Danna Lotz, a lifelong educator with 18 years of experience, is now the School Programs Administrator at the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO). Her story is an example of how a passion for teaching and a commitment to resourcefulness can lead to a career in sustainability, making a lasting impact on students and communities.

Danna discusses SWACO's mission to reduce landfill waste and the innovative programs they've developed to engage schools in this effort. She explains the School Recycling Champion Program, which provides free resources, education, and support to schools in Franklin County, helping them establish and improve their recycling programs. She also discusses the School District Consortium, a unique initiative that brings together district leaders to collectively bid for waste and recycling services, and the newly launched Green Team Network, which connects and empowers student environmental clubs across the region.

She shares inspiring stories of student-led initiatives, from data-tracking projects to community outreach campaigns, highlighting the creativity and passion of young environmental stewards. Danna also discusses the challenges schools face in implementing recycling programs, from logistical hurdles to the need for ongoing education and stakeholder engagement. She also shares how SWACO's approach to school programming has evolved, emphasizing the importance of dedicated staff, streamlined processes, and strong partnerships. She also discusses SWACO’s new “GreenPrint” initiative, which will focus on hard-to-recycle items like textiles and mattresses, and the expansion of convenience centers for residents.

Episode in a glance

04:01 Danna's Role at SWACO
05:47 The Power of Green Teams
07:01 The School Recycling Champion Program
13:53 Challenges in School Recycling
15:14 The Evolution of SWACO's School Programs
19:51 The Role of Schools in Sustainability
23:33 SWACO's "GreenPrint" Initiative

About Danna Lotz

Danna Lotz is the School Programs Administrator at the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO). With 18 years of experience as an elementary school teacher, she brings a deep understanding of the education system and a passion for empowering students to her role. Danna is dedicated to creating engaging and impactful programs that inspire the next generation of environmental stewards.

Connect with Danna Lotz and her work:

• Website → https://www.swaco.org/201/Schools
• Apply to be a School Recycling Champion → https://www.swaco.org/324/School-Recycling-Champion-Program
• Email → schools@swaco.org
• LinkedIN → https://www.linkedin.com/in/danna-lotz-09aa99327/
• GreenPrint → https://www.swaco.org/502/Greenprint-For-a-Sustainable-Future

Send us a message!

Danna Lotz, a lifelong educator with 18 years of experience, is now the School Programs Administrator at the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO). Her story is a powerful example of how a passion for teaching and a commitment to resourcefulness can lead to a career in sustainability, making a lasting impact on students and communities.

Danna shares her journey from a small-town upbringing, where collecting bottles and cans with her dad sparked an early interest in recycling, to her 18-year career as an elementary school teacher. She recounts how the practical needs of the classroom led her to embrace upcycling and waste reduction long before it was a formal part of her job description. From turning cereal boxes into book holders to salvaging markers, Danna's classroom was a hub of creative reuse.

Her path took a pivotal turn when she discovered SWACO's free landfill tour program. Initially hesitant, she was captivated by the eye-opening experience and the powerful questions it sparked in her students. This annual field trip became a catalyst for countless student-led projects, transforming her classroom into a space for environmental action and problem-solving. Danna discusses her transition from teacher to her current role at SWACO, a move that felt like a "full circle moment," allowing her to leverage her deep understanding of the education system to support schools across the region.

Episode in a glance

- From Tutoring to Teaching
- An Early Spark for Recycling
- A Teacher's Path to SWACO
- What a Landfill Tour is Like
- Bringing a Teacher's Perspective to SWACO
- How School Green Teams Get Started

About Danna Lotz

Danna Lotz is the School Programs Administrator at the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO). With 18 years of experience as an elementary school teacher, she brings a deep understanding of the education system and a passion for empowering students to her role. Danna is dedicated to creating engaging and impactful programs that inspire the next generation of environmental stewards.

Connect with Danna Lotz and her work

Website → https://www.swaco.org/201/Schools

Email → schools@swaco.org

LinkedIN → https://www.linkedin.com/in/danna-lotz-09aa99327/

GreenPrint → https://www.swaco.org/502/Greenprint-For-a-Sustainable-Future

Send us a message!

Grab a warm drink and settle in for our special 2025 holiday wrap-up! After releasing an episode every single Tuesday and growing to over 90 episodes, we're taking a moment to celebrate the incredible people and inspiring stories that made this year so memorable.

This year took us on an incredible journey, from the mountains of Italy for the NanoValbruna conference to the heart of the Midwest for the Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit. We revisit the power of international storytelling with guests like Francesca Cercelletta, who taught us how to make impactful films with just a phone, and Duccio Travaglini, who showed us how to turn "cold data" into "cool data."

We also reflect on the amazing collaborations we saw closer to home, from our live panel on waste diversion to the inspiring work of innovators like Shailah Maynard at Sew Valley and Zack Burns, who's sustainably feeding giraffes at the Cincinnati Zoo. Through it all, the beating heart of this season has been community. We discuss how champions like Jamie Richards have created change from within corporations and how the infectious energy of Emily Rials and Susan Swinford from Columbus Food Rescue inspired Adam to become a food rescue volunteer himself.

It's a celebration of the people who give us hope and a reminder that we all have a role to play. Thank you for being part of our community this year.

Episode in a glance

- A Year in Review 90+ Episodes and Counting
- Favorite Moments from Italy (NanoValbruna)
- Highlights from the Midwest Summit (MRSS)
- The Beating Heart of 2025 Community in Action
- Adam Gets Inspired to Rescue Food
- Looking Ahead to 2026

About Dominique Hadad & Adam Morris:

Dominique Hadad and Adam Morris are the co-hosts of the Green Champions podcast. Dominique brings her expertise in sustainability, while Adam adds his passion for social impact and entrepreneurship. Together, they explore the diverse ways individuals and organizations are creating a greener future.

Episodes we Discussed:

• Duccio Travaglini - Breaking Climate News With Cool Data
• Francesca Cercelletta - Using iPhone Storytelling to Frame the Change
• Shailah Maynard - Sew Much More Than Fashion
• Jessica Glorius-Dangelo - Sustainable Architecture Begins at the Drafting Table
• Zack Burns - How Hydroponics Feeds Giraffes and Cuts Emissions at the Zoo
• Kristan Uhlenbrock – Creating a New Institute at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science
• Emily & Susan – How They Rescued One Million Pounds of Food
• Jamie Richards - Inside Bansk Beauty’s Regenerative Shea Project in Uganda

Connect with Green Champions:

Website → https://www.thegreenchampions.com/

Instagram →

Send us a message!