To Bin or Not To Bin
Glass is an infinite recyclable material and belongs in this bin
What is the container bin?
Once considered part of the surrounding farmland, these charismatic animals—recognizable by the white spots they display as juveniles—now call our campus home in abundance.
What are deer?
In 2025, the Sisters harnessed this renewable resource by adding technology to campus that converts sunlight directly into electricity.
What are solar panels?
Long before native landscaping became a sustainability priority, the Sisters purchased 1,000 of these from the Ohio State Extension in 1922 to help stabilize the campus's yellow, sandy soils.
What are tree seedlings (evergreens)?
What is now this used to be a lily pond that Sisters could lace up their skates and enjoy ice skating during the winter months.
What is the sunken garden?
As part of our campus-wide effort to reduce this, we’re reminded that this material can only be recycled 5-7 times because its fibers become shorter and weaker with each recycling process.
What is paper?
This black, white, and red spotted insect has Sisters, partners in ministry, and passerby’s stomping the adults to reduce their populations.
What is the Spotted Lanternfly?
Installed beneath the campus in 2008, this renewable energy system uses the relatively stable temperature of the earth to provide both heating and cooling.
What is geothermal energy?
The beloved Silver Bell tree became more than a part of the campus landscape after it fell. Its wood was preserved and transformed into this type of keepsake material, with pieces available at All Good Things.
What is legacy wood?
First held annually in 2012, this sustainability-focused campus event challenged the Sisters and their guests to enjoy a meal while producing remarkably little waste.
What is the Zero Waste Luncheon?
Before tossing a plastic bottle or other recyclable container into the bin, make sure this is screwed back on. Otherwise, it can become litter when it escapes during collection or processing.
These four-legged feline visitors have gone from occasional campus guests to establishing a breeding population, leading SOSF employees to help catch them and find them new homes.
What are feral cats?
Installed in 2025, these devices helped the campus reduce its landfill contributions by approximately 30%—and the material making up that reduction may surprise you: paper towels.
What are hand dryers?
In 1918, the Sisters purchased 3,500 of these, creating an orchard in what is now the RCC and OLGH area. The trees produced crops including apples, pears, and quince.
What are fruit trees?
In 2022, the Sisters made a seven-year commitment to this global initiative, agreeing to create action plans that would put its principles into practice across the community.
You can't put this type of plastic in the regular recycling bin, but you can often take it to collection points at stores such as Kroger or Meijer.
What is plastic film?
These nocturnal mammals have made themselves at home in the Motherhouse attics. A recent Lunch & Learn highlighted why, despite their reputation, having these creatures around campus can actually be a good thing.
What are bats?
These energy-saving devices installed throughout campus can sense when a room is occupied and automatically switch off the lights when everyone has left.
What are motion sensors?
This native Ohio tree species provided the wood used to create the Sisters' wooden crucifix, connecting the campus landscape to an important symbol of faith.
What is Black Locust?
In 1921, the novice Sisters hauled these heavy natural materials from Heath’s Ditch across campus to construct the Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto—using what they already had rather than purchasing new materials.
What are river rocks?
Despite having the familiar recycling triangle, these two plastic resin numbers are not accepted in Lucas County curbside recycling.
What are 3 and 6?
In 2005, this invasive insect arrived in the region and devastated the Sisters’ ash trees, ultimately leading to the removal of more than 1,800 trees from campus.
What is the Emerald Ash Borer?
Thanks to funding from the Sylvania Franciscan Village Green Fund in 2014, these were installed across campus to provide an alternative to single-use plastic water bottles.
What are refillable water stations?
Planted in the arboretum by Sr. Clementine, this unusual specimen is one of the oldest trees in the Sisters' community—and despite being called a “tree,” it belongs to a plant family better known for its large flowering shrubs.
What is the Hydrangea Tree?
In 2004, the Sisters joined a growing global movement by endorsing this international declaration, whose 16 principles call for a just, sustainable, and peaceful future for all.
What is the Earth Charter?