Curbside
Combine cans, cartons, glass, paper, boxes and plastic bottles in blue recycling bags and place them at the curb on your regular trash collection day. Blue bags can be purchased at many stores where trash bags are sold, or you may use blue grocery store bags.
Recycling contamination, which happens when well-intentioned recyclers mistakenly put the wrong items into their recycling, is a problem nationwide and can wreak havoc on the recycling process in Cuyahoga County and around the world.
Cuyahoga County has simplified the process:
CANS: Empty and rinse.
CARTONS: Empty and rinse. Replace the cap -- it’s too small to be recycled by itself!
GLASS BOTTLES & JARS: Empty and rinse.
PAPER & BOXES: Flatten cardboard items, like cereal boxes, to save space.
Cardboard MUST BE NO LARGER than 4 feet by 4 feet.
PLASTIC BOTTLES & JUGS: Empty and rinse. Replace the cap.
NEW! PLASTIC TUBS: 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.
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.
For more details about recycling, visit the Cuyahoga county Solid Waste District at CuyahogaRecycles.org.
The Solid Waste District also offers Recycling FAQs for Cuyahoga County and information on how to recycle properly.
For more information or to report a problem with recycling, call Jennifer Milbrandt, the city’s coordinator of natural resources, at (440) 580-3124 or Republic Waste at (440) 572-7590.
Clothing and Other Household Goods
The city contracts free of charge with the company Simple Recycling to collect old clothing and fabrics to keep old textiles out of landfills and instead have them recycled.
Residents can place household items and unusable textiles and clothing (items not fit to donate to charity thrift shops) in special orange bags provided by Simple Recycling and place them at the curb for pick-up. PLEASE NOTE: Pick-up must be now scheduled in advance. To schedule a collection, visit simplerecycling.com.
Items will be sorted locally; anything usable will be sold to thrift outlets, while other items will be processed for raw materials.
To request more bags or for more information, visit Simplerecycling.com, call (866) 835-5068 or e-mail info@simplerecycling.com. Please click here for a list of acceptable items.
Drop-off Recycling
The Recycling Center is in the parking lot of the Strongsville Recreation and Senior Center, 18100 Royalton Road.
Cans, cartons, plastic bottles, glass bottles and jars can be dropped off in the large blue container. See the curbside recycling list above for details.
Paper and boxes, telephone books, office paper, junk mail and shredded paper can be recycled year-round in the green River Valley paper recycling containers. See the curbside recycling list above for details about mixed paper. River Valley containers are also located at the Municipal Building at 16099 Foltz Parkway, at fire stations and Surrarrer Park.
Recycling Newsletter
Click here to see Strongsville's 2024 Recycling Newsletter, with important information about all types of recycling and various events.
Disposing of Other Items
Household Hazardous Waste
Strongsville hosts several collections of household hazardous waste each year at the Service Center, 16099 Foltz Parkway.
The round-ups are for households only, not for waste generated by businesses, schools, churches, charity organizations, camps or other groups. NOTE: LATEX PAINT IS NOT ACCEPTED AT THESE COLLECTIONS.
In 2024, the collections are set for:
April 30 - May 1 -- 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Aug. 27 - 28, 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
NOTE: The collections in 2024 will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Materials accepted – oil or solvent-based paint (no latex paint), varnish, mineral spirits, caustic household cleaners, adhesives, gasoline, sealers, polyurethane, herbicides, automotive fluids, roof tar, lighter fluid, primers and coatings, shellac, pesticides, motor oil, driveway sealer, mercury, paint thinner, turpentine, fungicides, car batteries and kerosene.
NO LATEX PAINT!!!!
NOT accepted: LATEX PAINT. You can dispose of latex paint in your regular trash, as long as it is solidified. To dry a small amount, leave the lid off for several days until the paint hardens. For larger amounts, mix in a drying agent like cat litter, sawdust, plaster of Paris, Oil-dri or waste paint hardeners found at home improvement stores. Leave the lid off and place in a regular trash bag. Do NOT throw liquid paint in the regular trash or pour down a drain or storm sewer.
Also not accepted: explosives, gun powder, ammunition, flares, medical waste, pharmaceuticals, sharps and radioactive waste.
The collection facility is under video surveillance. Dropping off items during unauthorized times could lead to fines.
IMPORTANT -- PLEASE NOTE THESE CHANGES:
Batteries and fluorescent bulbs (including CFLs, the small, squiggly lightbulbs)
WILL NO LONGER BE ACCEPTED at the Household Hazardous Waste collection. Cuyahoga County has implemented this change because those items are accepted for recycling at retail stores. CFLs can be recycled at
Home Depot and
Lowe's locations.
