Jansen, the Lawrence Scioto Solid Waste Management District Director, says the districts can use the funds to provide educational programming in K-12 schools or to purchase equipment to expand recycling pick-up and drop-off options.

“People want to do the right thing.” Jansen said. “And not knowing where to go or what to do, being as rural as we are, being in such a beautiful part of the country with national forests, the state forests, the Ohio River, we live in paradise. We just need to do a little better job protecting the environment.”

For more information about the Southeast Beautification Program, you can head to the EPA’s website.