Rumpke Resource & Recycling Center Spring Tour
The Rumpke Resource & Recycling Center, the largest and most technically advanced recycling facility in North America, is in Columbus, Ohio! Located at 1190 Joyce Avenue, it is the result of a $100 million investment by Rumpke Waste & Recycling. The building is 226,000 square feet and features state-of-the-art recycling equipment including four ballistic separators, 19 optical scanners, and AI technology.
Incoming materials are sorted and packed into large bales of paper & cardboard, aluminum, glass, ferrous metals, and plastics to be hauled to the various companies that do the recycling. Rumpke supplies recycling materials to manufacturers within a 250-mile radius of its facilities; 80% of the materials go to Ohio companies.
In collaboration with the Center of Science & Industry and The Ohio State University, Rumpke has developed an Education Floor featuring an interactive exhibit and research center. The elevated tour platform is 150 feet long and 45 feet high from the processing floor.
Photo by Lenn Black
Sign up to Take the Tour
Want to take a behind-the-scenes look at how recyclable waste is processed? You may remember that, back in October 2025, 20 members of the Simply Living Community toured the facility. We are going back again! If you missed the tour in October, here is another chance to check it out. The Spring Tour will take place on Thursday, May 21st at 1:00 pm.
The tour is free of charge but because we are limited to 25 people (ages 10 and older), we need attendees to register beforehand. Donations are, of course accepted generally to support Simply Living’s programs and activities. Register for the Tour
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Showing of Queen of the Sun
Queen of the Sun: What Are the Bees Telling Us? is an award-winning documentary film that investigates multiple angles of colony collapse disorder. It explores the historical and contemporary relationship between bees and humans, and features interviews with Michael Pollan, Gunther Hauk, Vandana Shiva, Hugh Wilson, Michael Thiele, May Berenbaum, Carlo Petrini, and Raj Patel.
It is a profound, alternative look at the global bee crisis from award-winning filmmaker Taggart Siegel. Taking us on a journey through the catastrophic disappearance of bees and the mysterious world of the beehive, this engaging and ultimately uplifting film weaves an unusual and dramatic story of the heartfelt struggles of beekeepers, scientists and philosophers from around the world. Together they reveal both the problems and the solutions in renewing a culture in balance with nature.
The film follows colorful, quirky, and inspiring beekeepers from all around the globe as they keep bees in natural & holistic ways. From Gunther Hauk in the US to Massimo Carpinteri in Italy, each has unique philosophical & spiritual insights into their bees, and each is striving to keep them safe from pesticides and the other causes behind Colony Collapse Disorder
Photo courtesy of Queen of the Sun
Sign Up to See the Film
Simply Living Simply Living will present Queen of the Sun: What Are the Bees Telling Us? on Thursday, May 28th at 5:45 pm, at the Columbus Public Library’s Whetstone Branch, 3909 North High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43214.
A discussion about the film and about environmental issues generally will follow the showing! There is no admission fee or suggested donation, but registration is requested so we know how many to expect. Register to See the Film.
