Recycling

How to Recycle in Cuyahoga County: Back to the Basics

Recycling contamination is an issue across the nation and world, but is also a major problem here in Cuyahoga County. Recently, many media outlets have reported on how we're being affected by China's new environmental policies and the best ways to recycle properly.

Recycling contamination happens when well-intended recyclers mistakenly put the wrong items into their recycling. It can wreak havoc on the recycling process from Cuyahoga County to throughout the world.

5 Core Items

Here in Cuyahoga County, the best way to avoid recycling contamination in your curbside recycling is to only recycle these 5 core items:

• Cans: empty and rinse
• Cartons: empty, rinse, and replace the cap (it's too small to be recycled by itself!)
• Glass Bottles and Jars: empty and rinse
• Paper and Boxes: flatten cardboard items like cereal boxes to save space
• Plastic Bottles and Jugs: empty, rinse,  and replace the cap

Place these items loose, not bagged, in your recycling bin or cart. All items should be clean, empty and dry. Plastic bottles and jugs includes items with an opening or neck that is narrower than the body.

Learn More

Learn more about recycling best practices at the CuyahogaRecycles website.