Incentives are available for Franklin County, Ohio residents in the form of rebates. Rebates vary by community. Where you live determines what you are eligible for based on your community's available funding. It is based on your TAX DISTRICT which can sometimes vary from your mailing address or school district. We verify your tax district with the Franklin County Auditor's website. Please refer to your voucher if you are unsure. Incentives are limited and subject to availability.
| Community | Rain Barrel | Native Plants | Compost Bin+ | Rain Garden* |
| Columbus | $75 Rain Barrel Rebate | $50 Native Perennial Plants, Shrubs & Trees Rebate | Purchase a SWACO compost bin for $30 after an instant $70 rebate
Not eligible for $50 rebate on a tumbler or on the ground bin | $250 Rain Garden Rebate |
| Bexley | $50 Rain Barrel Rebate | $50 Native Perennial Plants, Shrubs & Trees Rebate
| Purchase a SWACO compost bin for $30 after an instant $70 rebate --or-- $50 rebate on a tumbler, worm, or on-the-ground compost bin
| $250 Rain Garden Rebate
|
| Canal Winchester | $50 Rain Barrel Rebate
| $50 Native Perennial Plants, Shrubs & Trees Rebate
| Purchase a SWACO compost bin for $30 after an instant $70 rebate --or-- $50 rebate on a tumbler, worm, or on-the-ground compost bin
| Not Eligible
|
| Dublin | $50 Rain Barrel Rebate
| $50 Native Perennial Plants, Shrubs & Trees Rebate
| Purchase a SWACO compost bin for $30 after an instant $70 rebate --or-- $50 rebate on a tumbler, worm, or on-the-ground compost bin
| Not Eligible
|
| Gahanna | $50 Rain Barrel Rebate
| $50 Native Perennial Plants, Shrubs & Trees Rebate
| Purchase a SWACO compost bin for $30 after an instant $70 rebate --or-- $50 rebate on a tumbler, worm, or on-the-ground compost bin
| $250 Rain Garden Rebate
|
| Grove City | $50 Rain Barrel Rebate
| $50 Native Perennial Plants, Shrubs & Trees Rebate
| Purchase a SWACO compost bin for $30 after an instant $70 rebate --or-- $50 rebate on a tumbler, worm, or on-the-ground compost bin
| $250 Rain Garden Rebate
|
| Hilliard | $50 Rain Barrel Rebate
| $50 Native Perennial Plants, Shrubs & Trees Rebate
| Purchase a SWACO compost bin for $30 after an instant $70 rebate --or-- $50 rebate on a tumbler, worm, or on-the-ground compost bin
| $250 Rain Garden Rebate
|
| New Albany | $100 Rain Barrel Rebate
| $100 Native Perennial Plants, Shrubs & Trees Rebate
| Purchase a SWACO compost bin for $30 after an instant $70 rebate --or-- $100 rebate on a tumbler, worm, or on-the-ground compost bin | $250 Rain Garden Rebate
|
| Reynoldsburg | $50 Rain Barrel Rebate
| $50 Native Perennial Plants, Shrubs & Trees Rebate
| Purchase a SWACO compost bin for $30 after an instant $70 rebate --or-- $50 rebate on a tumbler, worm, or on-the-ground compost bin
| $250 Rain Garden Rebate
|
| Upper Arlington | $50 Rain Barrel Rebate
| $50 Native Perennial Plants, Shrubs & Trees Rebate
| Purchase a SWACO compost bin for $30 after an instant $70 rebate --or-- $50 rebate on a tumbler, worm, or on-the-ground compost bin
| $250 Rain Garden Rebate
|
| Westerville | $50 Rain Barrel Rebate
| $50 Native Perennial Plants, Shrubs & Trees Rebate
| Purchase a SWACO compost bin for $30 after an instant $70 rebate --or-- $50 rebate on a tumbler, worm, or on-the-ground compost bin
| $250 Rain Garden Rebate
|
| Worthington | $50 Rain Barrel Rebate
| $50 Native Perennial Plants, Shrubs & Trees Rebate