Batteries Plus Bulbs, which has a store at 7611 W. Ridgewood Drive in Parma, will accept all types of bulbs for recycling, as well as some batteries. A small fee may apply. Some home improvement stores will also take rechargeable batteries for recycling.
NOTE: Standard single-use batteries (AA, AAA, etc.) can be placed in your regular trash. Please see the links below for more infomation from Cuyahoga County on recycling batteries and fluorescent bulbs.
Battery Recycling in Cuyahoga County
Fluorescent Bulbs
Televisions
Please don't place TV sets and other electronics in your curbside recycling. They can go in the regular trash, or
there are options for recycling them.
Syringes
Place syringes in a heavy plastic container like a detergent or 2-liter soda bottle, put on the cap and then tape it securely shut. Write “SHARPS” on the outside of the container and take it to the Transfer Station for safe disposal.
Carpeting
Please cut into 3-foot sections and roll and tie carpeting. Bundles should NOT exceed 35 pounds. Place at curb on your regular trash day.
Mattresses
Mattresses can be left out with your regular trash for pick-up, but if you'd like to recycle your mattress rather than have it go to a landfill, click this link to see other options for disposing of mattresses.
Furniture and appliances
Residents can place large items like sofas, mattresses, doors, dressers, tables and other furniture at the curb on their regular trash collection day.
Appliances should also be left at the curb on your regular trash pickup day. Before putting it out, Freon must be removed from appliances (refrigerators, freezers, dehumidifiers and air conditioners may contain Freon) by a certified professional and the appliance must be tagged. Republic Waste will NOT pick up the item if there is no tag. Doors on freezers and refrigerators must be removed.
Computer Recycling
Strongsville residents can drop off their computers for recycling at the dock garage doors at the Service Center, 16099 Foltz Parkway, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays.
Acceptable components include monitors, CPUs, printers, terminals, keyboards, mice, modems, software, cell phones and ink cartridges.
American Flags
When a flag becomes torn, faded or soiled, you may deposit it into a drop box at Jardine Funeral Home, 15822 Pearl Road, or the Strongsville police station lobby for proper retirement.
Plastic Bags
Plastic bags are one of the most common items taken to landfills. To reduce the number, Giant Eagle and Marc's now offer plastic bag recycling.
Christmas Trees
The city will recycle Christmas trees by chipping them and taking them to a state-approved compost facility rather than to a landfill. Remove ALL lights and ornaments from your tree and leave it at the curb on your regular trash day. The service typically runs through January, but is weather dependent. If it snows, crews may instead be assigned to plow.
Shred Day
Shred Day in 2024 will be Friday, June 21 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Strongsville Middle School, 13200 Pearl Road. Please note the new location. (Site is different this year because of construction in the Town Center area). Residents can bring their documents to be shredded free of charge.
Acceptable items: (Small paper clips and staples can still be attached) accounting ledger paper, adding machine tape, advertisements, booklets/brochures, copy machine paper, colored paper - 20 pound, computer paper, envelopes, faxes, manila file folders, greeting cards, laser printer paper, legal pad paper, Post-it notes, NCR paper, receipts and all types of white paper.
NOT ACCEPTED: Newspapers, phone books, magazines, binders, books, pendaflex folders, food and candy wrappers, waxed paper, photographs, napkins and Styrofoam containers.
Cars for Homes (Habitat for Humanity)
Donate your used/unwanted vehicle to Habitat for Humanity to help support home ownership in Cuyahoga and Lorain counties. Proceeds go directly to building and repairing homes for local families.
Learn more here.
Brush Chipping
PLEASE NOTE: CURBSIDE BRUSH CHIPPING IS CURRENTLY SUSPENDED
There are two ways for residents to dispose of brush:
1. Take brush to the Transfer Station.
2. Bundle branches in 4-foot lengths and leave out for Republic Waste on your regular trash day. Bundles must be tied and can weigh no more than 50 pounds each.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY COLLECTION
Strongsville hosts an annual collection of construction and rehab materials for for Habitat and its ReStore. This year, you can drop off items:
May 18, 2024, 9 a.m. to noon, Service Center, 16099 Foltz Parkway.
Accepted items include sinks, vanities, kitchen counters, electrical/plumbing supplies, furniture, refrigerators, washer/dryers, microwaves, doors, freezers, air conditioners, counter tops, lumber (6/8 foot), tools, and garden tools and supplies. All items should be usable and complete. No paint, bedding or clothing.
MEDWISH Supply Drive will take place 9 a.m. to noon May 18, 2024 at the Service Center. Residents can bring unused medical supplies to be donated. Click here for more information.
Links to other recycling and refuse disposal information:
Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District
Strongsville’s Brush Chipping Program
Strongsville Transfer Station
Strongsville contracts with Republic Waste Services for rubbish collection and curbside recycling. For questions about your trash pickup, please call Republic at (440) 572-7590.