Green Umbrella in the News

Source: Spectrum News

Hundreds of Residents Weigh on Climate Change During First Green Cincinnati Plan Update Meeting

BY CASEY WELDON CINCINNATI

PUBLISHED 5:15 PM ET JUN. 01, 2022

CINCINNATI, Ohio — Five years ago, the city of Cincinnati and a collection of community partners and residents came together to compile a list of 80 recommendations to help cut local carbon emissions by 80% by the year 2050.

What You Need To Know

Cincinnati began its year-long Green Cincinnati Plan update Tuesday night with a public event at the Cincinnati Zoo

The Green Cincinnati Plan helps City Council shape policy related to climate change

The specific focus of this year's update is equity

New scientific data suggests Cincinnati and cities across the country will need to speed up their reduction in carbon emissions

It was part of the update process for the Green Cincinnati Plan, the city’s playbook for crafting policies related to climate change.

Since 2018, the city has enacted or is near completion of 85% of those goals, according to the city’s Office of Environment and Sustainability.

But new scientific data suggest more needs to be done and much quicker than once projected.

On Tuesday, about 300 people — city leaders, environmental organizations, business reps, and community advocates — gathered at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden to kick off the five-year renewal of the Green Cincinnati Plan.

The event opened with comments from Mayor Aftab Pureval and City Council member Meeka Owens, who chairs the city’s committee on environmental issues.

The education at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, where the first meeting of the 2023 Green Cincinnati Plan update took place. (Casey Weldon/Spectrum News 1)

The education at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, where the first meeting of the 2023 Green Cincinnati Plan update took place. (Casey Weldon/Spectrum News 1)

Since the last Green Cincinnati Plan update, Cincinnati has funded the construction of a massive solar energy array on former farmland about 45 miles east of downtown Cincinnati. They also established a Cincinnati 2030 District, which got area building owners to commit to cutting their carbon emissions by 30% by 2030.

Hamilton County voters approved a new sales tax in 2020 that will inject tens of millions of dollars into local public transportation in regional transportation.

Because of the Green Cincinnati Plan and other strategies, Cincinnati has seen a 37.8% reduction in carbon emissions since 2006, according to city statistics. More than 20,000 tons of local recyclable material get diverted from the landfill every year.

“As exciting as these successes are, we know there’s so much more we have to accomplish,” Owens said. “This renewal (of the Green Cincinnati Plan) is a tremendous opportunity to reconsider our goals of the past and to challenge ourselves to aim for higher goals in the future.”

No looking back: Need to be more aggressive with goals moving forward

Owens’ point is relevant considering a recent climate study suggesting that aiming higher in terms of carbon reduction may be less of a goal than a necessity.

A report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluded that despite global efforts to reduce carbon emissions over the past decade, those numbers have actually increased since 2010 “across all major sectors globally” because of human activity.

The IPCC report shows the world needs to “go bigger and we need to go faster,” Michael Forrester, who leads the city’s Office of Environment and Sustainability, said at the time of the release. “It doesn’t mean that we’re doomed, but it requires action. And that really is what the Green Cincinnati Plan is — it’s our plan of action.”

Michael Forrester, who leads the Office of Environment and Sustainability, speaks during the opening meeting of the 2023 Green Cincinnati Plan update process. (Casey Weldon/Spectrum News 1)

Michael Forrester, who leads the Office of Environment and Sustainability, speaks during the opening meeting of the 2023 Green Cincinnati Plan update process. (Casey Weldon/Spectrum News 1)

Last week, the Green Cincinnati Plan steering committee passed a motion setting new directives that exceed the previous goals. Now, they’re shooting for a 50% carbon reduction by 2030 and achieving complete “carbon neutrality” by 2050.

In recent months, the city has launched several environmentally focused initiatives, including a commitment to have an all-electric fleet of vehicles by 2035 and installing additional solar panels and improving energy efficiencies at nine city facilities. They've also made considerable investments in bicycle infrastructure and safety.

The city created and invested $100,000 in the Green Cincinnati Fund, money dedicated to environmental projects.

But through this project, the city hopes to do more, said Ollie Kroner, who leads sustainability efforts to the city.

The 300 or so people who attended Tuesday’s kickoff offered feedback on what it should include. They took part in breakout sessions focused on eight themes, ranging from food to transportation to buildings.

Participants floated between the rooms led by members of the steering committee Beyond taking part in conversations, they also posted notes with neighborhood-specific concerns and recommendations on oversized poster boards, each with its own prompt.

The group will turn those notes into information used at future public meetings. There are 30 meetings planned over the next year.

“For the past 15 years, the city has had an 80% by 2050 decarbonization goal and we are on path to meet that, but science that’s come out tells us that’s not enough,” Kroner said. “We’re looking for the best, biggest and boldest ideas to get us where we need to be.”

Chance to build a more equity city for all

A major focus of this update will be equity.

Predominantly Black, Brown and low-income neighborhoods are already experiencing issues related to climate change and those factors will worsen if things don’t improve, Kroner said.

Cincinnati’s “urban heat island neighborhoods” — those with a lot of impermeable surfaces like parking lots and large buildings — can get up to 12 degrees warmer than those with more tree canopies and green spaces.

Data shows neighborhoods with less green space get much hotter than those with more green space. More heat means higher utility bills and extended exposure can lead to health issues, like heart and breathing troubles.

“We have designed cities that require parking for all new construction, but now across America, we have eight parking spaces for every car. We’ve paved most of our urban core; now we have urban heat island issues, we have storm water runoff issues,” Kroner said. “Over and over again, you see how we’ve scripted the problem into existence.”

This Green Cincinnati Plan renewal process has to be intentional about targeting the historically underrepresented communities they know climate change will disproportionately affect, according to Ashlee Young, with Interact for Health. Otherwise, the group will just end up discussing the same issues five years from now during the next update.

"If we come out with a plan that is not equitable, if we come out with a plan that doesn’t have dollars designated to our Black communities, we’re doing a disservice," said Young, who chairs the GCP Equity Committee.

Participants left Post-It notes with questions, feedback and solutions for local environmental issues. (Casey Weldon/Spectrum News 1)

Participants left Post-It notes with questions, feedback and solutions for local environmental issues. (Casey Weldon/Spectrum News 1)

Tanner Yess, with Groundwork Ohio River Valley, said a key component of the Green Cincinnati Plan is the fact residents are involved. They not only get to hear academics and city officials talk about climate change, but they’ll be a key part of those discussions, listing concerns in their specific neighborhood. They may even be the ones to come up with the solutions to those problems.