| Purchase a SWACO compost bin for $30 after an instant $70 rebate --or-- $50 rebate on a tumbler, worm, or on-the-ground compost bin
| Not Eligible
|
| Franklin County Unincorporated Townships | $50 Rain Barrel Rebate
| $50 Native Perennial Plants, Shrubs & Trees Rebate
| Purchase a SWACO compost bin for $30 after an instant $70 rebate --or-- $50 rebate on a tumbler, worm, or on-the-ground compost bin
| $250 Rain Garden Rebate
|
| Non-participating Communities** | $50 Rain Barrel Rebate | Not Eligible | Purchase a SWACO compost bin for $30 after an instant $70 rebate
Not eligible for a rebate on a tumbler, worm, or on the ground bin | Not Eligible
|
*Rain garden rebates require more steps than other incentives and have very limited availability. They require an additional application to be considered. Please refer to your voucher for instructions on how to apply. **Non-participating Communities: Brice, Grandview Heights, Harrisburg, Lithopolis, Lockbourne, Marble Cliff, Minverva Park, Pickerington, Riverlea, Urbancrest, Valleyview.
*As of 9/16/2024, the following communities are OUT of funding: Canal Winchester, Dublin, Townships, & Non-participating Communities. No more vouchers will be issued in 2024. Additionally, the following communities only have rain garden rebates remaining: Hilliard, Reynoldsburg, Upper Arlington.
+SWACO Compost Bins are sold out as of 9/14/2024 for the rest of 2024. We will have more during the 2025 program. Come back next spring!
Rain Barrel Rebates
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Completely enclosed rain barrels with an installed, LEVEL straight across diverter hose are accepted. We will not reimburse any rain barrels with a direct downspout to the rain barrel, any rain barrels with an open top, or rain barrels with an improperly installed diverter. For these reasons, we highly recommend the EarthMark AKA EarthMinded RainStation model. It includes the rain barrel and diverter kit as well as a winterization plug and detailed instructions. It comes in three colors - terra cotta, black, and gray. It is commonly available at local stores like
City Folk's Farm Shop, big box stores, and online. You might be eligible for a FREE rain barrel depending on your household income. This is
in addition to the Community Backyards rain barrel rebate! There are two options to get a free rain barrel:
- Community Backyards Free Rain Barrel Program - Residents who participate in the Columbus Public Utilities low income and/or senior discount programs can receive a FREE rain barrel with their Community Backyards rebate. Must first be enrolled in the low income and/or senior discount proram in order to qualify. Must participate in the Community Backyards online course or attend a workshop. Then, you must provide proof via your water bill indicating that you receive these discounts. Click here for more information.
- IMPACT's Home Weatherization Assistance Program - Franklin County homeowners/renters/mobile home households whose income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty level and reside in certain zip codes can receive a free rain barrel with IMPACT Community Action's Home Weatherization Assistance Program installs and upgrades. IMPACT's program offers help with energy efficiency testing and remedies to improve your household's energy efficiency. For more information and instructions on how to apply, click here.
For more information about rain barrels, visit our
rain barrel resources page!
