PERRYSBURG — In an ongoing commitment to eco-friendly measures in its day-to-day operations, Way Public
Library is celebrating Earth Month this April by launching an initiative to reduce the use of
non-biodegradable cups at library-sponsored programs.
The library’s hundreds of programs and classes attract more than 20,000 attendees annually, during which
nearly 8,000 foam coffee cups and plastic water cups are used.
Beginning in April, Way will replace foam and polystyrene plastic cups with biodegradable and compostable
hot and cold cups. The cost of environmentally-friendly disposables is substantially higher than that of
traditional disposables. The plan is underwritten by a donation from Skotynsky Financial Group LLC of
Perrysburg.
Way Library also recently installed water bottle filling drinking fountains purchased with funds provided
by Way Public Library Foundation and Friends.
Bottle refilling stations make healthy, safe water free and accessible while reducing dependency on
one-use plastic bottles which often end up as landfill waste. The stations are located on both the main
and lower levels of the library. A digital ticker counts and displays the number of plastic bottles that
are being saved from entering the waste cycle.