RECYCLING: FAQs
Where do I place my carts on collecting days?
Answer: All carts must be placed either in the curb line or immediately adjacent to the curb line. If on-street parking is allowed on your side of the street, you may place your cart in the street with the wheels against the curb. This is the preferred location. If placing carts in the street will obstruct traffic, they should instead be placed at the end of your driveway or on the terrace within one foot the curb. In all cases, make sure the arrows on your cart’s lid point toward the street and your cart is at least three feet from any fixed objects such as mailboxes, trees, street lights or parked vehicles. Please leave a two to three foot gap between carts placed next to each other.
How do I recycle my old appliances?
Answer: Lorain County has multiple options for appliance recycling. View Appliance Recycling Centers (PDF)
Is wrapping paper recyclable?
Answer: Yes, most wrapping paper is recyclable.
Should I bag my recyclables?
Answer: Plastic bags are not recyclable so all recyclables should be placed in your recycle container loosely. There’s no need to bag or tie these items. Plastic bags can typically be recycled at your local grocery store.
Should I wash my food containers before I recycle them?
Answer: YES. Yes! It’s important that all recyclables are not contaminated with food particles. A quick rinse can help remove contaminants from the container and prevent your recyclables from contaminating other products around them. Please also remove the labels from cans and bottles.
Can I recycle food, liquids or food-soiled items?
Answer: All foods, liquids or food-soiled items should be kept out of the recycling. These items should be placed in your trash container and bagged as trash. Please do not put into recycling. If put into recycling, it could turn an entire load of recycling into trash.
Can I recycle things such as rubber hoses and wires?
Answer: No, these items can be “tanglers” given the nature of the items. These items should be placed in your trash container bagged as trash. If put into recycling, these items can get tangled in the recycling machinery and cause undue damage.
Can I recycle things such as engines, propane tanks or construction debris?
Answer: No, these items can contain oils, gases, and other materials that cannot be recycled. These items should be disposed of properly by contacting your local repair shop, maintenance facility, or other locations that may be able to dispose of these items properly.
Can plastic caps from plastic containers by recycled?
Answer: Plastic containers usually come with a plastic top. Contrary to popular belief, the plastic cap can be recycled as long as it’s reattached to the plastic container from which it came. Some examples are water bottles, peanut butter jars, iced-coffee cups, sour cream containers. Remember, always empty the food or drink from your container before recycling. If you have access to a sink, give it a quick rinse and toss them in to the recycling container!
Can plastic caps from cardboard carton boxes be recycled?
Answer: Paperboard carton boxes such as milk boxes, juice boxes, broth and stock boxes can be recycled. They often come with small screw-off plastic caps. Those caps can be recycled as long as they are reattached to the paperboard carton boxes. Remember, always empty the food or drink from your container before recycling. If you have access to a sink, give it a quick rinse and toss them into the recycling container!
Can metal tops from glass jars be recycled?
Answer: The metal tops can be recycled as long as they are placed in the recycling container separate from the jars. Examples: tops from pasta sauce jars, jam jars, canning jars (rings and discs).
Can metal bottle caps from glass bottles be recycled?
Answer: Small metal bottle caps can no longer be placed in your recycling bin loose. They fall through the spaces in between conveyor belts at the recycling facility and cause mechanical problems. However, these bottle caps can be recycled. Some examples would be beer bottle caps, soda bottle caps, wine bottle caps, olive oil bottle caps. To best allow for recycling, placing the bottle caps in an aluminum soup can (that has been rinsed out) until it is half full. Then, crimping the top of the can so that the bottle caps are trapped. Toss the crimped can in the recycling container!
Can the metal discs from aluminum cans be recycled?
Answer: Whether an aluminum can has a metal pop-top or requires a can opener, the resulting metal piece can be recycled. It’s best to leave the disc slightly hanging and folded down into the can, but if it is detached it can still be placed in the recycling bin. Some examples are soup cans, tomato sauce cans, cat food cans, canning jars (rings and discs). You can also leave a bit of the lid attached and bend it into the can, or plop them down in the can’s bottom and give the can a little pinch. Remember, always empty the food or drink from your container before recycling. If you have access to a sink, give it a quick rinse and toss them in to the recycling container!
Can straws be recycled?
Answer: No, plastic straws should be placed in the trash.