Native Plant & Tree Rebates
Native perennials, shrubs, grasses, and trees are strongly recommended and preferred as they provide the most benefit to our native pollinators and wildlife. Native cultivars AKA nativars are also accepted. Though not preferred, non-native plants can be accepted as long as they are not listed on our Invasive Species Do-Not-Plant List, including any and all cultivars of listed invasive plants (such as Butterfly Bush 'Miss Molly' or Miscanthus 'Gracillimus'). However, we strongly encourage you to choose native plants over non-native plants. In addition to invasive plants on our Do-Not-Plant List, we will NOT reimburse any annuals (including native annuals), vegetables, herbs, aquatics or seeds. All plants must be planted in the ground. No plants in pots will be accepted. Plants must be ALIVE in order to be reimbursed. We will not reimburse dead plants. Compost Bin Rebates
SWACO Compost Bin Rebate+ (instant, $70 rebate)
Purchase the SWACO Compost Bin for only $30 from Franklin Soil and Water (cost $100 - $70 instant rebate = $30 cost to you plus tax). The SWACO bin is an on-the-ground bin, 82 gallon capacity, and is made from 100% recycled content. It is a single-unit main body with a harvest door, lid and rodent-proof bottom. You can purchase it online from Franklin Soil and Water after you have participated AND received your voucher! Please note, you will have to pick it up from Franklin Soil and Water's office in Grandview. We will send a reminder email one week before the pick up date. The bin fits in the back seat of a regular sedan for easy transport. YOU CANNOT PURCHASE UNTIL AFTER YOU HAVE RECEIVED YOUR VOUCHER! Quantity is limited and subject to availability. Final sale, no refunds.
+SWACO Compost Bins are sold out as of 9/14/2024 for the rest of 2024. We will have more during the 2025 program. Come back next spring!
*CITY OF COLUMBUS RESIDENTS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE FOLLOWING $50 COMPOST BIN REBATE (INCLUDING TUMBLERS). THE ONLY COMPOST BIN REBATE CITY OF COLUMBUS RESIDENTS CAN RECEIVE IS THE DISCOUNTED SWACO ON-THE-GROUND COMPOST BIN (SEE ABOVE).
If eligible, only compost bins that are an "enclosed bin", pre-fabricated unit meant for outdoor use or vermi-composters/worm bins will be reimbursed if you are eligible for the $50 compost bin rebate. This will typically include tumblers, on-ground units and vermi-composters. Reimbursements will NOT be applied to indoor composting units like counter top compost pails, DIY/homemade bins, or home-composting services such as The Compost Exchange. All compost bins must be totally enclosed and therefore rodent-proof in order to receive reimbursement!
For more information about composting, visit our composting resources webpage.
Rain Garden Rebates
Rain garden rebates are available for residents in certain participating communities in Franklin County and require extra steps than a regular Community Backyards rebate! If you get a rain garden rebate, you have used your
one and only Community Backyards rebate for the year, and you cannot get anything else within the same year. They are extremely limited quantity, first come, first served, and vary by community.
Eligibility for rain garden rebates requires that the property be located within a participating community, and the rain garden must be installed during the current year of participation. For 2024, participating communities include: Cities of Bexley, Columbus, Gahanna, Grove City, Hilliard, New Albany, Obetz, Reynoldsburg, Upper Arlington, Westerville, and Franklin County Townships (Blendon, Brown, Clinton, Franklin, Hamilton, Jackson, Jefferson, Madison, Mifflin, Norwich, Perry, Plain, Pleasant, Prairie, Sharon, Truro, and Washington). If you do not live in one of these participating communities, you are not eligible at this time.
Interested and eligible? Here is how it works. First, you will participate in Community Backyards via the online course or a local workshop. Then,
you fill out a rain garden application to be considered. After you apply and take the course, Franklin Soil and Water will work with you to ensure your location is suitable for a rain garden and help you design it. This can be done virtually or on site. Please note, not every location is suitable for a rain garden. We reserve the right to deny applications if the site is determined to not be suitable for a rain garden! After it has been determined your property is suitable for a rain garden, you can install it and submit receipts after install to receive a reimbursement check. Items eligible for a rain garden rebate include: plants, mulch, compost, and drainage hardware for a rain garden. This is reimbursement only. Reimbursement will NOT be dispersed until AFTER the install has been completed.
Rain garden questions? Please contact Franklin Soil and Water's Conservation Implementation Specialist, Madison, at
MWisniewski@franklinswcd.org, or call the office at 614-486-9613.
For more information about rain gardens, visit our rain garden resources page.