The most current info we have is posted here. Access further info at Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District (CuyahogaRecycles.org). Check out the latest here. LOTS of new information, check it out!
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – so important! Keep waste out of landfills, reduce pollution while conserving natural resources and wildlife, create jobs and new technologies, provide a supply for the demand of recycled product.
TRASH AND RECYCLING PICK-UP RULES
- 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.
- Make sure it’s clean and empty. Rinse residue from cartons, containers, bottles and jars or any other recyclable that may contain food particles. Greasy pizza boxes are not accepted.
- 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.
- 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 bottles and jars, paper and boxes along with plastic bottles and jugs.
Cuyahoga County has simplified the process:
: Empty and rinse.
: Empty and rinse. Replace the cap — it’s too small to be recycled by itself!
: Empty and rinse.
: Flatten cardboard items, like cereal boxes, to save space. Cardboard MUST BE NO LARGER than 4 feet by 4 feet.
: Empty and rinse. Replace the cap. Place these items loose – not bagged – in your recycling bin, bag or cart. All items should be clean, empty and dry. Plastic bottles and jugs include items with an opening or neck that is narrower than the body.
: As of January 2021, oblong or circular plastic tubs (butter, sour cream, yogurt) are accepted for curbside recycling in some Cuyahoga County communities, including Strongsville.
All items should be clean, empty and dry. Plastic bottles and jugs include items with an opening or neck that is narrower than the body.
NEW! ALUMINUM CUPS: As of 2022, single-use aluminum cups, which are being sold as a greener alternative to plastic cups, can be recycled in your curbside recycling. Remove all lids and straws, and make sure the cup is clean and dry — and please don’t nest them.
NEW in 2025! CLEAR PLASTIC CLAMSHELLS: Republic Waste now recycles clear plastic clamshells, which are hinged container for fruit, berries, produce, deli, salad, bakery, eggs, and carry-out food. Clear plastic clamshells must be empty, clean, and dry before recycling. Make sure the clamshell is closed before recycling.
No Styrofoam or paper clamshells. Do not include Styrofoam or paper clamshells, packaging, cups, trays, and food containers. These items are not plastic clamshells and should be placed in the trash.
Learn more about recycling best practices at www.cuyahogarecycles.org/how_to_recycle
NO MORE NUMBERS 1-7
Did you know numbers 1-7 are no longer used to determine if a plastic item is recyclable? Instead, you now need to look at the shape of a plastic container to see if it can be recycled.
Click here for a handy plastics guide.
For more details about recycling, visit the Cuyahoga county Solid Waste District at CuyahogaRecycles.org or CuyahogaRecycles.org/strongsville.
The Solid Waste District also offers
Recycling FAQs for Cuyahoga County and information on how to recycle properly. If you prefer, you can still dispose of large items at our transfer station at the Service Center, 16099 Foltz Parkway, will be open regular hours: May 1 – October 31: Monday through Friday – 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday – 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Closed on Sunday.
Shredded paper should not be added to your curbside recycling. Shredding disposal options: River Valley paper bins are located in parking lots of fire stations, schools and places of worship; there are shredding services available at places like Staples; a paper shredding event is typically held yearly stay tuned for details.
Household hazardous waste (oil-based paint [no latex], solvents, used motor oil, automotive fluids, aerosols, lawn and garden products, pesticides, pool chemicals and household cleaners — 2023 dates have passed, 2024 scheduled drop-off dates are May 2+3, 7:30a-2:30p AND August 29+30, 7:30a-2:30p, at the city Service Center on Foltz Parkway.
Drop off (between 8a-4p weekdays) scrap metal, tires, computers, electronics (acceptable components include monitors, CPUs, printers, terminals, keyboards, mice, modems, software, cell phones and ink cartridges) and yard waste year-round at the Strongsville Republic Transfer Station, 16099 Foltz Parkway.
Composting Yard Waste and Leaves
Grass clippings, tree and shrub trimmings, leaves. Rather than throwing them in the trash, they can be easily composted. Composting is a great way to keep organic material out of landfills. It’s also good environmental practice and an inexpensive way of adding nutrients back into the soil.
Mow the leaves on your lawn and put them in the garden or flower beds. Leaf mulch is cheaper than buying wood chips and it helps deliver nutrients to the soil around your plants. Read more about composting your leaves.
An effective compost pile must be large enough to hold the heat in the center while still allowing air to permeate the pile. You should also look for a level, well-drained, accessible area and keep the pile or bin in a sunny spot to trap solar heat. Learn more about how to compost in your backyard.
Free compost seminars are scheduled for spring and summer. See the Composting Workshops pagefor more information.
Simple Recycling
Note: Simple Recycling has changed it’s process, it is now on a scheduled pick-up basis… you can schedule a pickup here.
Schedule your free home pickup and pink/orange bags are no longer required. Simply place your bags outside your front door and we will pick them up on your scheduled day! Acceptable items:
- Men’s Clothing
- Women’s Clothing
- Children’s Clothing
- Coats and Jackets
- Jewelry
- Shoes
- Purses
- Hats
- Toys
- Blankets
- Drapes/Curtains
- Pillows
- Sleeping Bags
- Tools
- Silverware
- Dishes
- Pots/Pans
- Backpacks
If an item is no longer wanted, it’s time to pass it on. We suggest reorganizing, selecting the items to pass on and stage them until you can donate. Donating usable goods helps others and reduces waste. Local community service and nonprofit organizations use donated items to support their work. Toys, art supplies, clothing, books, school supplies, office equipment, sporting goods, tools, furniture and more can be donated to many organizations in Cuyahoga County and beyond. Find a new home for your usable goods. Check out the District’s “What Do I Do With?” search engine, located in the green bar at the top of every page of our Cuyahoga Recycles website. See more about the Pass It On book.
Find a Donation Location
Cleaning out your home and closets? Use the dark blue “What Do I Do With?” search bar at the top of every page of this website to find places that take furniture, clothing, toys, art supplies, vehicles, tools, baby items, and other household goods. Allow location services or use the city drop-down to find opportunities in your local area.
The “What Do I Do With?” search includes the most up-to-date donation information available. It includes organizations listed in the Pass It On book.
House cleanouts are a lot of work. See our blog post for tips.
Recycling Right Doesn’t Happen By Luck!
Crossing your fingers, making a wish and finding a leprechaun won’t help an item get recycled. Know what to throw in your curbside recycling. Only these five items belong:
• cans
• cartons
• glass bottles and jars
• paper and boxes
• plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs (yogurt, sour cream, butter)
Recycle right by including only these five in recycling, because everything else is considered contamination, which increases the cost of providing recycling services. Learn more about recycling right.
For additional recycling opportunities (i.e., clothing and other household goods, hazardous waste, computers, furniture and more), click here.
wishcycle [wiSH sahy-kuhl] verb The desire or hope that everything can be recycled.
What Do I Do With?… Excess Trash
Individuals with excess trash and debris may take their waste to our publicly available solid waste transfer station. Yard waste can be discarded in the composting area rather than be transferred to a landfill.
Strongsville residents (proof of residency is required) can drop off excess household refuse (no remodeling or construction waste), scrap metal, tires (off the rim only), car batteries, appliances and yard waste like brush and branches. NOTE: Freon no longer has to be removed from appliances brought to the Transfer Station. Republic Waste will remove it.
Saturday – 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sunday – 10 a.m. to 5 pm.