Before the founding of the Appalachia Ohio Zero Waste Initiative (AOZWI) in 2010, only 9% of waste in Athens County and Hocking County was recycled. 

Sugar Bush Foundation, Rural Action and the Ohio University Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs are partners in the collaboration which has helped bring sustainability to the forefront of the Southeast Ohio region - one which depends largely on resource extraction.

AOZWI encouraged the university to amplify its zero-waste goals, diverting 90% of its waste from landfills by 2025. It also works with businesses to adopt zero-waste models to create more profitable operations.

On this week's episode of Stef Talks Trash, you'll hear from Ed Newman, zero waste director of Rural Action, Hylie Voss, president of the Sugar Bush Foundation and Elissa Welch with Ohio University's Voinovich School speak about the partnership between their organizations and how they are turning waste into an asset in Southeast Ohio.

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