“The environment, conservation and sustainability, in terms of equity and social justice, are inextricably linked, especially as it relates to climate change,” he said. “The social justice issues we see in society, whether it’s segregation, transportation, housing — they’re being compounded by climate change and impacting those who were more vulnerable to begin with.”

Groundwork Ohio River Valley will be a key player in the engagement process for the Green Cincinnati Plan.

Getting people to take part who’ve historically not received an invitation “to the table” is one problem the steering committee and Groundwork Ohio River Valley will hope to address, Yess admitted. To address that problem, the organization plans to use an aggressive canvassing campaign focused on the real-world effects of climate change.

“These are the people who are dealing with higher asthma rates; people who are dealing with housing insecurity because of rising energy costs,” he added. “We want to have their voice to bake their words into the plan in order to respond to these issues.”

That's important, Young said, because oftentimes when people talk about climate change, they use language that isn't accessible to everyone.

Chance to provide feedback online or in person

During the last update, the city received over 1,400 comments from residents. Officials hope the number will increase this year because of a bigger emphasis on community engagement. The city doubled its usual financial commitment to outreach efforts this year.

Times and dates for future meetings aren’t yet available. The city will post meeting updates on its Green Cincinnati Plan website.

Residents can also submit their recommendations through the 2023 GCP Recommendation Form. There’s also a Cincinnati-centric climate change survey.

“You could feel the energy in the room (Tuesday) night. This is clearly an issue that’s important to the people of Cincinnati and it’s an issue they want to lend their voice to and give solutions to help solve that problem,” Kroner said. “They’re planting the seeds and ideas that will ultimately give shape to this plan.”

The steering committee aims to have the final draft of the Green Cincinnati update by year’s end, City Council will then vote on it, likely in spring 2023.

Hundreds of residents weigh on climate change during first Green Cincinnati Plan update meeting

Source: Soapbox Media

The Philanthropic City: Sharing the Wealth to Build Strong Communities

by David Holthaus

May 24, 2022

Cities are engines of our local and national economies, and centers of creativity, culture, and entertainment. But they are under more pressure than ever. This is the latest in a monthly series, The Case for Cities, that looks at how Cincinnati and similar cities can grow by becoming places of choice, as well as models of social justice.

By all accounts, Charles H. Dater was a frugal man.

Although he was the inheritor of a family business, Charles lived his years in a modest, three-bedroom ranch on Ferguson Avenue in Westwood. When he and his wife dined out, it was often at Frisch’s. He drove his cars until they wore out. One of them was a Dodge Aries K-car, a low-budget economy car that could be bought new for about $7,000 in the '80s.

He managed the family’s investments and real estate adroitly, and by the time he was in his 70s, he had amassed what can only be called a small fortune. The Daters had no children, and when Charles was planning for his estate, the idea of a foundation came up, an idea that appealed to him. In 1985, he established the Charles H. Dater Foundation, and in its first year, the Foundation made 13 grants totaling the modest sum of $9,500.

Dater died in 1993 at the age of 81. The Foundation lives on, and now gives away about $5 million a year. Since it was started, the Dater Foundation has made more than $55 million in grants, with a mission to support organizations that benefit youth. Two West Side schools bear the Dater name: Gilbert A. Dater High School (named after his grandfather); and Dater Montessori, an elementary school.

His name on the schools are about the only public recognition of the impact of the Dater Foundation, as Charles is said to have also been a humble person who, when he was alive, preferred to give anonymously, and in any event, didn’t seek recognition for his charity.

Charles H. Dater

“We’re kind of a quiet foundation,” says Roger Ruhl, a vice president and board member. “We tell grant recipients just go do good work and serve your constituents.”

Dater’s vision, generosity, and legacy has benefited thousands of Cincinnati kids. It has funded expansions at Children’s Hospital, a reading room at the Westwood branch library, programs for underserved youth at the Clippard YMCA, programs at the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati, and a lot more.

It's a classic, Cincinnati story: a thrifty West Side family saved its pennies for generations and shared its wealth with its hometown. But The Dater Foundation is not unique in its generosity.

Over the decades, local foundations and other philanthropic organizations have made investments that have built and sustained this city and many others. They’ve built institutions, funded the arts, improved the quality of life, expanded health care and education, and supported and endowed efforts to foster social justice.

Cincinnati's vibrant and diverse arts scene wouldn't be the same without the significant contributions from foundations funded by people named Corbett, Nippert, Budig, Rosenthal and others. The Procters, Gambles and their heirs have donated millions to improve health care and other causes. Jacob Schmidlapp funded low-income housing and the arts with his banking wealth. First-generation American Manuel Mayerson put a real estate fortune to work supporting Cincinnati's Jewish organizations, education, and impoverished children. Murray Seasongood was a lawyer and politician who pushed for government reform in Cincinnati, and set up a foundation devoted to good government. Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. had an eye on opportunities for improvements they could make to the communities around them.

(Full disclosure: The Murray and Agnes Seasongood Good Government Foundation, as well as the Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile,Jr. Foundation support Soapbox Cincinnati.)

And corporations and just regular people donate tens of millions every year to the United Way of Greater Cincinnati, which supports dozens of local social service organizations.

“We invest in the things that are important in this city,” says Kathy Merchant, who was president and CEO of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation for 18 years, until her retirement in 2015.

Some see the challenge for philanthropies today as responding to the changing needs of a society in which the wealth gap between the rich, the poor, and the just-getting-by has grown rapidly, and where decades of racial inequities have come to the surface.

Darren Walker, president of the Ford Foundation, one of the largest foundations in the country, with an endowment of $16 billion, has written about this. "For all the good philanthropy has accomplished – for all the generous acts of charity it has supported – it is no secret that the enterprise is both a product and a beneficiary of a system that needs reform," he wrote in "From Generosity to Justice: a New Gospel of Wealth."

Philanthropies are beginning to respond to calls for systemic reform.

Greater Cincinnati Foundation is this region's largest community foundation, giving away more than $120 million in 2020 alone. Started in 1963, the Foundation’s focus and strategies have evolved, as it focuses today on advancing racial equity and opportunity. One of its programs is Racial Equity Matters, a program funded by bi3, Bethesda, Inc.'s grantmaking initiative. As part of that, it’s made the diversity and equity training program that delves into the root causes of racism available for free to thousands people since 2019.

