What is the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District or CCSWD for short?
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. We 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
Cleveland, Ohio — Want to do your part in preserving the earth for generations to come? Not sure how to participate? Recycling is a simple and easy way to make a difference in saving the planet for a brighter today and tomorrow.
5 ways to recycle right:
- 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.
Schedule a Compost Seminar for 2019
We are now booking locations for our 2019 backyard composting seminars. Typically, seminars are held from April – October and are conducted in public space at local communities. If you’re interested in booking a free compost seminar, please consider these guidelines:
• We need space to accommodate 30 – 60 people for the presentation.
• The meeting space should have a projector AND a screen.
• We bring low cost backyard compost bins with us to the seminars that can be purchased by attendees. Ample parking for a van and trailer is necessary.
• RSVPs are requested for scheduled seminars so we know if bins will be pruchased.
For more details or to schedule a seminar, contact educator Kathleen Rocco. Learn more about backyard composting here.
How Do I?…Recycle at Work?
Cans, glass, paper, cardboard, plastic bottles, pallets, ewaste, scrap metal. These are all items that may be generated at your place of business. They are also items that could be recycled.
If you don’t currently have a recycling program at work, you’re probably wondering where to begin. We’ve got some basic steps to help you get started. Or, register for a free “Waste & Recycling Sense for Business” seminar. Three seminars will be held this year.
Contests for Schools and Students, Register Now
Spring contests for students and schools, including the 3Rs Photo Contest and Zero Waste Challenge, are quickly approaching. See what your students can do to win prizes. Check out our list of contests.
OALPRP Scholarship Available for Students
The Ohio Association of Litter Prevention and Recycling Professionals (OALPRP) is offering a $1,000 C.R. Meyers Scholarship for eligible students. One scholarship will be awarded in 2019. To be eligible, a student must:
• Be enrolled or plan to enroll in an accredited Ohio college, university or technical school.
• Have declared or plan to declare a major related to environmental sciences or environmental education.
• Reside in Ohio.
• Complete the application by the deadline of April 15, 2019.
For details, visit the OALPRP website or call Katrina at (740) 342-7881.
Blog Feature: New Year’s Resolve to Follow the 4R’s
It’s time to follow through on those new year resolutions. Resolve to try the four R’s in 2019: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Read the newest blog post.
Spring Cleaning? Time to Donate and Pass it On!
If an item no longer sparks joy, it’s time to pass it on. Plus, donating usable goods helps others and reduces waste. Local community service and nonprofit organizations use donated items to support their work. Toys, art supplies, clothing, books, school supplies, office equipment, sporting goods, tools, furniture and more can be donated to many organizations in Cuyahoga County and beyond. Find a new home for your usable goods. Check out the District’s “What Do I Do With?” search engine, located in the green bar at the top of every page of our website.