Show All Answers

1. When are some upcoming collection events?

In the past, the Solid Waste District hosted individual collection events for Household Hazardous Waste, E-Scrap, Fluorescent Bulbs and Scrap Tires, but the collection procedure has changed.

Now, we have a Collection Center where you can drop off all of these recyclable items three times a week, during any season, year-round! The Center is located at 540 S Abbe Road in Elyria. For more information, please feel free to our office at 440-329-5440.

2. When is the Automated Trash Collection System coming to my community?

That depends on the community - some communities already have the Volume Based Automated System and some communities are currently running a pilot program.

The time frame in which a specific community gets the Automated Trash Collection is decided by a contract between that particular community and Republic Services and Rumpke. Whenever a contract is up and a new one is negotiated - the Automated Trash Collection System will be a part of the new contract.

3. How am I supposed to fit all of my garbage into one of those carts for the new automated trash collection?

Recycling is the key here. The more you recycle the less you will have to put into your trash bin. This is the main reason the Solid Waste Department has decided to promote the new system of trash collection. We feel it will raise our recycling rates considerably!

Republic Services will now accept your paperboard (cereal boxes, mac-n-cheese boxes, etc.) as part of your recyclables. This should significantly reduce the amount of trash most families need to throw away. For details about what you can put in your curbside bins, please see their Curbside Recyclables Flyer (PDF).

4. If I only throwaway one bag of garbage a week, do I have to lug around one of those big carts?

You would want to call Republic Services at 440-458-5191 and request a smaller container. Also, if your container gets damaged by the wear and tear of the trucks gripping and lifting the containers, then they will provide you with another container free of charge.

5. If I drop a compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL), do I need to be worried about the mercury contained within it contaminating my house, family or myself personally?

The amount of mercury contained in household CLF bulbs - is such a small amount you would have to break hundreds, if not thousands of them to have a reportable amount of mercury levels.

If you do not feel safe throwing them away, you can take the bulbs to your local Home Depot, which is now accepting CFLB's for recycling at their Customer Service Centers. You may also bring them to the Collection Center for recycling.

6. Where can I find carton recycling information?

Republic Services provides Carton Recycling FAQs (PDF) and has announced the Expansion of the Lorain County Resource Recovery Facility Expansion, which will allow their facility to accept more types of recyclables; most notably all plastics marked numbers 1 through 7. Paper products (newspaper, junk mail, and magazines), glass, cardboard, aluminum, and steel are also accepted. For more information, please Contact Republic Services by calling 440-458-5191.

7. How can recycling benefit my community?

You can take your newspapers, office paper, school paper, etc. to any green and yellow Abitibi container in most school and library parking lots. When you put your paper in those containers - that school, library, church, non-profit, etc. gets money per ton of paper that is collected there.

If you have items such as new paint, used paint that is more than half full, construction or building items - you can donate them to the Lorain County Habitat for Humanity. Elyria Habitat for Humanity Office phone number is 440-322-2355. You may contact the newly opened Habitat for Humanity ReStore - Recycle Center at 440-984-3343, located in Amherst, Ohio for more information.