“Making sure you change as community needs change is really important,” Merchant says.

Matt Butler and his wife, Rebekah Gensler, assessed community needs to figure out how to have the most impact when they started one of the region’s newest philanthropies, Devou Good Foundation, in 2014.

They had founded an e-commerce business, Signature Hardware, with $10,000 in savings in 1999. Based in Erlanger, it grew to become one of the largest, direct-to-consumer decorative hardware companies in the country, selling freestanding bathtubs, decorative sinks and vanities, door hardware, floor registers, shower rods, faucets and the like. By the time they sold the business, it had grown to 220 employees and 400,000 square feet of space.

Only in their mid-40s, the couple decided to use their money and time to give back.

“We’ve always given back, but we were busy raising kids and growing the business,” Butler says. “Our giving was more passive, sending checks to other nonprofits.”

With the creation of Devou Good, they’ve devoted themselves full-time to making a difference.

The first step was figuring out where they could have the most impact. They began meeting with people and organizations to see where the needs were. Child care and transportation kept coming up. Lots of not-for-profits, such as the Dater Foundation, already work on children’s issues. But there wasn’t a great deal of activity around “active transportation,” or non-automobile transportation.

In doing his research. Butler found that 20 percent of households in the region lack access to a car. When you figure in those who are too old to drive, and those who aren’t old enough, “There’s a lot of nondrivers in this area,” Butler says. “It seems like they’ve been overlooked. They don’t always have a voice at the table when decisions are being made.”

“Active transportation,” meaning essentially any means of getting around besides in cars, became Devou Good’s primary focus. It funds infrastructure projects in Hamilton, Kenton, Campbell and Boone counties designed to make walking and bicycling safer, such as bike paths, lanes, trails, and bridges; off-road trails that can be used to connect neighborhoods; infrastructure to slow traffic in neighborhoods; creating safe, walkable and bikable neighborhoods; bike racks, bike parking, bike repair stations and bike storage.

It's funded a thousand bike racks in Cincinnati, 500 in Covington, and 100 in Newport and other cities in Campbell County. It helped form VisionZeroNKY, a task force to eliminate all fatalities and severe injuries from automobile traffic. For the past few years, it has funded half the operating expenses of Tri-State Trails, a community advocacy group working to expand the region’s trail and bike path network. It funded a protected bike lane on Clifton Avenue, safely connecting residential neighborhoods with the University of Cincinnati.

When COVID emerged and restaurants in downtown, Over-the-Rhine and Northern Kentucky resorted to outdoor dining to stay in business, Devou Good brought the idea of “streateries” to the public – outdoor dining areas on sidewalks and streets that were at once attractive and protected from traffic. The foundation seeded 35 streateries, an investment that resulted in the city of Cincinnati funding another 35. Devou Good also funded raised crosswalks on Vine and Main streets in OTR, slowing traffic along those high-traffic corridors that are often packed with pedestrians.

A "streatery" in Over-the-Rhine.

The foundation invests in more than infrastructure. It will work with community councils to inform them about what can be done to calm traffic in their neighborhoods and reduce speeding and reckless driving. At times, they advocate for public policies.

Devou Good lobbied Cincinnati Police to make OTR a “no-chase zone,” meaning no vehicle chases by police. This came shortly after a chase in 2020 by Cincinnati police ended across the river in Newport with a crash that killed a couple in their 80s who were dining outdoors. Cincinnati Police in March did amend its chase policy, permitting chases only if suspects are believed to have committed violent felonies.

“We look at how can we have the greatest impact,” Butler says. “If there’s areas where policy is in conflict with our stated goals, we need to speak up. It’s important to speak up for people who don’t have a voice.”

Butler neatly sums up his overall philosophy and that of many philanthropists who have preceded him: "It's important that people who have been successful like ourselves give back, pay it forward, and try to raise up as many other people as we can."

Source: CityBeat Cincinnati

Six Favorite Greater Cincinnati Bike Trails to Explore This Summer

by CityBeat Staff

May 20, 2022

Great Miami River Trail in Franklin County

Looking for the best trails to bike this summer? We asked Wade Johnston, director of local bikeway advocacy group Tri-State Trails, for his recommendations. His six picks — and reasons why — are below.

Find more area bike trails at http://tristatetrails.org/explore or plan your urban ride with Tri-State Trails' new "Low-Stress Bike Map” feature.

Whitewater Canal Trail

"If you’ve never been to the Whitewater Canal Trail, or it’s been a while since your last visit, now is the time to make the trip to Franklin County. After years of dedication by a small group of volunteers, the trail recently built some significant connections. What used to be three noncontiguous trail segments has now connected into a cohesive 11-mile trail spanning from the Laurel Fedder Dam almost all the way to downtown Brookville. This scenic corridor traverses through historic downtown Metamora and features memorable locks from the former Whitewater Canal."

Murray Path on Wasson Way

Wasson Way

"The recent extension of Wasson Way through the treetops of Ault Park is a must see. This east-west corridor of the planned CROWN 34-mile urban trail loop now spans roughly 6 miles and connects to downtown Mariemont via the Murray Path. There is a short on-road segment near the switchback in Ault Park that follows Old Red Bank Road and Woodland Drive to connect the two trails. Stay tuned for some exciting news about the extension to the Little Miami Scenic Trail later this year!"

Great Miami River Trail

"Last year, a key gap between Middletown and Franklin was closed, after nearly a decade of effort. You can now ride roughly 65 miles from Middletown through Dayton to Piqua, which is a big deal! We're working with MetroParks of Butler County and Great Miami Riverway to link up this regional corridor to another 11 miles of the GMRT in Hamilton and Fairfield Township sometime in the foreseeable future."

Riverfront Commons

Riverfront Commons

"Covington's riverfront got a makeover last year with a new amphitheater and improved trail alignment west of the Roebling Bridge. On top of that, Covington recently extended the trail's western terminus to Swain Court, which drastically improves biking to West Covington and Ludlow, as well as featuring a spectacular riverfront view of Cincinnati. While the trail doesn't perfectly connect to Newport yet for bicycling, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is developing plans to rebuild the Fourth Street Bridge between Campbell and Kenton Counties. This is an important project for interested riders to advocate for a better design with a high-quality bikeway between Newport and Covington."

