Ethan Clarke
Cleveland's recycling program has experienced challenges due to high contamination rates, with non-recyclable items often ending up in the recycling stream. The city has implemented measures to improve recycling practices, such as educational initiatives and the Curbside Recycling Program, which requires residents to opt-in for curbside recycling services. Additionally, the City of Cleveland has partnered with Rumpke Waste & Recycling, the largest recycler in Ohio, to process recycling collected from the city's curbside program. To address the issue of plastic bags and films, Waste Management opened a new plant in the Cleveland area that aims to recover these materials from the recycling stream. This plant utilizes advanced technology, including optical scanners and magnetics, to sort recyclables and capture plastic films.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic Recycling Plant | Waste Management's new Cleveland-area plant |
| Location | Oakwood, southeast of Cleveland |
| Technology | Optical scanners, magnetics, and other devices |
| Capacity | 144,000 tons of material a year |
| Plastic Types | Plastic bags, plastic film, and other plastics |
| Plastic Numbers | Not relevant anymore |
| Plastic Items | Plastic bottles and jugs |
| Plastic Lids | Can be recycled if reattached to containers |
| Contamination | High levels due to incorrect recycling |
| Previous Recycling Destination | China |
| Current Landfill Status | Recycling and garbage bins going to the same landfill |
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What You'll Learn
The City of Cleveland has partnered with Rumpke Waste & Recycling
The City of Cleveland's curbside recycling program allows residents to opt-in to receive recycling services. All City of Cleveland residents and homeowners who live in a single-family household or a multi-family building with up to four units, serviced by the City of Cleveland Division of Waste, are eligible to participate in the program. Residents can place paper, cardboard, cans, cartons, glass, and plastic jugs and bottles in their recycling carts. It is important to note that recyclables should not be placed in bags, and all items should be empty, clean, and dry. Plastic lids can be recycled but should be reattached to the respective containers.
The City of Cleveland's partnership with Rumpke Waste & Recycling is a significant step towards improving the city's recycling efforts. Rumpke Waste & Recycling is a leading processor in the Midwest, and its expertise and capacity will undoubtedly enhance Cleveland's ability to manage and process its recycled materials effectively.
Additionally, Waste Management, a company that contracts with cities to take their recyclables, has opened a new recycling center in Oakwood, southeast of Cleveland. This facility sorts plastic, glass, metal, cardboard, and paper from a single stream of recyclables. The use of magnetics, optical scanners, and other devices enables the processing of a large volume of material annually, approximately 144,000 tons. This facility also aims to capture plastic film, including single-use grocery bags, which often end up in the recycling stream by mistake.
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Clevelanders are bad at recycling
The main issue appears to be a lack of awareness of how to recycle properly. According to Bickett, "the big challenge is educating people how to do it right." For example, many people do not know that recyclables should not be placed in bags and that all items should be empty, clean, and dry. Additionally, people often put items in the recycling that do not belong there, such as plastic bags and Styrofoam, which contaminate the entire load and cause it to be sent to a landfill.
The City of Cleveland has taken steps to address this issue. In 2020, they launched a comprehensive review of their waste operations, including recycling, and hired a consultant to assess the city's recycling program. The consultant's report, which was released in early 2021, included actionable steps to improve the program. The city has also partnered with Rumpke Waste & Recycling, Ohio's largest recycler, to process recycling collected from the City's curbside recycling program.
However, some Cleveland residents have expressed frustration with the city's recycling program. One resident, Brenna Davis, said that she was "pretty frustrated" to find out that her recycling had been going directly to a landfill since April 2020. Others have complained that their recycling is not being picked up, and that stickers indicating which items can be recycled have not been provided.
Overall, while Clevelanders may be trying to recycle, a lack of knowledge about proper recycling procedures is leading to high levels of contamination and causing issues for the city's recycling program.
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Plastic bags and film are not recyclable
The City of Cleveland has partnered with Rumpke Waste & Recycling, Ohio's largest recycler and a leading processor in the Midwest, to process recycling collected from the City's curbside recycling program. The City of Cleveland Heights provides weekly curbside recycling for city residents. Items that can be recycled include paper, cardboard, cans, cartons, glass, and plastic jugs and bottles.
Plastic bags and films are not recyclable in most locations, including in Cleveland. They are typically not accepted by recycling centers and wind up in landfills. This is because plastic bags and films often get stuck in recycling equipment, requiring workers to shut down the machinery and remove them, causing a waste of time, money, and material. Plastic bags and films can contaminate other recyclables, making the entire load unusable for recycling.
