Recycling

General Information

The city supports recycling and urges residents
to follow the recycling guidelines and rules described below:

Place blue bag recyclables on the curb next to
your rubbish for pickup on your scheduled collection day.

Although recyclable materials should be placed at the same time as rubbish, blue bags may be picked up at a different time on that day.

Please note that blue bags containing rubbish (garbage, trash) will be left at the curb with a request that they be appropriately repackaged. Glass, plastics and cans may be co-mingled in blue bags and placed on the curb on Wednesday.

Blue recycling bags are available wherever rubbish bags are sold.

Hazardous and Unwanted Items

Home Depot Nationwide CFL Recycling Program

Recycling compact fluorescent light bulbs is easy. Home Depot offers free CFL recycling at each of its 1,973 locations. Customers can drop off expired, unbroken bulbs at the returns counter of any Home Depot store. This is in response to customers' concerns about improper disposal of the bulbs, which contain small amounts of mercury.

Medicine and the Environment

One of the most commonly recommended methods of disposing of unwanted medication has been flushing the medicine down the toilet or rinsing it down the drain. Your doctor or pharmacist may even tell you to do so.

But when medicines are flushed or rinsed down the drain, they flow to your septic tank or to your local wastewater treatment plant where they can harm the beneficial bacteria that break down wastes.

Septic tanks and municipal treatment plants are not designed to remove these medicines, so they pass through the wastewater treatment plant unchanged. When the treated water is released into rivers and lakes, it can still contain these medicines.

Our local agencies are working to keep these medicines out of our wastewater,
rivers and lakes.

Currently the safest option for disposing of unwanted medicine is to SECURELY PACKAGE THE MEDICATION AND PUT IT IN THE TRASH OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN AND ANIMALS.

However, simply throwing away medicine can be dangerous. Steps should should be taken to make it difficult for any person or animal to unintentionally ingest the
discarded medicine.

If your pharmacy will not accept unwanted medications:

Keep the medication in its original packaging. The labels may contain necessary information and the caps are usually childproof.

Remove all personal information from the packaging. Use a marker to black out name and insurance information.

Make the medicine unusuable. Crush or dissolve pills with a small amount of water. Absorb liquid medication with flour, table salt, or another non-toxic substance. Wrap blister packs in layers of strong tape. Place the package inside a non-transparent container. Any empty yogart or margarine container works best.

Free Service To Reduce Your Unwanted Catalogs

Over eight million tons of trees are consumed each year in the production of paper catalogs. Now there's a free service that allows you to reduce the stream of unwanted catalogs flowing into your home: www.catalogchoice.org

All you need is the customer number (printed near the name/address field on the back of the catalog.) This process is much simpler than telephoning requests to stop. The site also maintains a record of catalogs you've eliminated.

Recyclable Items

Glass

Recycle all glass beverage bottles and jars. Please rinse containers and remove lids and neck rings. Paper labels don't need to be removed. Do not include used pesticide or herbicide containers, window glass, light bulbs, mirrors or ceramics — place them with rubbish.

Plastic

Recycle rinsed plastic milk containers and plastic soda bottles and containers that have the number 1 or 2 stamped on the bottom. Exclude items #3 through #7 containing motor oil, as well as antifreeze, pesticide and herbicide containers — place them with rubbish.

Aluminum Steel & Cans

Recycle rinsed aluminum and steel cans. Remove paper from cans and place them in blue recycling bags along with plastic and
glass curbside.

Aluminum cans may also be taken to our recycling bin, located behind our Fire Station on Bagley Road. You may recycle cans 24/7, 365 days a year. Proceeds are donated to the Metro Burn Unit.

Newspapers

In an effort to make recycling easier, place all newspapers in a separate brown paper grocery bag or tie them with rope or string. Please do not include magazines, color or glossy prints.

AbiBow Paper Containers

We have contracted with AbiBow Consolidated to place special green and yellow containers at eight locations for recycling all kinds of paper products including newspapers, magazines, catalogs, junk mail, school and office paper, envelopes, shredded paper, self-stick notes, softbound books, computer and fax paper, poster paper, folders and colored construction paper. Color and glossy prints are included. Please visit www.paperretriever.com for further information.

The AbiBow containers are located at:

• City Service Center, 7375 Engle Road
• Polaris Career Center, 7285 Old Oak Blvd.
• Distributech, 6930 Engle Road
• Big Creek Elementary School, 7247 Big Creek Parkway
• St. Bartholomew Church/School, 14865 Bagley Road
• Pleasant Hills United Methodist Church, 13200 E. Bagley Rd.
• Midpark High School PTA, 7000 Paula Drive
• Bethel Lutheran Church, 7171 Pearl Road
• Church Of Christ, 7165 Big Creek Parkway
• Minuteman Press, 6886 Pearl Road
• PIP Printing & Marketing Services, 7007 Engle Road
• UPS Supply Chain Solutions, 6940 Engle Road

Cardboard

The City of Middleburg Heights Service Department has established a program for cardboard recycling. The container for cardboard is located at the Service Center at 7375 Engle Road for your convenience. The container is located near the AbiBow Paper Recycling containers next to the dumpsters.

