College costs keep climbing, but the need for skilled environmental leaders has never been more urgent. Hanna and Joe welcomed Kaylee Oiler, the SWACO contract administrator who oversees our scholarship program, to unpack how we help launch real careers in sustainability, engineering, policy, and solid waste management. From the eligibility basics to the essay that seals the deal, we break down what matters most and why these awards are designed to drive impact you can see.

We walk through the essentials: who can apply, accepted degree paths, and the timeline for the application window and scholarship announcements. Kaylee explains how our eight-person review committee evaluates passion, purpose, and a clear plan to serve communities—especially through projects that improve recycling, expand composting, or modernize landfill operations.

Along the way, we talk about the bigger picture: how SWACO’s decades of student engagement—from classroom visits to landfill education—feed a growing pipeline of talent. Universities now offer far more options in environmental science, environmental engineering, public policy, and circular economy fields, creating paths for students who want to pair technical skills with community impact. When we invest in these learners, we invest in cleaner neighborhoods, smarter infrastructure, and a stronger local workforce.

If you or someone you know is a graduating senior or GED student with a passion for sustainability, now’s the time. Apply at SWACO.org by March 31, share this episode with a friend who needs the nudge, and help us build the next generation of waste and recycling leaders!

The gift of giving doesn’t have to end when the holidays are over. What if your old sofa could be the reason a family sleeps better, studies at a real table, and finally feels at home? We sit down with Brody Olson of Two Men And A Junk Truck and Phil Washburn of the Furniture Bank of Central Ohio to share how a simple reroute—from landfill to living room—creates outsized impact across Central Ohio, including helping you sustainably clean up from the holidays.

Joe and Hanna walk us through the origin of their partnership, why speed matters, and how donations move from a pickup truck to a family’s home in a matter of days. Phil explains the referral network that identifies households leaving homelessness, domestic violence, or disaster, and why the most requested items are the most basic: sofas, beds, and dressers.

Brody opens the hood on junk hauling, the kinds of usable items they see every day, and the moment he realized mattresses—when clean and safe—can be accepted and immediately put to use. How about this for a staggering number - nearly 3,000 tons of furniture going to families in need while keeping all those items out of the landfill!

This great conversation also gets practical. If cardboard is piling up, try renting heavy-duty boxes, saving your best ones for the next move, or circulating them through neighborhood groups. Plus, we highlight community access points: affordable thrift stores, neighborhood food pantries and upcoming events that make responsible drop-offs easy. Mark your calendar for Furniture Bank Day on April 25, 2026, and keep an eye out for Earth Day and World Cleanup Day collection drives.

If you want less waste and more impact, this is your playbook! Subscribe, share this episode with a neighbor who’s decluttering, and leave a review telling us one item you’ll pass on to a new home this month.

The final show of the year brings the whole journey into focus: a million pounds of food headed to the landfill each day, plastics evolving from confusion to circular products, and a community that keeps asking sharper questions about what belongs in the bin. Joe and Hanna revisit our most-played episodes: food waste work with local partners, a behind-the-scenes tour at Columbus Zoo, and transforming plastics into new life as countertops and store-ready products. It all adds up to what those downloads reveal about what matters most to Central Ohio.

Hanna and Joe also open the door to the real work of making a podcast: booking guests, aligning calendars, and choosing the right name were more than logistics, they were exercises in clarity. WastEd stuck because education is the thread: practical steps residents can take today, and system-level changes cities and businesses can implement too.

Looking ahead, we outline 2026 Greenprint priorities: more support for schools and multi-unit housing, targeted help for businesses, new grants to lower the barrier for composting and reuse, and stronger ties with public services, construction and logistics teams. Expect deeper work on hard-to-recycle materials, cleaner curbside lists, and more on-the-road stories that show circularity in action. If you care about reducing waste, saving money, and building a healthier region, there’s a place for you in this effort. Subscribe, share this episode with a neighbor, and leave a review with one question you want answered next year. Happy holidays and keep listening in 2026!