Ohio River Trail

"Cincinnati is doing its part to advance the regional vision for the Ohio River Way between Portsmouth and Louisville by building out new connections in the Ohio River Trail. Last year, a critical link between Lunken Airport and Coney Island was completed. This eastern leg of the CROWN extends roughly 7 miles from Schmidt Field in East End to Kellogg Park in Anderson Township with one on-road section through the riverfront street grid of California. On the West Side, a new section of the Ohio River Trail West is almost finished from Fairbanks Avenue in Sedamsville to Gilday/Riverside Park."

Little Miami Scenic Trail

"I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the Little Miami Scenic Trail, also lovingly referred to as the Loveland Bike Trail. Unfortunately, a key stretch of this trail will be closed through December for the construction of a new bridge at King Ave./Grandin Road near Cartridge Brewing. When complete, the trail will feature an improved trailhead parking lot and tunnel to bypass the road intersection. Check back on the south end of the Little Miami Scenic Trail later this summer — Great Parks of Hamilton County is scheduled to have the Beechmont Bridge complete to Lunken Airport in September."

Source: 91.7 WVXU

For Some Greater Cincinnatians, Every Day Is Bike to Work Day

by Lucy May

May 20 is National Bike to Work Day. But for some folks, that’s every day.

According to 2020 American Community Survey five-year aggregate data, roughly 9,000 workers in Hamilton County don’t have a car available to them and roughly 400 ride their bikes to work regularly.

That may sound like a tiny number, but it could be growing, given the nation’s continuing bike boom, increasing bicycle infrastructure in our region, widespread availability of e-bikes and growing awareness of the environmental impact of motorized vehicles.

There are many reasons why people ride a bicycle to and from work and other vital destinations: to get more exercise; because they can’t afford a car or don’t have a driver's license; to reduce their carbon footprint; or just because it’s fun.

But bike commuting in Greater Cincinnati presents challenges along with joys. Gaps in safe cycling infrastructure, inclement weather and danger from drivers on the roads are all part of a bicycle commuter’s calculus when riding to work.

Joining Cincinnati Edition are avid cycling commuter and Queen City Bike President Joe Humpert; long-distance bike commuter Daniel Iroh; and Wade Johnston from Tristate Trails. They'll talk about the benefits and challenges of commuting by bike, opportunities for improvement in Greater Cincinnati’s cycling infrastructure, and why bike commuting for some transcends a mere way to get to work and represents a distinct lifestyle.

Source: Soapbox Cincinnati

Groups Name Popular Well-Building Startup as Sustainability Winner

by Movers and Makers

May 17, 2022

The StartupCincy ecosystem named a well-building firm, co-founded by a newly graduated Xavier University student, as its first winner in a new collaboration.

Ripple Water combines the sale of high-quality water bottles for the purpose of solving the global water crisis. For every 1,000 water bottles sold, Ripple builds a well that provides clean water to communities in need, giving them the gift of life. Ripple is a for-profit, but is awaiting federal tax-exempt status for the nonprofit it has set up to help it build wells, the 10th now happening in Uganda.

“All four of the ‘Green Room’ startup competitors have creative products that solve real-world problems,” said volunteer coach Brian Tibbs, vice president of finance and business intelligence at Monti Inc.

“This was a close competition with Ripple winning by just two points. Ripple set themselves apart with their unique business concept and funding potential. They have a solid presentation and backed that up with well-prepared answers to the judges’ questions.”

Alloy Growth Lab, formerly the Hamilton County Development Co., and partners Cintrifuse, Flywheel, the University of Cincinnati, Sustainable Cincy and Green Umbrella hosted the pitch competition highlighting cutting-edge startups in the sustainability space. The pitches and voting took place April 28 at MadTreet Brewery.

The other three startups competing were:

• Inland Shrimp is an indoor shrimp farm that provides premium fresh, never frozen shrimp, locally through the use of patented technology and a proprietary high growth, high nutrient feed formula.
• Clean Earth Rovers tackle the problem of marine debris. Its Plastics Piranha is engineered to skim marinas and collect 300 lbs. of waste per trip.
• Micronic Technologies is developing revolutionary wastewater cleaning technologies. Its water purification system, the Tornadic One-Pass, harnesses the science and power of a tornado to clean toxic water.

As winner, Ripple Water receives six months of complimentary membership to space at Alloy Growth Lab, a one-year membership to Cintrifuse, 100% paid scholarship to the Queen City Angel Bootcamp, consultation and document preparation from Ulmer & Berne, a one-year membership to Green Umbrella and a ticket to the Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit. Ripple (we are the ripple | official website) was co-founded by new Xavier alumni Zach Kane. Just a few months ago, Ripple won the top prize at the Entrepreneurs’ Organization’s national pitch competition.

The “Green Room” collaboration brought together startup ecosystem partners to focus on sustainability in the Cincinnati marketplace. Ripple is among a host of credits — Sustainability Innovation in Cincinnati – Cintrifuse — Cincinnati is taking for its sustanability economy.

Source: Cincinnati Magazine

This Year’s Midwest Sustainability Summit Will Explore Strategies for an Equitable, Climate Prepared Region

by CM Sales

May 16, 2022

Join hundreds of business, nonprofit, government, and community leaders at Xavier University’s Cintas Center on Thursday, June 16 for the 2022 Midwest Sustainability Summit, hosted by Green Umbrella. Whether you’re passionate about enhancing sustainability at your workplace or in your neighborhood, there are topics for everyone. The Summit will cover a variety of issues from creating healthier buildings, outdoor learning gardens at schools, and community composting programs, to learning how Cincinnati and other cities are creating a climate-conscious future. You’ll walk away feeling inspired, with tools to help influence change and innovation.

“Anybody who cares about the health of our communities and the innovative things that are happening in the region around sustainability would want to come,” says Charlie Gonzalez, member relations and events manager for Green Umbrella. “Food, infrastructure, energy, healthy communities, climate action—there’s something for everyone.” Much of the Summit will focus on environmental justice, including programs to plant more trees in underserved communities to improve air quality, reduce heat, and lower energy bills. In neighborhoods like Lower Price Hill, Bond Hill, and Roselawn, residents were empowered to be climate advisors as part of a community engagement process to develop climate strategies for their neighborhood that will inform the Green Cincinnati Plan. The project’s success, and plans to expand the program to other neighborhoods, represent an example initiative that will be highlighted at the Summit.

