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.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
   
5. 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.

Recycling Goes Back to School

Despite all of the debate about whether students should return to the classroom, one thing remains clear: our dedication to reuse and recycling needs to continue, just as our children need to keep learning. Consider these green tips for any back-to-school scenario, whether its in a traditional classroom or at the dining room table.

• Recycle paper including workbooks, worksheets, paperback books, notepaper and boxes.
• Find a place to donate unwanted school supplies, arts and crafts materials or office furniture and equipment.
• Recycle pens, markers and other writing instruments.
• Show your students how to pack a waste free lunch.
• Get a free science lesson by attending a “Composting Creatures” webinar just for kids. The next one is August 13!
• Add reducing and recycling to a school building. Learn how to create a waste-free classroom.
• Request a recycling or zero-waste poster for your kitchen, cafeteria or lunchroom.

Properly dispose of masks, gloves and other PPE by placing unwanted items in the trash. They don’t belong in recycling or as litter in our communities.

What Do I Do With?… Computers and Electronics

Showing off a new smart phone, tablet or laptop computer? Don’t toss it in the trash or your curbside recycling cart or bin. You can recycle the old one at a community collection event or drop-off near you. Learn more.

Upcoming Webinar: Waste Audits

You can’t manage what you don’t measure. During an August 14 webinar, learn the steps to conducting a successful waste audit at your workplace and how to interpret the results for improving your waste reduction and recycling program. Register now.

Tip to Recycle Right
Unless you’re a blue bag community, keep recyclables loose in your home or curbside bin. There is no need to bag them. Bags are considered tanglers at the recycling plant and can damage machinery and slow the recycling process.

Did You Know?
Dog doo is not fertilizer. You and your neighbors can help protect public health and water quality with educational resources and signs from the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District. Check out www.dogscantflush.org 

Wrap-Up a Socially Distanced Summer by Recycling Right

Summer is winding down and Labor Day parties will be here soon. Make sure that cans and glass or plastic bottles are the only items going into your recycling bin. Learn how to keep your party cleaner and greener when you recycle right. See how.