Computers

Household computer equipment such as CPU's, monitors, keyboards, mice, printers, terminals, modems, software and other peripheral devices and accessories may be taken to our City Service Center at 7375 Engle Road, from April 1 through December 1.  For more information, please visit www.cuyahogaswd.org/residents/comprec.htm.

During the other months, take your computer equipment to RET3 Job Corp., 1814 E. 40th St., Cleveland, OH 44114. Call (216) 361-9991. Businesses may take their computers to RET3 throughout the year.

Televisions and other electronics are not accepted.

Household Hazardous Waste

Hazardous household waste is not allowed for curbside pickup. See list below for details: 

Household materials accepted 

• Oil or solvent-based paint, sealers, primers, or coatings (aerosols or liquids)
• Varnishes, polyurethanes, shellacs
• Paint thinner, mineral spirits, turpentine
• Pesticides, herbicides, fungicides 
• Caustic household cleaners
• Pool chemicals
• Automotive fluids, motor oil, car batteries
• Adhesives, roof tar, driveway sealer
• Kerosene, gasoline, lighter fluid
• Mercury, fluorescent bulbs

Materials NOT accepted 

• Latex paint
• Explosives, gun powder, ammunition, flares
• Medical waste, pharmaceuticals, medicine, sharps (needles)
• Radioactive waste (i.e. smoke detectors)
• Tires
• Electronics, appliances

Car Tires and Batteries

Car and truck tires and tires from other vehicles, are not permitted in curbside pick up. Call a tire dealer or service station to dispose of these items properly.

Motor vehicle batteries cannot be accepted for curbside pickup. They should be recycled with battery dealers or service stations.

Propane Tanks

Propane tanks present a fire and explosion hazard and are not acceptable for curbside pickup. These tanks are to be recycled through propane dealers and retail stores that sell propane, such as Lowe's and The Home Depot.

Mercury

Mercury is a health hazard that is not acceptable for curbside pick up. For free disposal of mercury, please call the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District at (216) 443-3749 for drop-off locations.

Rechargeable Batteries

Rechargeable batteries contain hazardous materials and should not be included with household waste. These batteries can be recycled by the store from which they were purchased.

For further information about recycling, please contact Recycling Coordinator Rose Volpe at (440) 234-2216.

Batteries

How do I dispose of alkaline batteries?
Alkaline batteries can be safely disposed of with normal household waste. The federal government classifies these batteries as non-hazardous waste.

Alkaline batteries are primarily composed of common metals – steel, zinc and manganese – and do not pose a health or environmental risk during normal use or disposal. In Cuyahoga County the recommended disposal method for alkaline batteries is to place them in your regular trash collection. (Proven, cost-effective, and environmentally safe recycling processes are not yet universally available for alkaline batteries.)

It is important not to dispose of large amounts of alkaline batteries in a group. Used batteries are often not completely "dead." Grouping used batteries together can bring these "live" batteries into contact with one another, creating safety risks. Throwing away one or two as they are exhausted is perfectly acceptable.   

How do I dispose of rechargeable batteries?
Batteries that are rechargeable and/or contain heavy metals should be recycled. This includes lithium, lithium ion, nickel metal hydride, zinc air, and lead acid batteries. The Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC) provides recycling drop-off locations for rechargeable batteries at retail stores such as Alltel, Best Buy, Cingular Wireless, The Home Depot, Radio Shack, Sears, Staples, Target and Walmart. For a complete list call 1-800-8- BATTERY or visit www.rbrc.com The City also accepts these types of batteries in the Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Program.

How do I dispose of lead acid batteries?
Lead acid batteries contain lead and sulfuric acid and are used as a source of power. Perhaps the most common lead-acid battery is the one used to start your car. An Ohio law that went into effect April 25, 2008, prohibits the disposal of lead acid batteries in solid or hazardous waste landfills. The law is intended to ensure that all spent lead-acid batteries in Ohio will be recycled. The law also requires wholesalers and retailers of lead-acid batteries to take your old battery for recycling when you buy a new one. Batteries covered by the law include those used in vehicles, motorcycles, wheelchairs, boats, or other forms of motive power. For a list of businesses in Cuyahoga County that recycle lead-acid batteries, see the online Recycling Directory for Business & Industry. The City also accepts these types of batteries in the Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Program.   