However, some retail stores and drop-off centers do accept plastic film packaging for recycling. These locations typically focus on stretchy bags and wraps made from polyethylene. It is important to check with local resources to find out where you can recycle plastic bags and films in your area.
If you are unsure about whether something is recyclable, it is best to leave it out of the recycling bin. Non-recyclables can contaminate the rest of the recyclables and cause issues for recycling centers.
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Cleveland's recycling program relaunched in June 2022
Cleveland relaunched its recycling program on June 13, 2022, after a two-year hiatus, during which the city's waste went straight to landfills. The new program, considered a "basic city service" by Mayor Justin Bibb, aims to reduce contamination and keep the program viable. Previously, in April 2020, the old program ended due to issues with non-recyclable items contaminating entire hauls.
The relaunched program requires residents to opt-in for the service, with community members needing to apply before August 1, 2022. The city offers weekly curbside recycling services for single-family households or multi-family buildings of up to four units. To enrol in the program, residents can complete an online form or call 216.664.3030. As of June 2022, about 32,000 households out of 150,000 eligible had signed up, and the city hopes to reach 50,000 total sign-ups by the end of July 2022.
The recycling program has faced some challenges, including confusion and frustration among residents regarding the new process and the proper use of recycling bins. To address this, the city has initiated a ""big behavioural change campaign"" to educate residents about what can and cannot be recycled. Despite these challenges, the relaunch is considered a success, with 11 tons of recyclables collected in the first day and a half of collections.
The City of Cleveland has partnered with Rumpke Waste & Recycling, Ohio's largest recycler and a leading processor in the Midwest, to process the recyclables collected from the city's curbside program. Residents can recycle paper, cardboard, cans, cartons, glass, and plastic jugs and bottles, which should be placed loosely in the recycling cart without any bags. Plastic lids can be recycled but should be reattached to the containers. Metal lids, on the other hand, should be removed and placed in the recycling cart separately.
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Cleveland's recycling previously went to China
Cleveland's recycling program has faced several challenges, including high contamination rates and changing global policies. Before 2018, recycling in Cleveland, like many other US cities, was sent to China for processing. This changed in July 2017 when China announced its National Sword policy, setting strict limits on contamination levels in recyclable materials. The new policy had a significant impact on the recycling market, reducing demand and making it less profitable for companies to collect and sort recyclables.
China's National Sword policy had a direct effect on Cleveland's recycling program. With China no longer accepting highly contaminated recycling, the city had to find alternative solutions. The city's recycling program struggled with high contamination rates, with reports indicating that collected materials were up to 65% contaminated. This meant that instead of being recycled, much of Cleveland's recycling ended up in landfills, along with regular garbage.
The City of Cleveland has recognized the issues with its recycling program and has taken steps to address them. They hired a consultant to assess the program and develop recommendations for improvement. The city also partnered with Rumpke Waste & Recycling, Ohio's largest recycler, to process the recyclables collected through its curbside recycling program. Additionally, the city has implemented educational initiatives to teach residents how to recycle properly, with the understanding that voluntary participation can lead to better recycling practices.
While Cleveland's recycling program faced setbacks, there is optimism for the future. The relaunch of the program in June 2022 was considered a success, with 11 tons of recyclables collected in the first day and a half. The city continues to work towards reducing contamination and improving recycling practices, with ongoing challenges related to plastic bags and other plastic film items.
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Frequently asked questions
The City of Cleveland has partnered with Rumpke Waste & Recycling, Ohio’s largest recycler and a leading processor in the Midwest, to process plastic recycling collected from the City’s curbside recycling program.
Cleveland residents must opt-in to receive curbside recycling services. They can enroll by completing an online form or calling 216.664.3030. All plastic recycling must be placed loosely in the recycling cart and not in bags.
The market only supports the recycling of plastic bottles and jugs. Plastic lids can also be recycled but must be reattached to the plastic bottles, jugs, tubs, and cups.
Contamination of recycling with non-recyclable materials can result in entire hauls being sent to landfill. This has been a significant issue in Cleveland, with one company reporting that collected recycling was 65% contaminated.
Cleveland's recycling program has experienced several interruptions in recent years. In 2017, China announced its National Sword policy, which set strict contamination limits on recyclable materials, reducing the demand for recycled materials. In April 2020, the program was halted due to contamination issues, and it resumed in June 2022 with a new voluntary opt-in system.
