Aluminum Cups

Aluminum Cups

ALL COMMUNITIES can include aluminum cups in curbside recycling. Items should be empty, clean and dry. Aluminum is 100% recyclable, and can be recycled repeatedly without losing any quality.

Cans

Cans

ALL COMMUNITIES can include metal food and beverage cans such as pop, beer, soup, vegetable, and tuna cans in recycling. Cans should be empty, clean and dry before recycling. Aluminum beverage cans may be dropped off at an ACBC collection bin.

Cardboard

Cardboard

ALL COMMUNITIES can include flattened corrugated cardboard and boxboard in curbside recycling. Cardboard can also be recycled at a mixed paper drop-off bin. Cardboard should be empty, clean and dry. Businesses can recycle cardboard and mixed paper through specialized companies.

Cartons

Cartons

SOME COMMUNITIES can include cartons in a curbside recycling program. Cartons are a packaging product for items including milk, juice, soup, broth and wine. Cartons should be empty, clean and dry before recycling. Discard the cap in the trash and flatten the carton.

Cups (Paper and/or Plastic)

Cups (Paper and/or Plastic)

SOME COMMUNITIES can include certain types of plastic cups (including to-go, takeout or fast food) and paper cups in recycling. Cups should be empty, clean and dry.

Egg Cartons

Egg Cartons

Typically, there are three types of egg cartons and each material should be managed appropriately. Paper egg cartons can be recycled while plastic and Styrofoam egg cartons should be reused or placed in the trash.

Glass Bottles and Jars

Glass Bottles and Jars

ALL COMMUNITIES can include glass food or beverage bottles and jars (clear and colored) in curbside recycling. Empty, rinse and place lid loose in recycling. You do not need to remove the label. Businesses with glass can recycle it through specialized companies.

Paper and Boxes

Paper and Boxes

ALL COMMUNITIES can include mixed paper, newspapers, magazines, junk mail, boxes, cereal boxes, corrugated cardboard (flattened), phone books and clean pizza boxes in curbside recycling. Mixed paper can also be dropped off at a paper recycling bin. Paper should be clean and dry. 

Plastic Bottles and Jugs

Plastic Bottles and Jugs

ALL COMMUNITIES can include plastic bottles and jugs in curbside recycling. Do not look at the number to determine if it's recyclable. Only include items with a neck or an opening smaller than its body, such as food and beverage bottles or jugs, shampoo and soap bottles, laundry detergent and bleach bottles. Empty and rinse, then replace the cap before recycling.

Plastic Tubs

Plastic Tubs

SOME COMMUNITIES can include plastic tubs (butter, sour cream, fruit and yogurt cups) in curbside recycling, depending on which processor your community contracts with. Plastic tubs should be empty, clean and dry.

Acrylic Plastic

Acrylic Plastic

Acrylic is a transparent plastic that has gained widespread use because of its ability to replace glass. Do not place acrylic plastic in curbside recycling. 

Aluminum Foil

Aluminum Foil

Do not place aluminum foil or foil pans in curbside recycling. Recycle clean aluminum foil at a local scrap metal yard. Some residents can drop off scrap metal at their city service department.

Appliances

Appliances

Appliances can be set out for recycling on your city's scheduled bulky waste collection day or taken to a local scrap metal yard for recycling. Small non-working household appliances may be recycled at Best Buy stores.

Arts and Crafts Supplies

Arts and Crafts Supplies

Usable arts and craft supplies can be donated to a local organization, day care or summer camp that can use the items to support their work.

Asphalt

Asphalt

Residents and businesses can recycle existing roadway materials through specialized companies.

Baby Items

Baby Items

Baby items in good condition can be donated to local community service organizations that can distribute the items to people in need or use the items to support their work.

Barrels, Drums and Totes

Barrels, Drums and Totes

Recycle clean barrels, drums and totes as scrap metal or through specialized companies.

Bicycles

Bicycles

The Ohio City Bicycle Co-op accepts donations of bicycles and any bike-related item including magazines, books, videos, tools, clip-in pedals and shoes, and good seats.

Boats

Boats

Boats in usable condition can be donated to community service organizations who will sell them to raise funds and support their work. Boats no longer in working condition can be disposed at a landfill.

Books

Books

Donate good, usable books to local libraries, schools and community centers. Recycle unwanted residential, school and business books at a paper drop off bin or at a paper recycling company. 

Bricks

Bricks

Recycle bricks, cinder block and building materials through specialized companies or a local construction and demolition debris landfill.

