Recycling
The City of Shaker Heights provides weekly recycling for residents. Recycling is collected on the same schedule as trash (view the Collection Calendar to determine the service day for your address). Residents can also drop off recycling at the Recycling Center on Saturdays and Sundays, 8 am-4 pm, at 15600 Chagrin Blvd. Shaker Heights residents only, please. ID required.
Five-gallon buckets are provided by the City for Shaker's recycling program. Please email Public Works to request your free buckets. If you would prefer to use larger bin, you may purchase and use recycling bins of up to 18 gallons in capacity. These should display the recycling icon. Residents are encouraged to use the18-gallon bins for paper and cardboard and the 5-gallon buckets for bottles and cans.
ONLY the following can be recycled at this time:
- CANS: Includes all metal food and beverage cans such as pop, beer, soup, vegetable, and tuna. Cans should be emptied and rinsed.
- CUPS: Aluminum and some plastic cups only. Empty and rinse. NO lids or straws. Take out plastic cups are accepted but NO plastic party cups (e.g. Solo cups and similar brands).
- GLASS BOTTLES & JARS: Includes glass food and beverage bottles and jars. Empty and rinse. Place metal lids larger than two inches in diameter directly in your recycling bucket. You do not need to remove the label.
- PAPER & BOXES: All paper and boxes can be recycled, including newspapers, magazines, junk mail, shipping boxes, greeting cards, cereal boxes, cardboard, phone books, and clean pizza boxes. Boxes must be broken down for collection.
- PLASTIC BOTTLES, JUGS & TUBS: Containers should be emptied and rinsed. Replace the caps or lids. Note, tubs include yogurt, cottage cheese, sour cream, margarine and the like (dairy tubs). NO plastic clamshell containers, including NO berry, lettuce, tomato or other produce containers. These are not tubs.
These are the only recyclables currently accepted for recycling by the City's recycling facility, Waste Management. All other items must go in the trash or be recycled elsewhere (for example, you may bring plastic bags to Heinen's). Please note that these rules can change. If Waste Management is no longer able to resell a recycled material (e.g. cartons), it will stop accepting that material.
Guidelines
Follow these guidelines when preparing your recycling for collection:
- Empty and rinse all containers
- Leave the caps and lids on, except metal lids which you can toss in your bucket
- NEVER BAG your recyclables; the City's recycling facility will not accept recyclables in plastic bags, so bagged recyclables will go in the trash.
- Commingle (i.e. mix together) recyclables in your recycling bucket
- Place recycling out for collection on your regular trash day
- Request free recycling buckets by emailing Public Works.
The best source for recycling information, including what is recyclable in Shaker Heights, is the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District. For detailed information and answers to many questions about recycling in our community, please visit Cuyahoga Recycles.
Go Low Waste
Recycling is a great way to make an environmental impact but loweinrg the overall amount of waste you produce -- even if that waste is recyclable -- makes an even greater impact. Here are some ways to get started: