The White House announced today that Oberlin is one of 16 local governments selected as the inaugural Climate Action Champions, a new initiative administered by the Department of Energy (DOE) that recognizes local governments that have taken proactive steps to cut carbon pollution and prepare for the effects of climate change and extreme weather. Oberlin was chosen as part of a competitive application process screened by the DOE.

By addressing these two goals together—for instance, by installing renewable energy sources on buildings in order to provide a reliable energy source for emergency responders; installing energy-efficient windows that are also more storm-resistant; or leveraging innovative green infrastructure for carbon sequestration and flood protection—the Climate Action Champions will serve as a model for other communities to adopt clean energy strategies.

As a designated Climate Action Champion, Oberlin will have priority eligibility to apply for targeted federal funding and technical assistance. Other support may include climate data sets and tools that can help with decision making; opportunities to participate in climate change- and disaster-related training offered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency; and an invitation to a peer network of communities that have experience with long-range planning to achieve environmental protection. The designation is expected to last 27 to 36 months.

Other Climate Action Champion communities announced include the city of Boston; Broward County, Florida; Minneapolis; San Francisco; and two tribal governments. Oberlin stands out as a small community that has built its programs from the ground up by leveraging resources with Oberlin College and other partners.

“We’re light-years ahead of other communities because of our energy portfolio,” says Sean Hayes, executive director of the Oberlin Project. Oberlin’s community-owned electric utility is on track to achieve 85 percent renewable energy sources in its portfolio in 2017, and Hayes says the city is on track to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, as measured in 2012, by 50 percent in 2015.

“I think what we’ve done with energy and the gains we’ve made in a three-year period are the most stunning,” Hayes says.

Renewable energy sources include landfill gas (55 percent), hydropower (24 percent), wind (3 percent), solar (3 percent), and market power (15 percent), which consists of contracts and joint ownership of electricity projects, explains Doug McMillan, energy services and sustainability initiatives manager for the city of Oberlin.

McMillan says the city’s climate action plan, created in 2011 and updated in 2013, along with commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, make Oberlin a natural climate leader.

The initiative is part of the Obama administration’s broader agenda to combat climate change. In November, Obama made a historic joint announcement with Chinese President Xi Jinping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions beyond 2020. Obama has also pledged a $3 billion U.S. commitment to the Green Climate Fund, an international fund to help poor countries cope with the effects of climate change.

Each residence will receive two 64-gallon carts; one for recycling and one for refuse.  The City’s revised recycling process does not require sorting on behalf of the residents.  Multiple sources have noted that mixed, single stream has proven to improve recycling rates in municipalities by 30%-%50%, nationally.  All recyclables will be taken to Republic’s recycling facility just east of town.  Republic’s facility was built in 2013 and uses an advanced sorting system with the latest technology in mechanical and optical sorting.  The facility is touted as one of the most advanced in the state.

Arguably, the most innovative aspect of the new recycling & refuse program is the purchase of three hybrid hydraulic recycling trucks with automated pickup.  Oberlin is the first municipality in the state of Ohio to purchase and utilize these fuel-efficient trucks.   Parker Hannifin, the collection by about 30%.

Students at Oberlin College played a role in enabling the City to purchase these state-of-the-art recycling trucks through funds made available by the Green Edge Fund.  In the fall of 2007, Oberlin College students voted to raise their student fees to support the creation of the Green Edge Fund.  Every semester students pay $20 toward the fund that uses this money to fund efficiency and sustainability project on campus and in the broader Oberlin community.  This year, the Fund approved a grant for up to $10,000 per truck for up to three trucks to the City of Oberlin to restore and modernize their recycling program.

Residents are required to begin using the carts immediately on their normal collection day. Weekly curbside collection will be provided using the City’s carts only. Carts remain the property of the City. Containers may not be removed from the residence.

Cart serial numbers will be recorded for inventory control and tracking. Carts are to be placed within 3 feet of the curb and at least 3 feet apart, with the wheels facing their house. Do not place carts near trees, mailboxes or other fixed objects. To identify the preferred location to place your carts for collection, City staff will place carts in the recommended location at the curb during delivery. All trash must be bagged before placing into your refuse cart.

Mixed Single-Stream Recycling

This is a mixed, single-stream recycling program – NO SORTING REQUIRED! These items include: plastics, food, beverage and soap containers #1-#7; glass jars & bottles (including their metal lids); metal food & beverage cans; cartons & juice boxes (not pouches). Mixed paper recycling includes: boxboard, paper egg cartons, clean pizza boxes, paper bags, paper towel rolls, junk mail, envelopes, magazines, catalogs, newspapers, phone books and cardboard. Empty and rinse all containers and flatten all boxes before placing inside your recycling cart. Flatten plastic containers placing lids on or inside flattened container.All recyclables should be loose and un-bagged in your recycling cart.

Old refuse containers and recycling buckets can be placed at the curb the first 3 Mondays in December, 12/1, 12/8, 12/15. The City has made arrangements to reuse or recycle them. 

Commercial cardboard recycling services will start back up later this month. Once fully automated curbside residential service has been re-established, the City will turn its attention to expanding commercial recycling services.

The new refuse & recycling program was funded in part by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA), the Lorain County Solid Waste Management District (LCSWMD) and the Green Edge Fund of Oberlin College.

For more information please contact the Public Works Department at 440-775-7218. More information, news updates and forms can be found on the City’s website under Public Works, Refuse & Recycling. If you have questions, comments or suggestions please email:  [email protected] or call Lori at 440-935-0096.