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.

A Fresh Start for the New Year

Welcome, 2021! What did you resolve to do differently for the new year? If you made a resolution to recycle better and recycle right, we have some top tips to help you get started:

• Create less waste. REDUCE the number of items you buy or use. Skip the straw. Store some clean containers in your car to use for leftovers at your favorite restaurant. Choose a reusable bag instead of single-use paper or plastic. Ask yourself if you really need an item or what will happen to it when you are finished with it.
• Stock up on items that you can REUSE repeatedly. Buy glass bowls or containers for packing lunches. Use a refillable mug at a quick beverage store. Purchase silicone stretch covers for bowls that can be washed and reused over and over again.

RECYCLE only the correct items in curbside recycling, including cans, cartons, glass bottles and jars, paper and boxes plus plastic bottles and jugs. Putting the wrong items in your curbside mix (wishcycling) can cause high contamination rates at the recycling plant and result in more items going to the landfill.

HO-HO-Holiday Packaging…Can It Be Recycled?

Cleaning up from the holidays? Still receiving the last few packages or deliveries? Check out our new blog post about how to best manage all that different packaging that’s showing up at your door. Read it here.

What Do I Do With?…Holiday Lights

Don’t toss those broken, burned out, unwanted lights in the trash. Christmas, Hanukkah, Thanksgiving and Halloween string lights can be recycled! Drop off holiday lights, power cords and power strips for recycling at the Solid Waste District, the zoo or some city service departments. Learn more.

Upcoming Webinars for Residents and Businesses

The District’s business recycling specialist will host a series of webinars designed to help businesses, organizations and their employees address the challenges of recycling right at work. A new, interactive “Ask the Experts” webinar provides an opportunity to ask local sustainability experts and facility managers for their input on workplace recycling and recycling operations. See details.

Our first vermicomposting webinar of the year will be held January 15. Additionally, general education webinars about recycling right, using less plastic, and food waste reduction also begin in January.

All of our webinars are free and open to the public. Registration is required.

Be a Recycling Ambassador!

Apply now for our new adult training program that will help you be the “subject matter expert” in your neighborhood. The District’s Recycling Ambassador program offers participants an in-depth study of solid waste management including waste reduction, composting and recycling. We’re accepting applications now for learning sessions scheduled for spring and fall. See details.

Christmas trees are coming down. Artificial trees that have reached the end of their life go in the trash. If you purchased a live tree this year, you have a few options for disposal. Most cities offer a pick-up service in January. Or, donate your tree to a local farm or wildlife park as an enrichment or snack for the animals. Details here.