Experiential Learning / Facility Tours

RCon™ will feature experiential learning / facility tour opportunities in the local Columbus, Ohio area. Some of these experiences will re-occur throughout the conference to allow you the opportunity to select the date and time that works best for your schedule. 

Tours Offered

Franklin County Sanitary Landfill 

• Get a behind-the-scenes look at how SWACO manages 334 acres of landfill operations.
• Learn how over 300 gas wells power an on-site landfill gas-to-energy plant, operated by Archaea Energy.
• Hear directly from Archaea representatives about converting waste to renewable energy.
• See the latest construction of a new 20-acre landfill cell.
• Discover SWACO’s innovative waste diversion programs and community impact.

Tour Duration: 2 hours

• 1st Hour: Presentation in SWACO’s Operations Training Room, covering an overview of SWACO programs and operations
• 2nd Hour: Guided bus tour of the landfill facility

Tour Dates/Times: The Franklin County Landfill Tour will be offered multiple times throughout RCon. Select your preferred date/time when registering.

Rumpke Recycling & Resource Center

The Rumpke Recycling & Resource Center is one of the largest and most technically advanced material recovery facilities in North America. A must-see attraction, the Rumpke Recycling hub processes an average of 16,000 tons of material a month at a rate of 70 tons per hour with a 97% recycling recovery rate.

Come see AI, optics, ballistics and trommel technology in action working together to sort recyclables by commodity. You can tour the facility from the elevated tour platform, which is 150 feet long and 45 feet high from the processing floor. Hear directly from the team at Rumpke about the current state of recycling and what’s in store for the future.

Rumpke developed an Education Floor in collaboration with the Center of Science and Industry (COSI) and The Ohio State University, featuring an interactive exhibit and research center. Visit the 3,000 square foot Rumpke Education Center where interactive exhibits take you through making in-store purchases, to recycling at home, to sorting items at the material recovery facility, and finally to the manufacturing of recyclables into the new products we purchase every day. This is one tour you don’t want to miss!

Facility Highlights: 

• Employs 60 people in the recycling facility.
• State-of-the-art recycling equipment includes four ballistic separators, 19 optical scanners and Artificial Intelligence technology.
• The building is 226,000 square feet total. 

Read this exclusive article to learn more about the facility’s focus on safety, education, glass recycling, and more.

Tour Dates/Times: The Rumpke Recycling & Resource Center tours will be offered multiple times throughout RCon. Select your preferred date/time when registering.

Zero Waste at Ohio Stadium Tour

Go behind the scenes at Ohio State University's Ohio Stadium to see what it takes to turn one of the largest venues in the country into a zero waste facility. From recycling and composting to food donations and community collaborations, discover how Ohio State diverts 90% of game day waste away from the landfill.

Ohio Stadium is one of the most recognizable landmarks in all of sports. Built in 1922 at a cost of $1.3 million and refurbished in 2001 for slightly more than $194 million, the horseshoe-shaped stadium is a monument to college football. 

With its present seating capacity of 102,780, Ohio Stadium is the fourth-largest on-campus facility in the nation. Since the opening game against Ohio Wesleyan on Oct. 7, 1922, nearly 40 million fans have streamed through the stadium’s portals.

Learn more on the Ohio Stadium, home to Ohio Buckeyes football.

Tour Date/Time: Wednesday, November 12, 1:15 - 3:15 p.m.
Tour Cost: $75
PDHs Earned: 1.5

Greater Columbus Convention Center Back-of-House Tour

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Sustainability Tour * SOLD OUT * 

Discover how the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is leading the way in conservation and sustainability on this engaging Sustainability Tour. Guests will explore features that highlight the zoo and aquarium's green building practices, renewable energy initiatives, waste reduction programs, sustainable habitats, and wildlife conservation efforts. Learn how everyday actions—from composting to water conservation—help protect ecosystems and species worldwide.

Highlights of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium's responsible practices:

• The Columbus Zoo maintains a robust, biodiverse habitat, hosting over 11 acres of pollinator habitats at the Zoo, Zoombezi Bay, and Safari Golf Club. These acres are full of plants that provide food and shelter for bees, birds, butterflies, moths, wasps, bats, and other small mammals that support the local ecosystem and food web. 
• Food and beverage is served in recyclable and/or compostable containers.
• The Zoo's iconic North America train runs on a fully-electric engine! It can accommodate up to 52 guests, offers fun audio effects, and emits zero emissions.
• The zoo's total waste diversion rate has increased by 16% since 2018, with only 452 tons going to landfill. That means close to 80% of waste is diverted!
• Through partnerships with local organizations, non-traditional materials like styrofoam, electronics, plastic wrap and textiles are repurposed rather than sent to a landfill. 
• Bedding, yard clippings, food waste, and manure get transported daily from the Zoo to Price Farms Organics to be turned into compost. When it arrives, it is shredded, then, over the next two years, it is turned and shifted. After that process, it is bagged and sold as Zoo Brew compost. While it is available to the public, the Zoo also buys the compost back to be used as topsoil for flower beds and potted plants. 

Visit the Columbus Zoo's Sustainability Hub to learn more.

Tour Date/Time: Thursday, November 13, 3:30 - 6:30 p.m. SOLD OUT! 
Tour Cost: $150
PDHs Earned: 2

Revive Environmental Technology * SOLD OUT *