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.

America Recycles Day is November 15

America Recycles Day is a nationally-recognized day that celebrates and promotes recycling in the United States. On November 15, people are encouraged to spread the word about the benefits of recycling and to practice proper recycling habits. Here are five best practices for commemorating the day.

1. Recycle right. No matter where you live in Cuyahoga County, include cans, cartons, glass, paper and cardboard boxes along with plastic bottles and jugs in your curbside recycling.
2. Take the #BeRecycled pledge at AmericaRecyclesDay.org. It’s easy – more than 79,000 people have said what they’ll recycle and how they’ll do it.
3. Use the hashtags #BeRecycled or #CuyahogaRecycles on social media to spread the word about America Recycles Day and how others can take the pledge.
4. Organize a local America Recycles Day (ARD) event. Use the online ARD toolkit to promote it.

Bookmark CuyahogaRecycles.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for regular updates on best practices at reducing, reusing and recycling.

What Do I Do With?…Campaign Signs

Following an election, recycle unwanted campaign yard signs – plastic film, corrugated plastic and cardboard signs plus the metal stands – at the Solid Waste District, 4750 East 131st Street in Garfield Heights. A drop box is in the lobby. Hours are Monday-Friday from 8:30-4:30. Your city service department may also collect campaign signs for recycling. Find details.

District Welcomes New Education Specialist

Welcome to our new education specialist Carin Miller! Ms. Miller brings extensive experience in informal science education and curriculum development. She served from 2004 – 2018 as the Director of Education for the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and is a certified Master Recycler. Most recently, she has worked as Project Manager for Holden Forest and Gardens. Ms. Miller is available for youth and adult presentations in Cuyahoga County. See details for requesting a speaker.

Greening the Holidays

The holidays are here and, during these last two months of the year, we tend to generate lots of extra trash. Consider how you and your family can reduce and reuse this season to create less waste. Check out our tips.

Start Students Recycling

Kids want to recycle at school. Cans, cartons, paper and plastic bottles can be easily captured in the cafeteria or classrooms. Learn more about greening your child’s school. We also offer educational programming and presentations for youth and adults. See a list of options.

Paper Recycling Tip

Boxes must be empty, clean and dry to be recycled. Remove all the packing material from inside the box, then flatten to conserve space. This ensures the boxes are sorted properly at the recycling facility. Also, keep boxes, paper and cardboard out of the rain and wet weather. Learn more.

Do you know what to throw? Garbage and improper items in the recycling cart or bin causes many problems. It also increases the cost of providing recycling services. Place ONLY these five items in your curbside recycling: Cans, cartons, glass bottles and jars, paper and boxes plus plastic bottles and jugs. Find a printable list here.