LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) — Staff from the Allen Oakwood Correctional Institution celebrated Earth Day by cleaning up litter across parts of the Lima community.
Crews spent the day walking along North West Street and Bluelick Road, areas of state-owned property the institution helps maintain. Officials say the high-traffic corridor can act like a wind tunnel, causing trash and debris to build up quickly. The effort is part of the facility’s focus on sustainability, including a “Green Team” aimed at reducing waste and giving back to the community.
“We have a staff ‘Green Team,’ and we also have an incarcerated individuals ‘Green Team’ that focuses on recycling plastics, aluminum and cardboard. All of that gets weighed and monitored,” said Ryan Walters, warden at the Allen Oakwood Correctional Institution. “We also incentivize it to reward the individuals who collect the most recyclables. It reduces waste and trash consumption, which is an effort to reduce taxpayer dollars.”
Walters adds they hope to make the Earth Day cleanup an annual event.
