The Richland County Regional Solid Waste Management Authority (RCRSWMA or the Authority) came into existence in April 1996 by a vote of the county commissioners, city and village councils and the township trustees. The Solid Waste Authority encompasses all of Richland County.  

The RCRSWMA is governed by a seven-member Board of Trustees that meets  monthly to address the business of the Authority.
 The RCRSWMA has three long-term goals as set by the Ohio EPA and confirmed by the Authority's Board of Trustees:

•     To reduce the amount of waste going to landfills from Richland County
•     To increase the amount of recycling in the county
•     To maintain the closed Richland County Landfill insuring it meets all Ohio EPA and US EPA rules and regulations

The Authority uses recycling as the primary means of reducing waste sent to landfills. Education, marketing and outreach stimulates residents to utilize the county’s recycling programs. For example, the RCRSWMA has 13 public drop-off recycling containers stationed throughout Richland County.