Books

How do I recycle books?
Many unwanted books can be donated to local libraries, schools and community centers. For a list of these donation opportunities, call the Solid Waste District at (216) 443-3749 to request Pass It On: A Resource-Full Guide to Donating Usable Stuff.  For a list of businesses in Cuyahoga County that recycle books, see the online Recycling Directory for Business & Industry.

Clothing

Where can I donate clothing?
You can find a charitable organization that accepts clothing donations by referencing Pass It On: A Resource-Full Guide to Donating Usable Stuff. You can also leaving clothing at one of the many clothing drop-off boxes located throughout Cuyahoga County for local non-profit organizations.

Construction Waste

How do I dispose of construction waste?
Construction and demolition (C&D) debris is defined as materials resulting from the alteration, construction, destruction, rehabilitation or repair of any physical structure. Materials include lumber, drywall, brick concrete, metals, plaster, windows, roofing materials, plumbing fixtures, electrical wiring, heating equipment, asphalt, insulation and carpeting. For a list of businesses in Cuyahoga County that accept construction & demolition debris, see the online Recycling Directory for Business & Industry.

Computers

Can computers be recycled?
Yes, the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District sponsors Recycle Your Computer Month twice a year to collect unwanted residential computers for refurbishing or recycling. Collection events are held at your city service department during these times. Businesses with computers to recycle should call RET3 Job Corp. at (216) 361-9991.  

Fire Extinguishers

How do I dispose of a fire extinguisher?
A metal fire extinguisher can be refilled rather than thrown away when empty, unless it was manufactured before 1984. Extinguishers made of plastic are not recyclable and can be placed in the regular trash when empty. The District accepts fire extinguishers in the Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Program. For a list of businesses in Cuyahoga County that dispose of fire extinguishers, see the online Recycling Directory for Business & Industry.

Fryer Oil

How do I dispose of oil from a deep fryer?
Over 2 million folks across the country deep-fry their turkey every Thanksgiving, and cleaning up can be troublesome. With 3-to-5 gallons of used oil on your hands, disposing of it isn't as easy as just putting it in the garbage.  Some city service departments collect fryer oil for disposal, so check with your municipality to see if there is a local drop-off. Also, restaurants and bars might be willing to take your fryer oil and add it in to their regular fryer oil collection.  For a list of businesses in Cuyahoga County that recycle fryer oil, see our online Recycling Directory for Business & Industry.  

Hazardous Waste

What do I do with old paint and other hazardous materials?
Paint cans with dried paint should be placed in your regular trash.  Small quantities of paint and all latex paints can be air-dried and disposed in the trash.  To help residents dispose of oil-based paint, pesticides, automotive fluids, and other hazardous products found in the home, the Solid Waste District has a Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Program. Hazardous materials from households can be turned in for free; latex paint is not accepted.  Collections are held at your city service department.    

Latex Paint

How do I dispose of latex paint?
The Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District does not accept latex paint in the Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Program because it is not a hazardous material. Latex paint is safe to dispose with your household trash as long as it is solidified first.  Here are step-by-step instructions on disposing of latex paint.   

Medicine & Needles

How do I dispose of medical waste?
With special care, unwanted medicines and needles from self-injectors can be placed in the regular trash.   

Mercury & Fluorescent Bulbs

How I dispose of items with mercury?
The Solid Waste Management District offers a free program to collect household mercury items from the public. Residents may turn in liquid mercury items at four locations in Cuyahoga County.

What should I do with fluorescent bulbs?
Compact fluorescent lamps and other energy-efficient lighting such as linear fluorescent and high intensity discharge (HID) lamps contain a very small amount of mercury.  All fluorescent bulbs should be recycled properly  to protect public health and the environment.

How do I clean-up a broken fluorescent bulb?
In December 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released new guidelines on how to deal with mercury-containing compact fluorescent light bulbs that break in the home.  CFLs contain a small amount of mercury sealed in the glass tubing. When broken, some of the mercury is released as mercury vapor. The EPA said the bulb will continue to leak mercury vapor until it is cleaned up and removed from the home.  

Paper Shredding

Where can I have documents shredded?
Shredding events are hosted by municipalities for their own residents. There is not a countywide shredding event.  Contact your city hall or city service department for information about a local shred day.

If your city does not host shred days, you have the option of taking your materials to a private company. On the first Saturday of each month, SHRED-IT offers general document shredding from 9:00-12:00 p.m. The cost of this service is $4.00 per box. SHRED-IT is located at 5480 Cloverleaf Parkway #7, Cleveland, 44125. For more information, call (440) 243-8500 or log onto www.shredit.com/_minisites/cleveland

Phone Books

How can recycle phone books?
The Solid Waste District holds the annual Phone Book Recycling Campaign from June 1-September 30 at twelve Cleveland Metroparks locations.  In addition, many communities provide phone book recycling when the new books are delivered each summer.  Check with your community.   