Keynote speaker Kristin Baja, director of direct support and innovation with the Urban Sustainability Directors Network, will share insights from her work helping cities across the nation identify effective climate strategies. She will join Cincinnati mayor Aftab Pureval, Dayton mayor Jeffrey Mims, and Limamayor Sharetta Smith to discuss how Midwest cities can enhance their climate resilience in equitable ways and work together to make the region a national leader of sustainability.

Additional talks and sessions throughout the day include:

• Your Vision – the Future of the Green Cincinnati Plan (an interactive workshop)
• Equitable Data-Driven Decision Making for Environmental Justice Initiatives in Greater Cincinnati
• How to Start a Green Team in Your Congregation
• Revolutionary Strategies for a Climate Safe Region
• Accelerating Climate Action Through Democracy
• Resilient Composting: A Story of Collaboration in Cincinnati
• Are Aviation and Sustainability Mutually Exclusive?
• Strengths-Based Stories for Resilient Communities
• Sustainability Action in Appalachian Ohio
• Buildings as Medicine: How Better Design Removes Environmental Stressors
• Calm Climate Anxiety: Connect & Balance Emotions, Spirit, and Action
• Charting a Sustainable Course: How to Create a Local Climate Action Strategy
• Innovation in StartupCincy for an Equitable, Climate-Prepared Region
• A Food Secure Community: Resilience Through Relationships, Trust, and Local Solutions
• Better Housing: Equitable Decarbonization through Collaboration
• Better Building: Driving the Triple Bottom Line with Design
• Success Through Collaboration: The Rockdale Urban Learning Garden
• Wasted Food Stops with Us
• Benchmarking for Better Communities
• Introduction to the Cincinnati Recycling & Reuse Hub
• Decarbonizing Existing Buildings – A Historic Opportunity
• Explore Cincinnati’s Foodshed

The event is in person, and the main stage will be live streamed to allow for virtual attendance. For the full schedule and to register, visit http://midwestregionalsustainability.org.

Field trips across Greater Cincinnati

The day after the conference, on Friday June 17, Green Umbrella partners will host a series of field trips and community activities. Even if you aren’t registered for the Summit, you can attend any of the field trips for free. Sign up at http://midwestregionalsustainability.org.

Ready to learn more about sustainability and attend the conference?

Visit the Midwest Sustainability Summit’s website to register for the 2022 event and learn more about the speakers and program.

Green Umbrella is grateful for the generous support of the event’s main sponsors, who are invested in helping create a more sustainable and climate-prepared region:

“Fifth Third Bank is committed to reducing our environmental footprint, managing our climate-related risk, and to helping our customers and communities transition to a more sustainable and inclusive future. We are proud to again sponsor the Midwest Sustainability Summit to engage with this community to further our shared vision.” –Thomas Neltner, senior vice president, director of enterprise workplace services and chief security officer

“Verizon believes this is a breakthrough moment for business action on climate change, which is why we’ve strengthened our commitment to sustainability and have set a goal to reach net-zero operational emissions by 2035. Verizon has become one of the largest corporate buyers of U.S. renewable energy, entering into long-term renewable energy purchase agreements for substantial renewable energy capacity and has issued four $1 billion green bonds. Supporting local sustainability efforts like the Summit is part of our overall mission to make our networks and the communities we serve more climate resilient. These donations and programs align with Verizon’s goal to help move the world forward through our Citizen Verizon initiative, which centers on Digital Inclusion, Climate Protection and Human Prosperity.” —Jessica Cohen, Director of community engagement, Verizon

“The Brueggeman Center for Dialogue at Xavier University is thrilled to be a top sponsor of the 2022 Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit because of its broad and inclusive approach to sustainability, recognizing that the environmental, the human, and the social are interconnected. In the spirit of Pope Francis, Xavier is committed to this kind of an “integral ecological” approach to sustainability.” —Bill Madges, faculty director The Edward B. Brueggeman Center for Dialogue

Source: Soapbox Cincinnati

The Queen City Receives Her Crown

by Eliza Bobonick

May 10, 2022

The Queen City has long struggled with its image. Once known as Porkopolis, and commonly viewed as overweight and unhealthy, Cincinnati is famed for piles of spaghetti topped with unconventional chili and mounds of cheese, and as being the home of all-too-often underdog sports teams. Outside of its low cost of living, the city has had issues regarding desirability as a place to live or visit for generations. Over time, notoriously polluted air and waterways and episodic discord due to racial unrest have also marred the nation’s collective view of the city.

The humble queen has undertaken some serious self-reflection and subsequent action in recent years. The results are evident in a once-again bustling downtown and riverfront district – as well as safer, happier, more inclusive communities surrounding its inner core.

Now, the heart of the city is pumping that momentum for change outward, circulating these renewed assets to the farthest corners of Cincinnati’s outermost and least served communities. Across county lines and jurisdictional barriers, different factions (often strange bedfellows) are working together to break through acquisitional stumbling blocks and financial barriers. Collectively, they are weaving a massive crown of green inclusivity to adorn the queen and elevate the possibilities of the surrounding area – in the form of an immense multiuse trail.

The final product has the potential to vastly improve residents’ quality of life in innumerable ways. But the painstaking crafting of this crown is largely about making connections. Bridging the gap between public and private entities and linking various community gems, the aim is to share the wealth – drawing residents of all communities out of the shadows and into the light, together.

CROWN is a clever acronym for Cincinnati Riding Or Walking Network. Per the CROWN Cincinnati website: “Once complete, The CROWN will connect more than 356,000 people in 54 communities to major destinations like parks, schools, and centers for employment, retail, recreation and entertainment. This walkable, bikable loop will also be fully separated from roadway traffic, providing a safe and accessible option for all Cincinnatians to gather and be active outdoors.”

While many portions of the path have been in existence for some time, the current objective of CROWN is to finish vital connective segments in order to close the proposed 34-mile loop. Directing these efforts is a steering committee comprised of leadership from Cincinnati Parks, The City of Cincinnati, Great Parks of Hamilton County, Wasson Way Board and others. The committee determines the next logical steps for applications of grant money as it becomes available in order to smooth and expedite the entire process.

“So the plan is for a 34-mile loop around the city – link up the Wasson Way Trail, Little Miami Scenic Trail, the Ohio River Trail, and the Mill Creek Greenway,” explains Wade Johnston, Director of Tri-State Trails and member of the CROWN steering committee.