Cameras and Photography Supplies

Cameras and Photography Supplies

Photography equipment can be donated to local community service organizations that can use or sell the items to support their work.

Campaign Signs

Campaign Signs

The Solid Waste District accepts campaign signs for recycling following all primary and general elections. Drop off at District HQ, located at 4750 East 131 Street in Garfield Heights. Some communities also collect campaign signs from residents.

Cassette Tapes

Cassette Tapes

Do not place cassette tapes in recycling. The film tape is a tangler that gets wound around the processing machines at recycling facilities and can shut down the recycling operation. Recycle at a special drop off or place in the trash.

CDs, DVDs and Video Games

CDs, DVDs and Video Games

Do not place discs in your curbside recycling. CDs, DVDs and video games can be donated to local community service organizations that can use them to support their work. Businesses and residents can also recycle discs through special collections.

Cell Phones

Cell Phones

Cell phones can be recycled at many retail locations and through municipal computer recycling events. They can also be donated to local community service organizations that will reuse them.

Christmas Trees

Christmas Trees

Do not place Christmas trees in curbside recycling. Many communities have programs to chip your tree into mulch or wood chips, or consider donating your tree to a local farm for animal feed.

Cleaning Supplies

Cleaning Supplies

Usable cleaning supplies can be donated to local community service organizations that can use or distribute the supplies to people in need.

Clothing

Clothing

Do not place clothing and other fabric in your curbside recycling. Donate usable clothing, fabric and other textiles to a charitable organization.

Coffee Pods

Coffee Pods

Single-use coffee and beverage pods (even if they're empty) do not belong in curbside recycling. Other recycling options exist, including mail back programs.

Computers and Electronics

Computers and Electronics

Recycle unwanted computer equipment and peripherals at city service departments throughout the year. Electronics can also be recycled through local e-waste companies and at some retail locations. Do not place in curbside recycling. Businesses should follow regulations.

Concrete

Concrete

Recycle concrete, cinder block and building materials through specialized companies or a construction and demolition debris landfill.

Construction Debris

Construction Debris

Construction and demolition debris (C&DD) is defined as materials resulting from the alteration, construction, destruction, rehabilitation or repair of any physical structure. It includes railroad ties. Residents and businesses can dispose of construction materials at local private facilities.

Cosmetics

Cosmetics

Cosmetics and personal care products can be recycled through organizations like Terracycle or Wands for Wildlife. Do not place cosmetics in recycling.

Eyeglasses

Eyeglasses

Eyeglasses can be donated to local and national community service organizations that will distribute them to people in need.

Food

Food

Perishable and non-perishable food can be donated to local community service organizations who will provide to people in need.

Food Waste

Food Waste

Food waste is food fit for consumption but ends up discarded, not eaten or unable to be used. Food waste recovery and disposal programs exist in Cuyahoga County, including in some communities.

Furniture

Furniture

Furniture in good condition can be donated to local community service organizations that can distribute the items to those in need or resell them to support their work. Broken, ruined or unusable furniture goes in the trash.

Gardening Supplies

Gardening Supplies

Gardening supplies can be donated to local community service organizations that can use them to support their work.

Hearing Aids

Hearing Aids

Hearing aids can be donated to a community service organization that will distribute the items to people in need.

Holiday Lights

Holiday Lights

Do not place holiday lights or tanglers in your recycling. The Solid Waste District accepts strands of lights year-round at 4750 East 131 Street in Garfield Heights. During the Christmas season, some retailers and city service departments have collection bins for holiday lights.

Household Goods

Household Goods

Donate usable household goods through a local charity or thrift store. Items that are not recyclable or no longer usable should be placed in the regular trash.

Industrial Filters

Industrial Filters

Recycle industrial filters through specialized companies.

Jewelry

Jewelry

Unwanted jewelry can be donated to local community service organizations that will reuse the items or resell to raise money to support their work.

Litho Film and X-Ray

Litho Film and X-Ray

Recycle lithography film and x-rays through specialized companies.

Medical Equipment and Supplies

Medical Equipment and Supplies

Some usable medical equipment and supplies can be donated to Medwish and other local community service organizations that will distribute the items to people in need. They may also use or sell donated items to support their work.

Musical Instruments

Musical Instruments

Musical instruments can be donated to local community service organizations that can use them to support their work or resell them to raise funds.

Office Furniture and Equipment

Office Furniture and Equipment

Usable office equipment and furniture can be donated to local organizations in need. Office furniture can be refurbished by local office furniture stores.

