Rubbish, Recycling & More

This is where you can learn more about Beachwood’s programs for:

Rubbish
Regulations for Brush Collecting 
Holiday Pick-Up Schedule
Recycling
What Can I Recycle?
Leaves
Hazardous Waste
Special Collections
Unwanted Medicine

Rubbish and Recycling Program

Beachwood’s rubbish and recycling collection program is fully automated. The key to this program is large, easy to move, rolling carts. The City of Beachwood will deliver one free rubbish cart and one free recycling cart to each household. On your trash day, our mechanical-armed trucks will pick up and dump the carts curbside. Your rubbish disposal and recycling are part of an automated program, which increases the cleanliness and efficiency of rubbish collection in our city. The benefits include:

  • Easy to load and maneuver carts
  • Enhancing the appearance of the City of Beachwood
  • Keeping odors and rubbish contained
  • No lost pieces; lids are permanently attached
  • Providing a safe, convenient, and effective method of rubbish and recycling collection
  • Providing faster collection
  • Animals and insects are deterred

Keeping trash in its place is every one’s responsibility. With your help, we can continue to make Beachwood a great place to live. Please note, rubbish and recycling carts need to be placed three feet apart from each other or on either side of the driveway and away from any obstructions. Do not place under any low hanging tree branches. Note: Recyclables will only be picked up if they are contained within a city cart.

What Day is My Rubbish Pick Up (PDF)?

Additional Cans

Additional rubbish and recycling tipper cans are available for purchase (cash or check only, please) at the Public Works Department from 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM, Monday through Friday.

  • 96-Gallon Rubbish can: $80.00
  • 64-Gallon Recycling can: $70.00

Rubbish Rules

Beachwood City Ordinance 660.21 Rubbish Rules (PDF) states that no person shall:

  • Place rubbish and recycling carts for collection before 6:00 PM the evening preceding the collection day scheduled by the Director of Public Works, or after 7:30 AM the day of your rubbish collection
  • Allow empty containers or other non-collectible rubbish items to remain at the place of collection after 9:00 AM the day after your collection day
  • Whoever violates any of the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of a fourth degree. Punishment shall be as provided in City Ordinance 698.02 Penalty (PDF)


Complete Rubbish Rules

Regulations for Brush Collecting

The Public Works Department offers one (1) brush pickup per week. Any and all brush to be picked up by the City shall be placed on the tree lawn after 6:00 PM the evening preceding your rubbish collection day. These rules are governed under City Ordinance 660.21 Rubbish Rules (PDF).

  • Logs: maximum length 3 feet, maximum weight 35 lbs.
  • Brush: no longer than 6 feet

Scavenging Ordinance 2017-85

Effective June 13, 2017 rubbish scavenging is prohibited within the City of Beachwood. Scavenging Ordinance (PDF)

Holiday Schedule

When the Public Works Department is closed on holidays, except on Thanksgiving, rubbish collection will be delayed one day after the respective holiday for that week only. For example, if a holiday falls on a Monday, Monday’s collection will be on Tuesday, Tuesday’s collection will be on Wednesday, and so on. The table below lists the official holidays recognized by the Public Works Department.

Official Holidays

  • New Year’s Day
  • Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
  • President’s Day
  • Memorial Day
  • Independence Day
  • Labor Day
  • Thanksgiving Day - Rubbish will be picked up on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving
  • Christmas Day

Recycling Program

The City of Beachwood has recently been advised by the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District that all residents need to modify types of items placed into the curbside collection carts. Unfortunately, placing items not included on the list of acceptable items could cause an entire truckload to be diverted to a landfill. Three factors determine whether an item can be recycled or not: Three Factors Determining Recyclability

Waste Problem Driven by Economics

Residents should look for labels placed on the lids of their recycling bins. The labels clarify which items can (and cannot) be recycled.

Recycling News

Beginning Friday, April 13th, 2018, a City representative will be attaching an informational sticker to the lid of your recycling cart. The sticker highlights the recent changes in the City’s recycling program. Please refer to the sticker for program changes.

If you have any further questions regarding the recycling changes, consult the Recycling Page in the City’s website or contact the Public Works Department for more detailed information.

Curbside Recycling - What Can I Recycle?

We do accept the following items:

  • Cans- Empty and Rinse
  • Cartons- Empty, Rinse and Replace Cap
  • Glass Bottles and Jars- Empty and Rinse
  • Paper and Boxes- Flatten Cardboard
  • Plastic Bottles and Jugs- Empty, Rinse and Replace Cap

We do not accept the following items:

  • Aerosol cans**
  • Aluminum siding
  • Automotive parts
  • Clothes hangers
  • Drinking glasses and mason jars
  • Light bulbs
  • Metal cookware
  • Motor oil**
  • Non-alkaline batteries**
  • Outdoor plastic furniture
  • Paint (Latex)*
  • Paint (Oil Base) **
  • Pallets
  • Plastic bags
  • Plastic toys
  • PVC piping
  • Vinyl siding
  • Wax coated boxes
  • Window glass
  • Wood

* Latex paint needs to be dried up and placed next to rubbish cart with lid removed on collection day.
** Accepted at the Public Works Facility Monday through Friday 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM

