Recycling Services

When it comes to waste removal in Avon Lake, we take pride in our ability to plan for the needs of our residents today – as well as prepare for the future. Our waste management services include extensive programs for curbside recycling.

Curbside Recycling with Kimble Companies

Weekly recycling pickup helps us cut down on landfill waste. In fact, recycling a ton of plastic saves the energy equivalent of 1,500 gallons of gasoline!

Every resident receives a complimentary recycling cart. Here’s how to use it:

  • Know what to recycle: visit Recycling-with-Kimble-Guide for a list of all recyclable items.
  • Acceptable items for your recycling cart include paper, newspaper, cardboard, metal and aluminum cans, glass bottles, and clean and empty plastic jugs and bottles. Please do not crush the bottles and keep lids on. No other plastic items are accepted - even if they have a recycle logo.
  • PLEASE NOTE: Do not place items in plastic bags. Plastic bags jam the processing equipment and cause work stoppages.
  • There’s no need to separate or bundle plastics, cardboard, or glass. All recyclable materials can go in one container. Kimble’s automated recycling facility segregates and prepares the materials for recycling.
  • The containers you place in your recycling cart should be clean of food and debris. Rinsing is fine – no need to wash with soap.
  • Got an oily pizza box? Toss it instead of recycling it. In fact, any food container with too much residue should be thrown out instead of recycled.
  • Not sure if an item can be recycled? Toss it instead. Trying to recycle questionable materials can result in damage to the recycling facility or pose a safety risk for workers. When it doubt – throw it out.
  • Do not place trash in your recycling cart.
  • Keep all plastic bags – Ziploc bags, grocery bags, trash bags and more – out of your recycling cart.
  • Larger items such as cardboard boxes and other packaging should be broken down to ensure it fits properly inside the recycling cart.

Kimble Recycling Guidelines

Acceptable items for your recycling cart include paper, newspaper, cardboard, metal and aluminum cans, glass bottles, and clean and empty plastic jugs and bottles. Please do not crush the bottles and keep lids on. No other plastic items are accepted - even if they have a recycle logo. PLEASE NOTE: Do not place items in plastic bags. Plastic bags jam the processing equipment and cause work stoppages.

Plastic items not accepted include plastic bags, shrink wrap, Styrofoam, toys, motor oil, and antifreeze containers. There is a tremendous amount of material that can be diverted from your waste can to your new 64-gallon recycling cart. Recycling a ton of plastic saves the energy equivalent of 1500 gallons of gasoline!

There is no need to bundle your newspapers, cardboard, or any other materials separately. All recyclable materials can be mixed together in your new recycling cart as a "single stream" of recyclable material. The individual components of the mixed recyclables or "single stream" will be segregated and prepared for market at Kimble's recycling facility. The Recycling-with-Kimble-Guide includes a complete list of all the items which can be placed in your recycling cart.

Waste Management Tips

  • Plastic shopping bags can be recycled at most grocery and big-box stores, including Avon Lake’s Giant Eagle.
  • Whenever possible, don't use, accept, or buy single-use plastics.
  • Paperboard boxes from frozen food containers are not recyclable. The shiny, exterior-coating these boxes use to prevent freezer burn actually prevents the paper from being recyclable.
  • Compostable plastics do not go in the recycling cart. Compostable plastics – like plastic forks, food container and more are only compostable in industrial or commercial compost processing facilities If you have compostable plastics, either throw them in a bin marked for true industrial compost, compost through Rust Belt Riders, or throw them in the trash.

Additional Recycling Services within Lorain County

Lorain County Collection Center

Looking for a place to recycle those items not collected during your normal curb-side recycling pickup, including plastics other than those labeled with a 1 or a 2? Simply place these items in a box or bag and drop them off inside the Lorain County Collection Center during normal business hours at 540 S. Abbe Road, Elyria, Ohio 44035. For more information, contact the District at 440-329-5440 or visit their website. For a list of items you can and cannot take please click HERE.

Best Buy offers recycling for electronic accessories

Every Best Buy store, including the Avon store at 1600 Center Road, offers recycling kiosks inside the front doors. You can drop off rechargeable batteries, wires, cords, cables and plastic bags. Please go to the website or call 440-937-3202 for more information.

Responsibly recycle your batteries

Lithium batteries do NOT go into the recycling or trash containers for the safety of residents, haulers, trucks, and equipment. There are over 260 fires reported annually in Ohio from lithium batteries. Check the Ohio EPA recycling directory to find locations that accept batteries from residents. Batteries Plus stores will also accept most battery types from residents for free.

Retailers of lead acid batteries (car batteries) are required to take your old battery for recycling when you buy a new one, and many computer and retail stores will often accept rechargeable batteries for recycling.

Responsibly dispose of your tires

Lorain County Residents are able to properly dispose of passenger tires for free at the Lorain County Scrap Tire Collection Sites. Please Note: In the State of Ohio, it is illegal to transport more than 10 scrap tires at anytime, anywhere, without first obtaining a registration certificate from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.

Recycle clothing and housewares at your curb with Simple Recycling

The average person throws away 68 lbs. of clothing per year. Clothing and housewares account for approximately 10% of the municipal waste stream - and 85% of clothing does not get recycled or donated, it gets trashed. Simple Recycling allows Avon Lake residents to recycle clothing and housewares for free at the curb. Please call 866-835-5068 or visit there website to schedule a donation pick-up. Special bags are no longer necessary for your donations. Simply use plastic bags or boxes for your scheduled pick-up. A list of acceptable items to donate can be found HERE. For more information, please visit simplerecycling.com.

Recycle your broken Christmas lights

Instead of throwing those broken Christmas lights in the garbage, take them to the Lorain County Collection Center. You can drop off your lights year-round during regular hours of operation. In addition, Avon Lowe’s Home Improvement at 1445 Center Roadwill recycle Christmas lights December 1-24 of each year.