Packing Peanuts

Packing Peanuts

Styrofoam peanuts may be donated to a store or individual that ships packages, or you can reuse it as your own packing material. Businesses can recycle large quantities via local specialized companies.

Pallets

Pallets

Residents and businesses can recycle pallets through local specialized companies. 

Paper Shredding Services

Paper Shredding Services

Some retail locations offer paper shredding. Seasonal shredding events are often hosted by local communities for their residents. Contact your community for details. Businesses can contract for paper shredding services.

Pens

Pens

Do not place pens in curbside recycling. TerraCycle offers mail-back programs to collect previously non-recyclable or hard to recycle waste including writing instruments.

Pet Food and Supplies

Pet Food and Supplies

Pet food and supplies can be donated to an animal shelter or rescue organization.

Plants and Flowers

Plants and Flowers

Plants and flowers that are unwanted or in poor condition can be composted on your own property or at a compost facility. Plants, flowers and vases in good condition can be donated for reuse and others to enjoy.

Plastic Bags

Plastic Bags

Do not place plastic bags and plastic film in your curbside recycling. Instead, these items can be recycled at some retail locations including Giant Eagle, Lowe's Home Improvement, Target and Walmart stores. A collection box can usually be found near the store entrance or customer service.

Post-Industrial Plastic

Post-Industrial Plastic

Post-industrial plastic is plastic scrap waste material generated from an industrial or manufacturing process. Specialized processors accept this plastic for recycling. Cannot be recycled through a residential recycling program.

Propane Tanks

Propane Tanks

Propane tanks should never be placed in your curbside recycling. Blue Rhino locations have a free recycling drop-off for any 20# grill tank. Empty propane cylinders can be exchanged for free at the store where the new tank is purchased. You can also try to recycle at a local scrap metal yard. Businesses can recycle through specialized companies.

School Supplies

School Supplies

School supplies can be donated to a community service organization that will distribute them to teachers and students in need.

Scrap Metal

Scrap Metal

Do not place scrap metal in your curbside recycling. Recycle car parts, metal cord and rope, appliances and scrap pieces at a local scrap yard. Earn a rebate for the metal. Residents and businesses should contact the District for a list.

Shredded Paper

Shredded Paper

Do not place shredded paper in curbside recycling. Instead, place shreds in paper bags and recycle at a Paper Retriever or River Valley mixed paper drop off bin, typically located in parking lots of schools, nonprofits and places of worship.

Shrink Wrap

Shrink Wrap

Plastic shrink wrap and bubble wrap do not go in the recycling bin. Businesses can recycle industrial shrink wrap through specialized companies.

Solar Panels

Solar Panels

Do not place solar panel parts or components in curbside recycling. Solar panels can be recycled through specialized companies.

Sporting Goods

Sporting Goods

Sporting goods and equipment can be donated to local community service organizations that can use them to support their work, distribute them to people in need or resell them to raise funds.

Televisions

Televisions

Televisions are very difficult and expensive to recycle because of the heavy metals and glass. In Ohio, there is not a ban on placing televisions in the regular trash but recycling options do exist. Locally, Best Buy stores accept TVs year-round and charge a fee based on size. The District holds seasonal special collection events for a fee.

Textiles

Textiles

Donate usable clothing, fabric and other textiles to a charitable organization. Simple Recycling accepts textiles and cloth for recycling. Call (866) 835-5068. Do NOT include clothing and fabric in your curbside recycling.

Tires

Tires

When you buy new tires, recycle your old tires through your tire retailer at the time of purchase. There are no free disposal options for tires. Businesses and organizations with tires must contact a licensed tire hauler for service.

Toiletries

Toiletries

New, unopened, unwanted toiletries can be donated to shelters and community service organizations that will distribute them to people in need.

Toner Cartridges

Toner Cartridges

Residents and businesses can recycle ink and toner cartridges through local retailers such as Office Depot, Staples or other specialized companies.

Tools and Usable Building Materials

Tools and Usable Building Materials

Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity ReStore accepts donations of tools (hand, power, and yard) appliances (10 years old or newer), windows/doors, cabinets, fixtures, sinks, furniture, lumber (6 ft. or longer) and more.

Toys and Games

Toys and Games

Toys and games in good condition can be donated to local community service organizations that can use the items to support their work. Broken or unusable toys should be placed in the trash.

Transparency Film

Transparency Film

Residents and businesses can recycle transparency film through specialized companies. Do not place transparency film in recycling.

