Q2: Why do recycling rules change?
Recycling is an industry fueled by environmental responsibility but driven by economics. Recycling rules change over time because recyclables are commodities that are sold and traded throughout the world and subject to market fluctuations.
The economics of recycling are rarely discussed but are at the center of the issue of recyclability. Currently supply exceeds demand mainly because of recent restrictions China has placed on the materials they will import. China is tired of being the world’s dumping ground and now demands cleaner, sorted recyclables which they use to produce the goods we buy here at home. Learn more.
Q3. Is that why the rules for recycling in Cuyahoga County were updated?
People are often confused about what can and cannot be recycled. Recycling guidelines have been updated to make them easier to understand. Simply put, there are five core items that you should recycle curbside. No matter where you live in Cuyahoga County, you can include cans, cartons, glass, paper and boxes along with plastic bottles and jugs. These items should be emptied and rinsed with the caps put back on and then placed loose, not bagged, into your recycling container.
Not all plastics are recyclable, so part of the campaign helps residents understand which plastics should be included. We no longer refer to the number on the container, because not all numbered items can be recycled. Now we talk about the shape of the container. If it's shaped like a bottle or jug and has a neck, or a cap, it can be recycled curbside. Some local communities, depending on your hauler, are able to recycle plastic tubs.
Other plastics like Styrofoam™, plastic cups and utensils, takeout containers and clamshells for lettuce and berries cannot be recycled curbside. Please see Q9 below for more information about plastics.
[videos] See more about how to recycle in Cuyahoga County or our wishcycling video series.
Q4. What happens to my recyclables once they are picked up?
Whether your recycling is picked up by your city or a private company, recyclables from Cuyahoga County go to one of three Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) in the area. Each MRF is owned and operated by a private company (Kimble Co. in Twinsburg, Republic Services in Oberlin and Waste Management in Akron). Each MRF accepts, sorts and processes tons of recyclables every day. All of these facilities accept metal cans, cartons, glass bottles and jars, mixed paper and cardboard along with plastic bottles and jugs.
A MRF is a large sorting facility with many conveyor belts and machinery. Here, recycling trucks are weighed before tipping their loads on the building floor. Mixed recyclables are then scooped up by a front-end loader and placed on the sorting line. Large objects and contamination are removed first. The recyclables then travel through an automated sorting system which uses a disk screen, magnets, optical sorters and workers on the line to separate the materials.
The sorted materials are baled and sold to manufacturers who make them into a variety of new products. For instance, your cereal boxes may become a game board or paper towels. Your aluminum cans may become new soda cans or airplane parts. Glass bottles may become kitchen tiles and your soup cans may become new bikes or even a bridge. The cycle is endless.
Q5. What if residents put the wrong things in their recycling? What happens then?
If you put items in your recycling that are not accepted for recycling at the MRF, these items could jam or slow the sorting process and may even endanger workers. Some examples include clothing, plastic film, hoses and cords that tangle in the equipment, large metal objects that damage equipment, and syringes that can harm workers. Other items have little or no value, are too dirty to process, or cannot be manufactured into something new.
Contaminants are costly to the MRF. Eventually, this cost could be passed on to your community because the contaminants must be sorted out and landfilled. That is why it is important to recycle properly. Many items that cannot be recycled at the MRF may be recyclable elsewhere.
Learn more about contamination and wishcycling.
Q9. Why do plastics have numbers inside recycling symbols if they’re not recyclable?
The numbers on plastic containers are resin codes used by the plastics industry to identify the type of plastic chemicals used to make the container. It does not indicate whether that chemical compound can be manufactured into something new. So, not all plastics with the 1-7 symbol are recyclable.
Learn more about plastic bottles and plastic tubs.
Q10. Where should I direct our residents to learn more about recycling in our community?
We provide recycling information for each of the 59 communities in Cuyahoga County. Learn about curbside recycling, special collections and other recycling programs for your community.