“When we launched our campaign, we had a focus for connecting 24 miles in the loop. It has already completed the Wasson Way Trail from Xavier to Ault Park and hooked up with a path that goes into Mariemont called the Murray Path,” continues Johnston. By 2026, Johnston hopes to see the initial 24-mile plan completed.

The entire 34-mile loop is on track to be fully connected within the next ten years. Wasson Way will be joined to Uptown via a link to Martin Luther King and Reading Road. Grant funding has already been designated for this portion via the steering committee.

“That's going to tie into Evanston, Avondale and touch Walnut Hills to reach some communities that have historically been left out of the trail network. And I'd say that's one of our proudest accomplishments,” asserts Johnston, who runs Tri-State Trails from under the wing of nonprofit Green Umbrella. “Originally the city planned to stop the trail at Xavier, and we, as a part of our fundraising campaign, convinced the city to make this segment a priority.”

Johnston also takes pride in having formed a public-private partnership creating the opportunity to utilize a rail corridor owned by SORTA Metro (Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority) that runs from Xavier to MLK, as well as the the connection of the Western Way corridor from Mariemont down to the Little Miami Scenic Trail.

It’s been a labor of love for avid trail user Johnston, who often bikes as far as he can near his east side home and then hops on the Metro with his bike in tow.

“Right now, Great Parks of Hamilton County is building a bridge over the Little Miami River at the end of the Little Miami trail to Lunken Airport. That is a huge, huge connection that will connect our region's longest trail to downtown Cincinnati,” says Johnston, who will personally benefit from this leg of the trail.

Lighting, safety and trail maintenance concerns are significant details that will need to be worked out to ensure the trails are a positive experience for residents regardless of the time of day or season. Increasing community awareness is key to generating support and involvement for the ongoing care that the trails will require as provisions for proper use.

But for now, while the funding is flowing in, the focus is on allocating it quickly and building the framework.

“We're at a very pivotal moment. We've got a lot of money that is coming down the pipeline from the federal government for infrastructure, and at the same time we have a lot of aging infrastructure in Cincinnati – crumbling roads. In my view, this is the moment to prioritize,” says Johnston.

With this new type of green infrastructure, the hope is to turn the focus away from repaving fractured roadways and to instead lessen their use by promoting walking and biking options. Decreased use of public roadways will slow their decay, as well as lower vehicle emissions.

“Cincinnati metro area currently ranks F for ozone particulates or ozone pollution,” laments Johnston. “That's a stat from the American Lung Association, and the number one contributor to ozone is vehicle emissions. And so, by connecting to these employment centers and places that people want to go, we hope that it will reduce the impact on our air.”

He looks forward to seeing underserved, highway-adjacent communities such as South Fairmont and Avondale (whose residents are struggling with widespread respiratory illnesses) benefitting from cleaner air, as well as increased access to healthy foods via trail connectivity to local grocery stores. Johnston hopes this will hinder the spread of diabetes in these areas, which are often “food deserts.”

In addition, increased employment opportunities for those living in underdeveloped areas due to enhanced transportation capabilities will be the icing on this large, green cake.

“People will be able to safely and comfortably ride their bikes from many different neighborhoods to get to our region's two largest employment hubs, uptown and downtown,” notes Johnston. “It's going to be a game changer.”

All Cincinnati communities, regardless of their situational or economic characteristics, could and will benefit from the ease of access to healthful activities the CROWN will provide.

Michele Gottschlich has a background in health care and works for the Red Cross. She has been heavily involved and invested in supporting local community trails, primarily the Triangle Trail, for many years. Gottschlich is now working to encourage all areas toward backing the development of the CROWN out of concern for Cincinnati’s collective health, as well as local economies.

“I worked in the hospital setting. I've got a PhD in nutrition, and I worked there for 25 years and became so frustrated with all the red tape. We weren't being successful with people's long term chronic health needs,” says Gottschlich. “Trails represent the perfect preventative medicine and intervention. With diabetes, cardiovascular, cancer and osteoporosis all being rampant – trails are a wonderful umbrella to reach everybody’s health.”

Gottschlich established the Connecting Active Communities Coalition to encourage locals to be more active outdoors pre-pandemic. She says that involvement mushroomed due to COVID limiting indoor activities.

“Now even more people realize the value of outdoor recreation, but what is much more challenging to me is trying to reach stakeholders about the value that trails bring for economics,” says Gottschlich.

“These communities that are economically disadvantaged are slower to jump on board because, while they appreciate it and they definitely value outdoor recreation, their mindset is so focused on their community development and funding. You look at Arlington Heights, Lockland, and Reading. They are the ones that I want to help the most. And they're like, ‘We understand, Michele, but we’ve got to figure out a way to bring business back to the community.’ They just don't see that's the link,” she says.

The link Gottschlich refers to is the enhanced opportunity for commerce within and between all communities along the CROWN’s path that increased trail access will provide. Retail, restaurant and other business developments will find an attractive traffic flow of weary travelers in need of respite or retail therapy while on a break from their trail excursions. Those from adjacent areas seeking different goods than what they can find in their own localities will also contribute to neighboring communities’ economies.

Gottschlich sites a personal example pertaining to an upcoming event called Canoes and Conversation which seeks to connect elected officials to the work being done and the resulting possibilities being offered by the revitalization of the Mill Creek watershed: “I was trying to get one of the local caterers for this Canoes and Conversation event, and he said, ‘Well, it'd be great if we could keep our employees, but they can't get to work.’ And we have the same situation in Evendale. In an industrial park, they can't get employees to work,” explains Gottschlich.

“Well, if we had a trail, they could certainly get to work. We’re working with ODOT and Through the Valley on the situation about abandoning the highway, northbound, so that they merge the two highways together south, down through Lockland. They want to provide grants, but will Lockland embrace this opportunity to build a trail there?” Gottschlich wonders.

Beyond those setbacks, Gottschlich also faces issues of fear and racial intolerance from more well off communities, even from their leadership.

“You’d think in this day and age that people are beyond bigotry. I gave a talk to these leaders in the community, and the chair had the audacity to say to me, ‘I love your vision. It’s fantastic. But I'm not going to support it if this is going to link Lincoln Heights to Evendale. I don't want that crime. I don't want those people coming this way.’ Can you believe that?” asks Gottschlich, baffled.

