Recycling News

Recycling Right

What is the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District (CCSWD)?

The Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District is the public agency helping the people of Cuyahoga County reduce, reuse and recycle at home, at work and in their communities. They serve as the leading resource in the County for information, expertise and programs that support sustainable materials management and reduce the environmental impact of waste. Visit www.CuyahogaRecycles.org or call (216) 443-3749 to learn how to recycle in your community and discover other recycling and disposal options.

5 Ways to Recycle Right
Done correctly, recycling is an easy way to make a difference in preserving the planet.

Leave recyclables loose – not bagged. Plastic bags do not belong in your recycling bin or cart. Plastic bags get tangled in the sorting machines at the recycling facilities and cause major problems for the recycling process. Plastic shopping bags can be recycled at many retail locations, including Giant Eagle, Lowe’s Home Improvement, Marc’s, Target and Walmart stores.
Make sure it’s clean and empty. Rinse residue from cartons, containers, bottles and jars or any other recyclable that may contain food particles. For example, greasy pizza boxes are not accepted.
Keep it dry. When it comes to paper and cardboard, keeping it dry is imperative for the recycling process. Please flatten all cardboard boxes as well.
Don’t wishcycle. Think you can throw everything into your recycling bin and it will get sorted out at the recycling plant? Think again. Recycling only these five core items is paramount: cans, cartons, glass, paper and plastic along with plastic bottles and jugs.
Join a social media community. Share a post. Do a story. Get engaged with the social media accounts in your community. You’ll find Cuyahoga County’s accounts located on Facebook, on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.

Once you’ve got the hang of recycling, you can also learn about various other eco-friendly topics from composting to zero-waste lifestyles. There’s seemingly no end to the ways we can reduce, reuse and recycle for a cleaner and greener today and tomorrow.

Relearning Recycling

We’re all learning about the impact of placing the wrong items in our recycling bins. The world’s recycling economy has been reeling from many different factors, including contamination, and recycling properly is more important than ever.

You can help be part of the solution by recycling right at home, at work and at school. Check out our recycling FAQs or take a look at our tips to recycle right in Cuyahoga County. Or, find more details about how to recycle in your community.

Recycling Fact vs. Fiction

Even after getting back the basics of recycling, many questions linger. There are recycling myths that continue to confound and confuse Cuyahoga County residents and the rest of our nation. National nonprofit organization The Recycling Partnership explains how we all can avoid the traps of recycling fiction.

Recycling’s Evolution: Past & Present

Recycling is prominent in our communities and our businesses. Annually, Cuyahoga County diverts more than 1.4 million tons of waste from landfills through recycling, composting and other waste reduction. Today, our focus at the District is to help residents understand the importance of recycling properly and its limits. Read the blog post.

What Do I Do With?…Design Samples

Zerolandfill Cleveland, the materials exchange program for carpet samples, tile, fabric, wall coverings and flooring will take place July 19-20 and 26-27 at the Solid Waste District. Design firms drop off expired samples for reuse by artists, students and teachers. The event is free. Learn more.

Yard Waste Tips

Now is a great time for yard work and improvements, but you can easily generate a lot of tree waste, brush and extra grass. Keeping your yard waste collection free and clear of debris is important for composting services. Boost your efforts by checking out our yard waste tips.

Composting Seminars

Backyard composting can help reduce the amount of organic waste from your household while creating a usable soil amendment for your flower beds and gardens. Let our educator teach you about best practices for backyard composting at an upcoming free seminar.

Preparing for a Fall Cleanup

Yes, we are headed into autumn in Northeast Ohio. The fall season means cooler weather, cornstalk decor, pumpkin spice lattes, leaves on the ground and garage clean-outs. Here are a few tips to help you get ready for the fall months:

Consider these tips for getting rid of yard waste and debris.
Learn how to properly dispose of hazardous materials from your home including lawn chemicals and oil-base paint.
Watch the video on how to dispose of latex (water-base) paint. It’s not hazardous.
Find a place to donate unwanted household goods, yard tools, working appliances or books.
Clean out old medications for proper disposal at an upcoming event.
Scrap those old propane, helium or oxygen tanks.

Check out the recycling programs and services that your community has to offer.

Throwing a Zero-Waste BBQ Event

As summer winds down, so will BBQ season. Backyard events in Northeast Ohio create lots of trash because single-use plates, utensils and cups are not recyclable. If you’re putting together one last hurrah, there are some simple steps you can take to create a (nearly) zero-waste event. Read more.

NEORSD Open House Welcomes Water Lovers

The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District once again opens the doors to help answer the age-old question, “Where Does It Go?” Join thousands of fellow water lovers on Saturday, September 21 from 9:00-4:00 at the Sewer District’s Open House in Cuyahoga Heights. It’s the number 1 event in the number 2 business. Read more.

What Do I Do With?…Car Seats

Unwanted car seats don’t belong in your curbside recycling cart or bin. Target is hosting a Car Seat Trade-In Event from September 3-13 and the first-ever Walmart Car Seat Recycling Event will take place September 16-30. Walmart’s program is being offered in coordination with Terracycle, a company that manages hard-to-recycle items. Learn more.