The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Free recycling at Lake County Landfill
Single-stream bins are similar community bins previously used
The Lake County Department of Utilities and Solid Waste District has entered into a new contract with Republic Services for multiple singlestream recycling containers to be placed at the Lake County Landfill and Recycling Center.
The center is located at 2039 Blase Nemeth Road in Painesville Township.
The single-stream recycling bins are similar to the community bins of the past, noted County Commissioner John Hamercheck.
“Having the bins at the landfill site provides this critical service while being able to monitor contamination, which hurts recycling efforts,” he said.
The containers will be available, at no cost, to all Lake County residents on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Department officials confirmed that the procedure for bringing recyclables to the recycling center is the same as bringing waste to the landfill.
All vehicles must be inspected and weighed before entering the landfill and all items hauled in open-air trucks
“The three R’s — reduce, reuse, recycle — are a staple of the reduction of waste. Residents can do their part in reducing and reusing but now they can also bring their recycling to the landfill.” — Commissioner John Plecnik
or trailers must be secured with a tarp.
In addition, all recyclables must be free of food and liquid, as a single dirty item can contaminate an entire truckload.
“The three R’s — reduce, reuse, recycle — are a staple of the reduction of waste,” said Commissioner John Plecnik. “Residents can do their part in reducing and reusing but now they can also bring their recycling to the landfill.”
District Coordinator Tim Gourley added having an option to recycle for any person in Lake County is important to the general health and safety of the region.
“This partnership continues our efforts to provide clean, safe and costeffective ways to recycle,” he said.
The change of vendors provides improved diversity of items that can be accepted to recycle.
Newly accepted items include take-out plastic containers and bottles and jugs with plastic symbols No. 1, 2, 5, 6, and 7 marked on them.
Additional waste includes standard recycling items like paper brochures, envelopes, junk mail, magazines, newspapers, phonebooks, and cardboard items like cardboard boxes, cereal boxes, file folders, food boxes, drink cartons/boxes, poster board, and ream paper.
“Republic Services will be emptying the containers frequently due to higher deposits of cardboard, paper and plastics that are being used for home deliveries from residents,” Gourley said.
“Not only does this provide an important service for many Lake County residents living in apartments and condos that do not offer recycling services, but this drop-off location also offers easy access from (state) Route 2.”
Commissioner Ron Young added, “With many different housing options within the county, this ensures there is free recycling available to everyone.”
Residents are asked to reference Republic Services for accepted and prohibited items.
Prohibited items include aerosol cans, aluminum foil, bagged recyclables, batteries, ceramics, clothing, computers and electronics, fluorescent tubes, food waste, glass windows and pyrex, hazardous waste, incandescent light bulbs, napkins, needles, mirrors, paint, paper towels, plastic bags (accepted at Giant Eagle, Marc’s, Meijer, Target and Heinen’s), shredded paper, stickers/address labels, syringes, tissues, styrofoam, toxic material containers, or yard waste.
Some prohibited items are accepted year-round at local retailers and or county-wide special collections, officials noted. All other prohibited items should be recycled through another program.