51ĀŅĀ×

After an incredible turnout in April ā€“ with over 300 attendees, 600+ items sold, and more than 250 pounds of good diverted from landfills ā€“ the Voinovich School and regional community partners are excited to bring back the Campus Pop-Up Thrift Market for Move-In Week!

This two-day sustainability-focused event invites students, faculty, and the local community to explore an eclectic mix of secondhand treasures while supporting local organizations and promoting eco-conscious living.

Event Details

When: Thursday, August 28th & Friday, August 29th

Time: 11:00AM ā€“ 6:00PM

Where: Walter Hall Lawn

What Makes This Market Special?

This isnā€™t just shopping ā€“ it's a statement. The OHIO Thrift Pop-Up Market is part of a growing movement toward sustainable consumption and a circular economy. The event brings together local partners like Goodwill, Habitat for Humanityā€™s ReStore, and Rural Actionā€™s social enterprise UpCycle to offer secondhand clothing, dorm essentials, home goods, and more ā€“ all at student friendly prices!

Whether youā€™re setting up your new dorm, decorating your apartment, or just love a great find, youā€™ll discover:

• Stylish clothing & accessories
• Home decor & kitchenware
• Budget-friendly dorm supplies
• One-of-a-kind items with stories to tell

Why It Matters

Every item you buy secondhand helps fight fast fashion, reduce landfill waste, and lower your carbon footprint. In April, the pilot OHIO Thrift Pop-Up kept over 250 pounds of goods out of the landfill ā€“ proof that small changes on campus can create meaningful impact.

By thrifting, youā€™re not only saving money ā€“ you're extending the life cycle of products, supporting local organizations, and helping create a more sustainable future.

Meet Our Partners

This pop-up wouldnā€™t be possible without the incredible contributions from:

• Goodwill of Southeast Ohio
• Habitat for Humanityā€™s ReStore
• Rural Actionā€™s UpCycle Thrift

Each partner shares a commitment to sustainability, affordability, and building a stronger community.

Join the Movement

The OHIO Thrift Pop-Up is open to everyone. Whether youā€™re a first-year student or a longtime Bobcat, come out to shop sustainable, score incredible deals, and create community.

Bring a friend, bring a tote bag, and get ready to thrift your way into the semester! Letā€™s make an even bigger impact this time around. See you there!

Join us for a two-day sustainability-focused event invites students, faculty, and the local community to explore an eclectic mix of secondhand treasures while supporting local organizations and promoting eco-conscious living.

A vast majority of the worldā€™s plants depend on pollinators. Pollination is a crucial part of plant reproduction, and without pollinators, humans and all of earthā€™s terrestrial ecosystems would not survive, according to the .

Through sustainable management of campus grounds, 51ĀŅĀ× remains committed to protecting and providing environments for vital pollinator species. OHIO recently received the designation for a fourth straight year. Bee Campus USA provides a framework for university and college campus communities to work together to conserve native pollinators by increasing the abundance of native plants, providing nest sites and reducing the use of pesticides.

A vast majority of the worldā€™s plants depend on pollinators. Pollination is a crucial part of plant reproduction, and without pollinators, humans and all of earthā€™s terrestrial ecosystems would not survive, according to the .

Through sustainable management of campus grounds, 51ĀŅĀ× remains committed to protecting and providing environments for vital pollinator species. OHIO recently received the designation for a fourth straight year. Bee Campus USA provides a framework for university and college campus communities to work together to conserve native pollinators by increasing the abundance of native plants, providing nest sites and reducing the use of pesticides.

What is composting

The EPA as the managed, aerobic (oxygen-required) biological decomposition of organic materials by microorganisms. Recent 51ĀŅĀ× Honors Tutorial College environmental studies(opens in a new window) graduate Catherine Galla views composting as a solution to combat waste created by humans anywhere throughout the food supply chain.

While official definitions for composting existā€”like the one provided by EPAā€”Galla says generally there is an overall lack of terminology, language and vocabulary surrounding organic waste and composting. With fewer ways to discuss it, oftentimes there is a lack of awareness regarding composting and the sustainable disposal of biodegradable waste.