Tyvek

Tyvek

Residents and businesses can recycle Tyvek mailing envelopes and clean apparel through specialized companies.

VCR Tapes

VCR Tapes

Do not place cassette or VCR tapes in your curbside recycling. The film tape is a tangler that jams the sorting machines at the material recovery facility (MRF). Recycle VCR tapes at a special drop off recycling program or through a specialized company. Tapes can also be placed in the trash for disposal.

Vehicles

Vehicles

Vehicles can be donated to local community service organizations who will sell them to raise funds to support their work.

Vinyl and PVC

Vinyl and PVC

Vinyl and PVC are popular construction materials on the market. Do not place vinyl or PVC in curbside recycling. Recycle the materials through specialized companies.

Wood and Lumber

Wood and Lumber

Residents and businesses can recycle wood and lumber through specialized companies or a construction and demolition debris landfill. Also, consider donating good, usable lumber to organizations that accept donations.

Yard Waste

Yard Waste

Yard waste can be composted on your own property or delivered to an Ohio EPA registered compost facility. Many cities also offer seasonal yard waste collections for residents. Businesses can contact a commercial compost facility for more details.

Aerosols

Aerosols

Do not place aerosols or spray cans in curbside recycling. Empty aerosol cans should be placed in the regular trash. Businesses must follow regulations.

Antifreeze

Antifreeze

Do not pour unused or unwanted antifreeze into a storm sewer or down the drains in your home. Antifreeze from a residence should be disposed at a household hazardous waste collection. Businesses must follow regulations.

Asbestos

Asbestos

Ohio law and rules require that persons certified as Asbestos Hazard Evaluation Specialists be used to identify, detect and assess asbestos-containing materials. Call the Ohio Department of Health Asbestos Program at (614) 466-0061.

Batteries

Batteries

Do not place batteries of any kind in curbside recycling. Rechargeable batteries can be recycled a store drop box or special drop off. Businesses must follow regulations.

Fire Extinguishers

Fire Extinguishers

Do not place fire extinguishers (empty or otherwise) in your curbside recycling. Empty metal fire extinguishers can be recycled at a scrap metal yard. Contents must be discharged before recycling. Empty plastic fire extinguishers go in the trash. Businesses with commercial fire extinguishers should contact a specialized company for disposal options.

Flags

Flags

The U.S. flag, our national symbol, should not be placed in the regular rubbish. When a U.S. flag or state flag is tattered and worn, it should be destroyed in a dignified manner.

Flares

Flares

Some safety services or police departments have controlled burns or disposal programs for old or expired flares. Contact your community or a fire training academy for more information.

Fluorescent Bulbs

Fluorescent Bulbs

Fluorescent bulbs contain a small amount of mercury and should not be placed in the regular trash. CFLs can be recycled for free at Lowe's stores. Some local BatteriesPlus stores accept and recycles all types of bulbs and ballasts. Bulbs from businesses should be recycled using a bulb recycler or hazardous waste company. Incandescent bulbs, LED and halogen bulbs go in the regular trash.

Fryer Oil

Fryer Oil

Do not place fryer oil in the trash or down a drain. Fryer oil from a home can be properly disposed at a household hazardous waste collection. Businesses must contract with a company for proper disposal or recycling.

Gasoline/Kerosene

Gasoline/Kerosene

Buy only what you need and use it up at the end of the season. Gasoline, kerosene and other fuels from a residence can be disposed of at your community's household hazardous waste collection. Businesses with fuels should dispose of it through a licensed disposal company.

Grease

Grease

Recycle industrial grease through specialized companies.

Helium and Oxygen Tanks

Helium and Oxygen Tanks

Do not put empty helium or oxygen tanks in curbside recycling, and placing them in the trash is hazardous. Follow the disposal instructions that came with the tank then recycle the empty tank at a local scrap metal yard, cylinder recycler or medical supplier.

Household Hazardous Waste

Household Hazardous Waste

Dispose of hazardous, flammable, caustic and poisonous products properly through your community's household hazardous waste collection. Free, local collection events are held seasonally and year-round.

Latex Paint

Latex Paint

Latex paint is non-hazardous. Find a reuse or dry it out and place in the trash. There are no special collection programs for latex paint and it's not accepted at household hazardous waste collections.

Medications

Medications

Dispose of pills and capsules at a police station, hospital or pharmacy that offers a Rx drug drop box program. Never flush medication down a toilet or pour down a drain. Contact your local police department about vape and vaping products.