Evendale itself stands to benefit greatly from the connections being made as a part of the CROWN. A bond with nearby community treasure Sharon Woods is being constructed via a trail portion along an abandoned railway leading up the Mill Creek.

“There used to be a rail line that went up Sharon Creek up through Sharon Hill, through what is now Sharon Woods that hadn't been used in decades and was abandoned. It took a while, but we negotiated to purchase that corridor,” says Dave Schmitt, Executive Director of the Mill Creek Alliance. “They're giving us a conservation easement on it and we're going to do all the stream restoration work which is going to stabilize the banks and the floodplains, which in turn provides the path.”

According to Schmitt, the trail is often what brings people to the stream. The action taken by the Mill Creek Alliance over the past two decades has created a vast local resource out of what was once designated the “most endangered urban river in North America” by conservation group American Rivers. Now the Mill Creek teems with fish and wildlife, and is safe for residents to explore. This is largely thanks to the work done over the years by the Mill Creek Alliance. Schmitt believes the trail is a natural extension of the creek.

“You want to provide access to these natural areas, and the trail does that. It brings people back to the stream, and connects these different wonderful parks like Sharon Woods and Winton Woods and Glendale Gardens,” says Schmitt.

Todd Gailar recently purchased a golf and mini golf facility on a multi-acre tract of land along the Mill Creek. He is encouraging utilization of the Mill Creek by his patrons as well as drumming up increased business via canoe goers along the stream. He has put in a nice pull off and launch for those drifting by to access The Acres as a rest stop, and added a restaurant to increase its appeal. With the coming expansion of the trail right alongside his property, he envisions increased future benefits for all involved.

In the summer of 2021, while Gailar was prospecting the location, he got in touch with Schmitt through the Mill Creek Alliance. Gailar was concerned about the water quality of the stream, and wondered if it would be an asset or a drawback for his business.

“I wouldn't just buy a golf driving range with a mini golf facility. To me, it had to have some component to connect to nature,” says Gailar. “This is like, you’re going there to do something else. But ‘Oh my gosh, there was a bald eagle!’ or ‘I saw a turtle!’ I think those are the things, to me, that are like the element of surprise. It’s the magic that suddenly you've now connected people to this piece of land.”

Gailar will continue to develop and tweak his business model while awaiting the upcoming trail connectivity. The entire process of connecting the CROWN could take awhile, but anticipation and excitement is building all around, with different developers, investors and communities making plans for the future.

“Our master plan told us that the community wants public space and green space—and communities connected with trails. And that's a top priority for us,” says Todd Palmeter, CEO of Great Parks of Hamilton County. “So, we are currently building the Beechmont Bridge, which is in the CROWN. The funding was all secured through Great Parks of Hamilton County—whether it was federal funds, state funds or our capital project funds.”

Also in the works, according to Palmeter, is a portion coming through Mariemont running east to Newtown called the Columbia Connector. Funding for that piece is to be generated this summer.

“Overwhelmingly, people want to live in communities that are walkable and bikable and safe. Cincinnati doesn’t have a coast with an ocean. We don't have a mountain range like Colorado. But we do have these beautiful river valleys and the scenic hillsides. That's where the topography lends itself to building a trail, and where we have had old, historic rail corridors that we've been able to repurpose,” says Johnston.

“On the west coast, there are water shortages and wildfires, but we are very water secure in Cincinnati,” adds Johnston. “We are building an amenity with the CROWN that is going to attract people to live here and make people want to stay here.”

Source: UC News

Earth Day is Every Day for UC Sustainability Stewards

By Melanie Schefft

April 21 2022

“Incorporated into all new campus construction, UC seeks to consider the environmental, social and economic impacts of its decisions,” says Daniel Hart, sustainability coordinator in the Department of Planning + Design + Construction. “Our award-winning buildings and landscapes are designed to reduce their environmental impact by creating sustainable systems. 

“And we continue to incorporate the concept of sustainability into our academic and research programs across the institution.”

Until 50 years ago, it was legal for industry to spew black clouds of toxic smoke into the air or dump tons of toxic waste into nearby waterways. But in April 1970, U.S. Sen. Gaylord Nelson created Earth Day to force this issue into the national agenda. After successful demonstrations across the country, later that year Congress authorized the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to tackle environmental issues.

Today, a growing group of sustainability stewards all across UC’s campus continue to carry out the original Earth Day mission: from awareness to action. 

Earth Day Activism

UC's Carl H. Lindner College of Business

With national Earth Day celebrated on April 22, events across all four UC campuses are bringing that awareness to green energy initiatives and improved built environment. Currently, 15 campus buildings hold at least silver LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification — the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance “green” buildings. The recently rebuilt Carl H. Lindner College of Business holds LEED gold because of its green roof, bioswale water diversion and reuse system and high-quality thermal UV-rated windows, just to name a few. 

“UC was awarded $30,000 in grant funding from the Ohio EPA to build upon our efforts of putting connected landfill and recycling stations throughout our buildings, making it easier for people to recycle,” adds Hart. “We also joined the Green Sports Alliance program this year, pledging our support of sustainability through athletics.”

Programs across campus that enhance the use of recycling practices, local sourcing of foods and healthy living initiatives such as campus pollinator gardens and UC’s Bike Share program are all highlighted among the Earth Day events that run throughout the month of April — culminating with the winners of this year’s Sustainability Awards Program.

Green Innovation Gets the Gold

UC Sustainability Awards, presented to a top student, faculty and staff member, as well as a research initiative that promotes sustainability across campus, were all awarded during a virtual ceremony on April 15 by Tim Brown, UC industrial design alum and CEO of Allbirds, a footwear and apparel company dedicated to making the most sustainable items by using natural materials.

