These simple guidelines offer a synopsis on how to recycle and limit waste. 

Recycle Material Preparation

A. Lightly rinse containers

B. Discard all caps and lids

C. Place all recyclable materials loosely into your curbside recycle cart. NO plastic bags.

Accepted Materials

Metal: Food, beverage, and pet food cans; includes metal, bi-metal, tin, and aluminum

Paper: Newspapers, magazines, junk mail, telephone books, catalogs, cardboard, paperboard (Cereal Boxes, Beverage & Food Boxes/Cartons), milk cartons & juice boxes. Note: Waxed cardboard is not recycled nor is food contaminated cardboard.

Plastics: Beverage, and laundry detergent bottles and jugs, dish soap, and bathing product bottles marked with a 1 or 2 on the bottom.

Unaccepted Materials

  • No paint cans, anti-freeze, motor oil, pesticide/herbicide containers
  • No plastic bags (recyclable at select retail and grocery stores)
  • No styrofoam, toys, plastic utensils, tires
  • No light bulbs, mirrors, windows
  • No wire hangers, metal doors
  • No medical waste of any kind including hypodermic needles
  • No trash, waste, or hazardous materials
  • No electronics. Please visit our E-recycling page for information on our electronic recycling program

Note: Contamination fees may apply.

Compost at Home

Residents can manufacture a rich soil conditioner while helping to decrease waste through backyard composting. By collecting and storing your grass clippings and leaves along with some vegetable peelings, etc., you can have wonderful humus for your flower beds and gardens.

Do Compost: Grass clippings and leaves, vegetable and fruit scraps, coffee grounds, bark, stalks and stems, wood ashes, weeds, (seedless) nut, and eggshells.

Do Not Compost: Animal fats, meat and fish bones, poultry, beans, vegetable oils, dairy products, plastics, and synthetic fibers.

composting guide

Oil Disposal

Today, almost 60% of the nation's automotive oil is changed by consumers themselves. You can recycle your oil from cars, trucks, boats, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, and lawnmowers. It's Easy!

  1. Put your used oil in a clean plastic container with a tight lid.
  2. Don't mix it with anything else (paint, gasoline, solvents, antifreeze, etc.).
  3. Take it to a service station or other location that collects used oil for recycling.

Here is a list of several service stations that accept uncontaminated used motor oil. Each business reserves the right to limit quantities, and in some cases, small fees may be charged.

  • Summit Reworks Hazardous Waste Collection Center: 1201 Graham Rd, Stow; (330) 374-0383
  • Valvoline Instant Oil Change: 2860 State Road; (330) 929-6324
  • Take 5 Oil Change: 1948 State Road; (330) 752-1144
  • Monro Muffler Brake & Service: 2850 State Road; (330) 928-7129

Plastic Recycling

Do Recycle: Bottles and jugs marked with a 1 or 2 on the bottom. No other plastics are allowed at this time, including plastic bags. Caps and lids need to be removed.

Do Not Recycle: Styrofoam meat trays and egg cartons, microwave dishes, flower pots, and plant flats, vinyl siding, plastic bags or other plastic wrapping or packaging material.

Tips: Labels need not be removed; rinse and drain; place loose in blue-lidded cart co-mingled with all other recycled materials.

Recycled Into: Plastic lumber, boat docks, landscape ties, fiberfill and carpet backing

Pre-cycling

Pre-cycling is the step "before" recycling! Reduce your trash before you need to throw it away! With just a little advanced planning, you can become a "pre-cycler."

  • Choose products packaged in recycled or recyclable material packaging.
  • Avoid disposable plates, cups, etc., use cloth rags instead of paper towels, and use cloth napkins instead of paper.
  • Buy items in bulk thus avoiding packaging altogether. Avoid produce or other items that are pre-packaged on foam trays and wrapped in excessive plastic.
  • Avoid item with excessive packaging.
  • Tell manufacturers how important "conscious" packaging is to you!
  • Reuse containers whenever possible (margarine tubs and yogurt containers for leftovers; glass jars for storing foods, buttons, nails; return hangers to the dry-cleaners, etc.)
  • Avoid products labeled "disposable" (diapers, razors, camera's etc.)
  • Reduce your junk mail! You can have your name removed from mailing lists by writing to Mail Preference Service, PO Box 9008, Farmingdale NY 11735-9008. This can reduce your junk mail by half.

Yard Waste

Available landfill space is being depleted rapidly. Yard waste accounts for one-fifth of all solid waste disposed. The City of Cuyahoga Falls has mandated that it is illegal to mix yard waste with trash. To benefit you, your community, and the environment, you can help by working together with the city toward the proper disposal of yard waste (grass, hedge clippings, leaves, small twigs, weeds, etc.) Here are your choices:

Don't Bag It!

Keep your lawn at a medium height. When mowing, do not bag your grass clippings. Leave them on the lawn to allow natural fertilization.

Home Composting

Voluntarily recycle grass clippings by composting them in your own backyard. Composting instructions are available from the Sanitation Division or the internet.

Yard Waste Carts & Bags

If you must get rid of your yard debris, sign-up for yard waste carts by calling utility billing.

YARD WASTE GUIDE  Recycling Guide  composting guide