Mercury

Mercury

Household mercury items lincluding switches, thermometers and thermostats can be recycled at the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District. Businesses must contract with a licensed environmental services company for proper disposal or recycling.

Motor Oil

Motor Oil

Motor oil from a household can be recycled at a household hazardous waste collection. Some retail oil change locations may accept used motor oil. Businesses must contract with a licensed environmental services company for proper disposal or recycling.

Needles and Sharps

Needles and Sharps

Sharps and needles from home injections should be placed in a rigid plastic container such as a laundry detergent container then sealed securely and placed in the trash. Needles should NEVER be placed in your curbside recycling.

Oil-Base Paint

Oil-Base Paint

Oil-base paint is flammable. Residents should dispose of oil-base paint through their community's household hazardous waste collection. Businesses must dispose of paint through a licensed environmental services company.

Oils and Oil Filters

Oils and Oil Filters

Businesses must contract with a licensed environmental services company for proper disposal or recycling of industrial oils and industrial filters.

Photographic Chemicals

Photographic Chemicals

Mixed black and white photography solutions can be diluted with water and flushed down a sanitary drain in your home. Otherwise, save for your community's next household hazardous waste collection event. Businesses can dispose of large quantities through local specialized companies.

Refrigerant

Refrigerant

Homeowners must hire a HVAC technician or Freon removal service before recycling an appliance with refrigerant. A list can be found in the Yellow Pages. Businesses can recycle refrigerant through specialized companies.

Smoke Detectors

Smoke Detectors

Dispose of your ionization detector in the regular trash or you can ship it back to the manufacturer for proper disposal. Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are not accepted by city service departments or the Solid Waste District.

Solvents

Solvents

Solvents from a residence can be recycled through a household hazardous waste collection. Businesses must contract with a licensed environmental services company for proper disposal or recycling.

Thermostats

Thermostats

Do not place mercury or mercury-containing devices in your trash or recycling. Mercury can be hazardous to your health and the environment. Businesses must contract with a licensed environmental services company for proper disposal or recycling.

Broken Ceramics

Broken Ceramics

Do not place broken ceramics or glass in your curbside recycling. Put them in the trash.

Car Seats

Car Seats

Do not place car seats in curbside recycling. Car seats that are no longer in good, working condition go in the trash or can be recycled through a special collection program or service.

Carpet and Carpet Padding

Carpet and Carpet Padding

Residents can dispose of carpet and carpet padding through their community's bulky waste collection. Contact your city service department for more details. Businesses can recycle carpet and carpet padding through specialized companies, in large volume quantities.

Durable Plastic

Durable Plastic

Do not place durable plastic items such as plastic toys, buckets, hangers, furniture and flower pots in your curbside recycling. If the item cannot be donated for reuse, place it in the regular trash for disposal.

Flower Pots and Flats

Flower Pots and Flats

Do not place flower pots or flats in your home or curbside recycling. Flower pots and flats can be dropped off at garden centers or nurseries for reuse or recycling. Otherwise, agriculture plastic goes in the trash for disposal.

Mattresses

Mattresses

There are no local recycling options for mattresses. Sometimes mattresses can be donated if they are in good condition. If the mattress cannot be reused, contact your city service department about bulky waste pick-up or take the mattress to a waste transfer station for disposal.

Styrofoam™ Blocks

Styrofoam™ Blocks

Do not place Styrofoam blocks in your curbside recycling. Drop off recycling options for Styrofoam no longer exist. Styrofoam blocks should be disposed of in the regular trash.

Styrofoam™ Containers

Styrofoam™ Containers

Food grade Styrofoam clamshell containers, cups and trays cannot be recycled in Northeast Ohio. Foam cups may be recycled through Dart Container’s mail-in program.

Takeout Containers, Utensils and Other Plastic

Takeout Containers, Utensils and Other Plastic

Do not place berry and produce containers, plastic food containers, utensils, takeout containers, Styrofoam, bakery trays, produce clamshells, and 6-pack rings in curbside recycling. These items are not easily recycled and should be disposed in the trash.

Tanglers

Tanglers

Tanglers such as plastic bags, film, ropes, cords, and wires should not be put in your curbside recycling because they jam the machinery used to sort your recyclables at the material recovery facility (MRF). Some items can be recycled at a special drop off.

Trash

Trash

There are no operating landfills in Cuyahoga County. If you have excess debris or questions about service, contact your city service department about bulk waste pick-up in your community or haul your trash to a waste transfer station.