Special Item Recycling

  • Computers, non-alkaline batteries, household hazardous waste, motor oil, and passenger car tires may be dropped off at the Public Works Facility Monday through Friday 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM
  • As of February 15, 2019, formed Styrofoam will not longer be accepted for recycling. Unfortunately markets have changed and there is no local company willing to take it.
  • Propane tanks (20 grill) may be taken to Blue Rhino for free drop off recycling . Residents can recycle their unwanted 20# grill tanks by writing “RECYCLE” on the tank and taking it to any Blue Rhino location. Blue Rhino will accept any standard 20# grill tank for recycling, including non-Rhino brands.
  • CFL(Compact Fluorescent Lamps) may be dropped at Lowe’s and Home Depot Stores
  • Books at may be dropped off at the Cuyahoga County Public Library or the Public Works Facility
    Monday through Friday 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM
  • TVs (smaller than 32-inch and some additional small appliances) may be dropped of at Best Buy stores, or phone the store for details

Questions

Call the Public Works Department at 216-292-1922 with any questions or concerns. If you call during non-business hours, please leave us a detailed message and we will get back to you as soon as possible. You may also send us an email.

For Additional Recycling Information

Visit the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District

Reduce Your Unwanted Catalogs

Over eight million tons of trees are consumed each year in the production of paper catalogs. There is a free service allowing you to reduce the stream of unwanted catalogs flowing into your home. Catalog Choice allows you to opt out of catalogs, coupons, credit card offers, phone books, circulars and more.

Reduce Your Catalogs

You’ll need the catalog customer number (printed near the name/address field on the back of the catalog). This process is much simpler than telephoning requests to stop and the site maintains a record of catalogs you’ve eliminated.

Condominium and Apartment Residents

You can participate in the City’s recycling program. Recyclable items should be dropped off in the dumpster by the Community Center.

Business Recycling

Businesses should contact the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District Business Recycling Specialist, Doreen Schreiber at 216 443-3732 or email: Ask the Business Recycling Specialist  

Cuyahoga Recycles : Business Services has additional recycling information for businesses.

Curbside Leaf Pick-Up

Leaves need to be raked into piles on the tree lawn (not in streets or on sidewalks). Leaf piles need to be free of other debris such as grass, twigs or branches. Cars or other vehicles parked in the street may impede the City’s ability to collect leaf piles. When the loose leaf pick up program is not operational, leaves need to be bagged. Leaf bags should be placed on the tree lawn on your rubbish day for pick up.

Spring Leaf Pick-Up is scheduled to begin in early April and run throughout the month of April.
Fall Leaf Pick-Up typically begins mid-September and runs through mid-December, weather permitting.

Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Program

The following items will be accepted in the HHW Disposal Program. The City of Beachwood can only accept materials that originate from a household and not a commercial source. Beachwood residents may drop off their HHW year round at The Public Works Department (Monday-Friday, 7:30 AM until 3:30 PM).

Accepted Household Materials

  • Oil or solvent-based paint, sealers, primers or coatings (aerosol or liquids)
  • Varnishes, polyurethanes and shellacs
  • Paint thinner, mineral spirits, turpentine
  • Pesticides, herbicides, fungicides
  • Caustic household cleaners
  • Pool chemicals
  • Automotive fluids, motor oil, car batteries
  • Adhesives, roof tar, driveway sealer
  • Kerosene, gasoline, lighter fluid
  • Long, Mercury, florescent bulbs (6 ft. length max)
  • (Take all compact florescent bulbs to Lowe's, Home Depot, or Batteries plus Bulbs)

Not Accepted Household Materials

  • Latex paint
  • Explosives, gun powder, ammunition, flares,
  • fireworks
  • Medical waste, medicine , sharps
  • Radioactive waste (i.e. smoke detectors)
  • Tires
  • Electronics, appliances
  • Business waste

Waste

Household Materials Note: 

  • Alkaline batteries (non-rechargeable) are non-hazardous and should be placed in the regular rubbish.
  • Residents may drop off unwanted medicine (pills only) in the Police Department Lobby between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM Monday-Friday. For additional information: Unwanted Medicine Disposal
  • Dried out or empty paint cans are non-hazardous and should be disposed of in the regular rubbish
  • Latex paint is not a hazardous material so it is not accepted in this program. Residents should dry out their latex paint and dispose of it in the regular rubbish. See the Solid Waste District’s instructional video about drying out latex paint:

Cuyahoga Recycles: Dry out Latex Paint

Special Collections

Unwanted Medicine: Proper Disposal

When medicines are flushed or rinsed down the drain, they flow to your septic tank or to your local waste water treatment plant, where they can harm the beneficial bacteria that break down wastes. Septic tanks and municipal treatment plants are not designed to remove these medicines, so they may pass through the waste water treatment plant unchanged. When the treated water is released into rivers and lakes, it can still contain these medicines.

 The Safest Option

  • Securely package the medication and bring it to a Medicine Drop Off or take it to a local Pharmacy.
  • There is a Medication Drop Box in the second floor lobby of the Beachwood Police Department at 2700 Richmond Road; this box is available between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. This Drop Box is only for pills: no liquids or sharps, please.
  • Until your medicine can be properly disposed of, keep it out of reach of children and animals.

Steps to Safe and Proper Disposal of Unwanted Medicine

  • Keep the medication in its original packaging.
  • Remove all personal information from the packaging.
  • Make the medicine unusable (crush or dissolve pills with a small amount of water, or flour for liquids).
  • Secure packaging with strong tape.
  • Place the package inside a non-transparent container
  • Place the container in a rubbish can for disposal