Title

Engaged Organizations: Springs Dominican motherhouse, Columbus, OH

Abstract

Both staff and residents of the Springs Dominican motherhouse have been pleased with the costs savings and additional benefits reaped from composting through Innovative Organic Recycling. Administration has also replaced facility lights with LED bulbs and had one boiler replace the seven boilers that they had before.

Description

The Springs Dominican motherhouse hosts 150 individuals (maintaining 76 beds). Initial green projects included replacing their lights with LED bulbs and replacing seven boilers, which had been there since the 1940s, with just one new one. Recently, Innovative Organic Recycling composting company had been invited to speak with house members, and their composting program took off from there. Jean Sylvester, Motherhouse Administrator, had found it easy to do at her own house and was also aware of Shepherd’s Corner success with it. Both staff and residents adapted quickly and the process is streamlined at this point. Composting is done by the sisters themselves, with administration providing the bags and cans. In addition to composting food, even the bones, all of plates and cups, including coffee cups, can be composted as well.

For administration, this is a business model that makes practical sense. Management had been quoted at $35 per pick up, so they decided to give it a two-week trial period. Overall, composting has been a "win-win" for them, with its ease of implementation and minimal ongoing efforts. In addition, their dock smells better because the food waste bags are not left open in the dumpster now. There is also less garbage for RUMPKE to take, so the project cost savings of waste management will be reaped over time .

Dominican Sisters of Peace

Innovative Organics Recycling

Denomination

Christian

Sub-Tradition

Roman Catholic

Audience

Clergy

(Church) Administrators

Resources For Action

Success Stories

Issues

Sustainability

Simplicity and Mindfulness

english Energy

Relation

Engaged Organizations: Shepherd's Corner, Blacklick, OH