Recycle

Below are answers to some freqently asked questions we receive at GreenCityBlueLake on the subject of recycling.

How do I find information about the recycling program in my community?

• The City of Cleveland has a handy Recycling and Waste Disposal Guide
• The Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District (216-443-3749) has a comprehensive Guide to Community Recycling Programs listing the recycling programs for each community in the county and phone numbers for more detailed information. Or, check these SWDs if you live outside Cuyahoga County:
• Geauga-Trumbell County SWMD
• Lake County SWMD, (440) 350-2645 
• Lorain County SWMD
• Medina County SWMD
• Portage County SWMD
• Summit-Akron Solid Waste Management Authority

Republic Services Resource Recovery Facility in Lorain County processes recyclables from many communities in Cuyahoga, Erie, Geauga, Lake, and Lorain counties. A guide to the items Republic accepts for recycling from communities east of I-77 is here, and a guide for communities west of I-77 is here. 

The Cleveland Metroparks have bins for anyone in the community to recycle the following: Aluminum cans, cell phones, paper, phone books, printer cartridges. Go here for more information. 

The Nature Center at Shaker Lakes is supplying a dumpster for recycling of paper, magazines, books, mail, newspapers. The center will receive a little income if enough people use the dumpster.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has a county-by- county breakdown with a comprehensive city listing of which communities and businesses recycle.

Recycling locations in Cleveland (map by Jeff Schuler)

View Cleveland Recyling Locations in a larger map

Does recycling help the environment?

While every bit helps and an interest in recycling makes for a healthier planet, you can go a step beyond by reducing your level of your consumption in the first place. Also buy items that have less packaging, plastics with a "1" or "2" label (the most commonly accepted recyclable plastics) and "green" or local products because they embody less energy in their production, transportation and disposal.

Where can I find green products and services both locally and regionally?

• The Ohio Division of Recycling and Litter Prevention provides a Catalog of Ohio Recycled Content Products and Vendors
• The Cleveland Green Building Coalition lists local architects, planners and building materials with "green" components in The Cleveland Directory of Green Building Resources
• Co-op America's Green Pages Online presents thousands of socially and environmentally responsible products and services and is searchable by Zip code.
• Habitat for Humanity operates its Re-Store, a retail operation where you can find incredible deals on used home items - from old doors to windows, flooring and more. Located at 2110 West 110th Street, Cleveland, Ohio 44102 - between Berea and Western.

How can my business make use of its waste stream?

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the Office of Energy Efficiency and the Ohio Department of Development have an innovative waste exchange program to facilitate the reuse of waste materials between businesses. Visit The Ohio Materials Exchange.

Where can I "recycle" my old computer and electronics?

• Computers Assisting People, 3154 Payne Ave., Cleveland, OH 44114, 216-781-8227.
• The Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District runs a number of recycling programs, including round-ups of old computers (which are either refurbished and donated or stored in a licensed hazardous waste site). The District also has round-ups for paints & pesticides, tires and phone books along with teacher workshops on recycling.
• Staples has a program where you drop off used cell phones, PDAs, monitors and printers in every Staples store. Staples works with Electronic Recyclers International (ERI), is a certified e-Stewards® Recycler.

How do I safely dispose of paints, pesticides, and other household hazardous wastes?

Hazardous wastes need to be handled separately from ordinary solid wastes. Call your county solid waste management district to find out about hazardous waste collections days. 

Where do I dispose of used motor oil?

Check with local oil change facilities or auto parts stores; many accept and recycle used oil for free or for a small service fee. 

Where can I find resources to learn more about recycling?

The Association of Ohio Recyclers provides resources on buying earth-friendly products, composting, construction demolition/green building and general recycling, including an extensive list of helpful links.

• ›  Recycle
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• Can I recycle caps from plastic bottles?
• Should I recycle old batteries?