UC Clermont College Pollinator Garden. photo/Danny Kidd/UC Clermont Marketing Services

Recognized for their innovation, impact, practicality, inclusion and for building a culture of sustainability, the 2022 awards were presented to:

• faculty member Andrew Bernier, a visiting assistant professor of STEM education in UC’s College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services, was recognized for focusing his work on how to design, integrate and amplify sustainability into teacher preparation, particularly to new teachers serving in urban environments. Faculty are awarded for their dedication to creating a strong commitment to sustainability through teaching and/or service.
• Staff member Kevin Peck, associate director of maintenance operations at UC Clermont and UC Blue Ash colleges, was awarded for demonstrating an exemplary commitment to the enhancement of UC as a living laboratory and to integrating sustainability into UC’s operations. Peck was instrumental in securing funding for and supporting the Clermont College Pollinator Garden created in 2021.
• Student Mitchell Singstock, a medical student in UC’s College of Medicine and president of the Medical Student Sustainability Club, was awarded for his leadership and innovative ways of solving problems to enhance UC’s culture of sustainability. Singstock hosted speakers on the implications of climate change on patient’s health and for designing creative ways UC College of Medicine can be more sustainable.
• Carrie Trott was recognized for outstanding research innovation for her dedication to cultivating a culture of sustainability at UC and beyond. Trott, a community psychologist and UC assistant professor of social and community psychology, co-authored the “2021 Cincinnati Climate Equity Indicators Report.” The report presents research into 52 Cincinnati neighborhoods, detailing climate factor inequities and suggesting actions to rectify them. The report, hosted on the Office of Environment and Sustainability website, is a collaboration between the city, UC, residents and community partners including Green Umbrella and Groundwork Ohio River Valley.

Climate Action at Work

UC’s Sustainability + Climate Action Plan continues to incorporate, promote and support sustainable behaviors, including those around climate change into academic classes and programs. 

Among the efforts is UC’s Food Waste Prevention’s program to recycle coffee grounds and food waste. By integrating a food waste tracking system called LeanPath into campus dining halls and food courts, UC helps reduce pre-consumer waste as the staff prepares food. 

“Using LeanPath technology, we have measured and reduced food waste in CenterCourt and MarketPointe@Siddall dining centers by 65% since 2017,” says Katy Wahlke, director of food services in UC’s Campus Services. “Two dining centers are also composting post-consumer organic food waste that may be generated from uneaten food.

“We also purchase produce for the salad bar for On the Green food court from the locally grown 80 Acres Farms.” 

A novel Sustainable Invention Immersion Week brought new interdisciplinary student and faculty teams together to connect design and innovation to the science of sustainability. By the end of the week, teams learned to:

• apply user-centered design
• use the principles of green chemistry and life cycle thinking to design a sustainable product
• communicate a product’s message and company’s values through digital storytelling
• construct a viable business model with an identified target market while developing an effective sales pitch

Since publishing the first Climate Action Plan in 2009, UC's Clermont College campus continues to be recognized for its use of green wind energy and the resulting savings from the U.S. EPA’s Green Power Partnership Recognition program.

And, to support UC's mission, vision and commitment to enhancing resiliency in a future that is sustainable for all, UC Utilities has developed and launched an initial Utilities Sustainability Master Plan as an effective roadmap for achieving those long-term goals and strategies.

PACES (the President’s Advisory Council on Environment and Sustainability), UC’s all-university sustainability committee open to all staff, students and faculty, continues to lead the way toward sustainable efforts that impact behaviors now and into the future. PACES meets once a month during the fall and spring semesters and is a great place to network with others. For the team's link, email Green@uc.edu.

James Mack, UC professor of chemistry and chief executive officer of the Venture Lab-backed startup Cinthesis, helped develop a new method of chemistry to make a wide range of products such as agriculture, pharmaceuticals and plastics more environmentally friendly. This process reduces waste and the need for using volatile organic compounds that are harmful to the environment, says Mack in an earlier news story. 

While innovators like Mack and his partners eliminate toxic solvents in the emerging field of mechanochemistry, others across campus also find UC the place to be for working on solutions today for a sustainable impact on tomorrow.

Find the article at its source here.

Source: Taft Law

Bilott To Receive Earth Day Festival's Environmental Award

April 21 2022

Taft partner Rob Bilott will receive the Greater Cincinnati Earth Coalition Environmental Award for the Business category at the Greater Cincinnati Earth Day Festival on Saturday, April 23 in Blue Ash. The board voted unanimously for him to receive the 2022 award for his work in environmental-protection law and literature.

Dubbed by The New York Times Magazine as “The Lawyer Who Became DuPont's Worst Nightmare” in an article published on Jan. 6, 2016, Bilott has represented a diverse array of clients, nationwide, who have been harmed by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “Forever Chemicals.” His work is the subject of a recent feature film, “Dark Waters,” and the documentary “The Devil We Know,” and is detailed in his book, “Exposure: Poisoned Water, Corporate Greed, and One Lawyer’s Twenty-year Battle Against DuPont.”

Bilott is a member of Taft's Environmental, Litigation, and Product Liability and Personal Injury practices and is a board member of Less Cancer and Green Umbrella.

Access the article from its source here.

Source: WVXU

Celebrating Earth Day with Local Events around Greater Cincinnati

Interview by Lucy May

April 21 2022

This year marks the 52nd anniversary of Earth Day, the birth of the modern environmental movement. In 1970, Senator Gaylord Nelson created Earth Day to raise public awareness about air and water pollution. Today Earth Day is observed by more than a billion people every year and the event has taken on greater urgency as we witness the devastating impacts of climate change.

Here locally there are many Earth Day celebrations to mark the occasion. Friday, April 22 the IBEW Net Zero Training Center is hosting a Solar Town Hall with panelists sharing the latest on solar technologies. On Saturday, April 23 is the Greater Cincinnati Earth Day Festival at Summit Park with 125 exhibitors. Also Saturday is an Earth Day celebration at the Lick Run Greenway with a volunteer cleanup, Lick Run tours and workshops.

Joining Cincinnati Edition to discuss Earth Day events in Greater Cincinnati are Greater Cincinnati Earth Coalition Chair Chuck Lohre; Green Umbrella Cincinnati 2030 District Director Elizabeth Rojas; and Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati Wastewater Collection Division Assistant Superintendent Larry Falkin.

Plus, what do you do with all of those recyclables that aren’t accepted at the local facilities for processing. What about jeans with so many holes you can’t take them to the Goodwill? And Styrofoam, does anyone recycle that? The answer can be found in one place, the Cincinnati Recycling and Reuse Hub. It’s a receiving warehouse for your old computer monitors, batteries and tires. Many items can be taken for free, some for a fee, then they do the sorting and distributing.

Joining Cincinnati Edition to explain how it works are Cincinnati Recycling & Reuse Hub Managing Director and Recycler-in-Chief Colleen McSwiggin; and Board President Erin Fay.

Listen to the Cincinnati Edition interview here.