Propane Tanks

How do I dispose of an old propane tank that can’t be refilled?
Due to new government regulations regarding the safety devices on propane tanks, tanks with a round or star-shaped hand wheel have now been rendered obsolete.  These old tanks cannot be refilled.  Old cylinders can be exchanged at the store where the new tank is purchased.  For more information or an exchange location near you, log onto www.bluerhino.com  or www.amerigas.com. For a list of businesses in Cuyahoga County that dispose of propane tanks, see our online Recycling Directory for Business & Industry.

Smoke Detectors

What should I do with an old smoke detector?
Although it is legal to dispose of your ionization detector in the trash, we encourage you to return the product back to the manufacturer. The manufacturer is mandated by the Nuclear Regulatory law 10 CFR 32.27 to see that the radioactive waste is disposed at a nuclear waste disposal facility. When sending back a smoke detector, you should not take it apart. The entire smoke detector needs to be returned to the manufacturer or store by UPS ground mail (not air mail). The batteries, however, should be removed and properly disposed of.  No special shipping is needed for your smoke detector.  Just put it in a box, maybe with some newspaper for padding, and send it.

If you are unable to return a smoke detector to the manufacturer, it can be disposed of in the regular garbage. The Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Program does not accept smoke detectors.

Styrofoam

How do I dispose of Styrofoam?
Styrofoam is a trade name for expanded polystyrene (EPS). Locally, Styrofoam #6 EPS can be recycled at Buckeye Industries, 33851 Curtis Boulevard, Suite 207 in Eastlake. Office hours are M-F 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Buckeye Industries will take Styrofoam #6 EPS from individuals as well as businesses. Styrofoam contaminated with food or chemicals will not be accepted. The Styrofoam is processed through a densifier and is sold to a company that uses the product to make molded picture frames. For more information, call (440) 942-1605.

Styrofoam peanuts from packaging can be taken to Northcoast Recycling, 1305 Lloyd Road in Wickliffe. For more information, call (440) 943-6968. Packing peanuts can also be donated to stores that ship packages, such as UPS stores. You can also reuse it as your own packing material.   

Televisions & Electronics

How do I recycle televisions and other electronics?
While there is no ban in Ohio on placing televisions and electronics in the regular trash, some retailers and local companies provide recycling services for these items. A fee is usually charged. Best Buy stores will recycle your old television (up to 32”) for a $10 fee.  n exchange, you receive a $10 Best Buy gift card. Log on to www.bestbuy.com/recycling.  

Tires

How do I get rid of old tires?
When you buy new tires, dispose of your old tires through your tire retailer at the time of purchase. A small fee is charged for tire disposal, which is used for transporting and disposing of tires through state licensed facilities. If you already have tires at home, contact one of the following three store chains that provide tire disposal for non-customers: Conrad’s Tire Express, Firestone Auto Care, and National Tire and Battery.

Middleburg Heights Shred-It Day

Regularly scheduled Shred-It days allow Middleburg Heights residents to shred their personal documents at the Middleburg Heights Service Center, located at 7375 Engle Road. A shredding truck from Shred-It Mobile and Recycling will be available for free, quick and easy destruction and disposal of documents from 9 a.m. to noon.

Shred-It staff are available to handle the documents and shred while participants watch. Each household may bring material equivalent to the capacity of two standard size copy paper boxes. Documents shredded may be in plastic bags.

The City is pleased to offer this service to residents. Shredding personal paperwork is a way to counteract identity theft and protect private information.

The company's cross-cut shredding process creates a crisscross cut of paper no longer that 5/8" in size, which provides for greater security than conventional strip-cut shredders. Then the shredded material goes directly to the company's recycling facilities where it is baled and delivered to recycling mills.

For further information about the shredding event, call the Middleburg Heights Service Department at (440) 234-2216.

Frequently Asked Questions About Shred-It Day

If it rains, will the event be cancelled?

No, rain or shine.

Is there a charge for the service?

No, shredding is free.

Do I have to remove staples, paper clips, etc.?

No, but take paper work out of binders and notebooks.

Do I need to sort the paper?

No.

What can be shredded?

Financial and legal documents, receipts, tax and medical records, plus floppy disks and CD's.

Is there a limit?

Two standard size copy paper boxes.

What happens after the paper has been shredded?

The destroyed documents are transferred to a recycling facility, where they return to the marketplace in the form of items such as recycled household paper products.