ā€œI see composting as the act of physically taking organic waste and using it to a higher power in order to create a useful product out of human-caused waste,ā€ said Galla. ā€œI see waste as a social issue, something that humans have created for themselves, and I see composting as a really easy solution to get everyone from every walk of life involved in thinking more about their trash, because when we throw things away, it doesnā€™t just go away, thereā€™s never an ā€˜away.ā€™ā€

 

Graphic courtesy of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

In terms of what can be composted, Galla says it is important to look holistically at the entire supply chain, going beyond what didnā€™t get eaten at lunch or dinner. Opportunities for composting throughout the supply chain present themselves in different ā€œphasesā€ including, but not limited to:

• Harvest
• Transportation
• Consumption (food that goes bad at the grocery store)
• Preparation (discarding food scraps while cooking)
• Post-consumption (uneaten food)

ā€œI see organic waste going all the way to beginningā€”harvesting something and its gone rotten, all the way to the grocery store with things that have been spoiled for whatever reason, things that have passed their expiration date at the grocery store.ā€ Galla explained. ā€œThen all the way up to the consumption phase, making soup and you have the ends of tomatoes or carrots that you wonā€™t include in the soup that is compostable organic waste.ā€

How to compost

Composting is something just about anyone can doā€”it . The starting with an area that has good drainage and year-round access or utilizing a bin with holes in the bottom for drainage. This bin or area will serve as the receptacle for food scraps.

A basic backyard compost pile needs nitrogen-rich ā€œgreens,ā€ such as fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds and eggshells, as well as carbon-rich ā€œbrownsā€ such as dry leaves, twigs and shredded paper. With a balanced amount of greens and browns the final product should have the desired soil-like consistency.

 

Composting is natureā€™s way of recycling. It is one of the most powerful actions to reduce trash, address climate change and build healthy soil, according to the EPA.

Galla believes that anyone with the means should consider composting at home.

ā€œComposting gives people more agency over what happens when they choose to discard waste,ā€ said Galla. ā€œItā€™s also a basic climate mitigation strategy and a very easy way to bridge the gap in terms of connecting with the average person about what they can do to help and contribute to something larger than themselves and the waste that they produce.ā€

For a more detailed guide on how to compost at home, visit .

Municipal composting and the future of waste diversion

Backyard composting can be a simple, viable solution to divert waste, but certain factors can make it impossible for some. Accessibility and visibility are two barriers that come to mind for Galla. Not everyone has access to land and outdoor space to start a compost pile and not everyone has been educated about the importance of waste mitigation, climate change and tools like composting that help create climate-resilient communities.

ā€œAnyone can compost and divert their organic material, but what is the infrastructure surrounding people in their natural environmentā€”like their houses, yard, apartmentā€”that allow them to do it,ā€ said Galla.

 

Graphic courtesy of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Municipal, or curbside, compost collection is a prime example of infrastructure that can be implemented to give everyone a chance to participate in waste diversion while also making climate resiliency something visible and tangible. Galla says that infrastructure like municipal compost collection increases access, compliance and ease and creates excitement about participation.

ā€œ[Infrastructure like municipal composting] doesnā€™t put the burden of the whole operation onto everyday people,ā€ explained Galla. ā€œIt increases peopleā€™s overall access to being able to divert organic material from the landfill.ā€

Beyond compost collection at the municipal level, other organizations and nonprofits have begun offering similar services. Rust Belt Riders, a Cleveland-based worker-owned cooperative that was the subject of Gallaā€™s thesis, collect organic waste residentially and commercially. Until municipal composting becomes more widely available, organizations like Rust Belt Riders are taking it upon themselves to build composting infrastructure.

Composting at OHIO

Every day the 51ĀŅĀ× Compost Facility(opens in a new window) processes more than five tons of food waste with the largest in-vessel composting system at any college or university in the nation(opens in a new window). Each ton of waste that OHIO processes is a ton diverted from landfills where it creates harmful methane emissions.

Beyond being good for the environment, the 51ĀŅĀ× Compost Facility also serves as an important educational modelā€”spreading awareness of sustainable practices, allowing students to witness a circular process first-hand and providing them with a big-picture look at whatā€™s possible in the realm of sustainability.

Each facet of the 51ĀŅĀ× Compost Facility was also designed with sustainability in mind. The facility produces renewable energy through solar panels, collects rainwater for cleaning and utilizes a waste oil burner for heat during the colder winter months.

 

Composting is a simple, cheap and effective way to reduce methane emissions and divert waste from landfills all while creating a nutrient-dense soil. The act of turning food scraps and other organic material into a useful product protects the environment, empowers people to think about the waste they produce and creates resilient communities.

Recent OHIO Honors Tutorial College environmental studies graduate Catherine Galla discusses composting accessibility and awareness.

51ĀŅĀ× will celebrate Earth Day with a series of events for students, faculty, staff and area residents on Monday, April 14, from 12-4 p.m. in the Walter Hall Rotunda.

The celebration of campus and community sustainability efforts is part of the Earth Day celebrations being held around the world. The International Earth Day Network collaborates with partners in more than 192 countries to support environmental protection and peace.

Hosted by the Office of Sustainability, the Earth Day activities at 51ĀŅĀ× are free and open to the public.

51ĀŅĀ× will celebrate Earth Day with a series of events for students, faculty, staff and area residents on Monday, April 14, from 12-4 p.m. in the Walter Hall Rotunda.

The celebration of campus and community sustainability efforts is part of the Earth Day celebrations being held around the world. The International Earth Day Network collaborates with partners in more than 192 countries to support environmental protection and peace.

Hosted by the Office of Sustainability, the Earth Day activities at 51ĀŅĀ× are free and open to the public.

As spring blooms in Athens, the townā€™s cherry blossom trees, hiking trails and greenery invite locals and 51ĀŅĀ× Bobcats to relish in the relaxing atmosphere and enjoy the outdoors.

April not only symbolizes springtime in the neighborhood but also welcomes Athens Beautification Month, a time in which residents and Bobcats are encouraged to give back to the environment.

The Center for Community Engagement teams up with the Office of Sustainability each year to coordinate the events, all of which focus on areas of need.

As spring blooms in Athens, the townā€™s cherry blossom trees, hiking trails and greenery invite locals and 51ĀŅĀ× Bobcats to relish in the relaxing atmosphere and enjoy the outdoors.

April not only symbolizes springtime in the neighborhood but also welcomes Athens Beautification Month, a time in which residents and Bobcats are encouraged to give back to the environment.

The Center for Community Engagement teams up with the Office of Sustainability each year to coordinate the events, all of which focus on areas of need.

For many Bobcats, playing outside with different insects calls to mind a dirty, yet fun childhood. Luckily for 51ĀŅĀ× Bug members, reliving these happy memories and putting childhood passions into practice is possible with several insects to discover in Athens.

During a typical Sunday meeting, the club can be found exploring insects native to Athens, with the goal to save and protect. Species may be researched, relocated and cared for, further educating members and benefiting the environment.

For many Bobcats, playing outside with different insects calls to mind a dirty, yet fun childhood. Luckily for 51ĀŅĀ× Bug members, reliving these happy memories and putting childhood passions into practice is possible with several insects to discover in Athens.

During a typical Sunday meeting, the club can be found exploring insects native to Athens, with the goal to save and protect. Species may be researched, relocated and cared for, further educating members and benefiting the environment.

The Ohio Economic Development Association awarded the City of Athens the 2024 Gold Level Encouraging Environmental Excellence in Communities Award. The award recognizes an organization or local governmentā€™s commitment to environmental oversight and excellence.

Notable benefits of the award include enhanced environmental assistance from the Ohio EPA, reduced time to obtain permit modifications and marketing opportunities to highlight environmental accomplishments.

To obtain the award, the city had to complete environmental, economic and social sustainability requirements and meet at least 12 of the EPAā€™s criteria.

Policies such as banning plastic bag usage and increasing the use of solar energy have helped Athens earn the award. 

The Ohio Economic Development Association awarded the City of Athens the 2024 Gold Level Encouraging Environmental Excellence in Communities Award. The award recognizes an organization or local governmentā€™s commitment to environmental oversight and excellence.

Notable benefits of the award include enhanced environmental assistance from the Ohio EPA, reduced time to obtain permit modifications and marketing opportunities to highlight environmental accomplishments.

To obtain the award, the city had to complete environmental, economic and social sustainability requirements and meet at least 12 of the EPAā€™s criteria.

Policies such as banning plastic bag usage and increasing the use of solar energy have helped Athens earn the award. 

President Donald Trump was inaugurated Jan. 20 as the 47th president of the United States. For many Americans, this was a day of shared loss and national frustration. On Inauguration Day, climate change mitigation group Sunrise Movement Athens hosted a meeting to offer a healing space, organized by co-Presidents Maeve Fellerhoff and Celia Hawk. 

President Donald Trump was inaugurated Jan. 20 as the 47th president of the United States. For many Americans, this was a day of shared loss and national frustration. On Inauguration Day, climate change mitigation group Sunrise Movement Athens hosted a meeting to offer a healing space, organized by co-Presidents Maeve Fellerhoff and Celia Hawk.