Proper waste disposal is crucial for maintaining a clean and healthy community in Richmond Heights, Ohio. Knowing what items go in regular trash, recycling, and yard waste bins makes it easier to comply with city guidelines. Here’s a comprehensive guide to acceptable items for each type of collection, tips for yard waste, and important information on bin storage and pickup schedules.
Regular Trash: What Goes in the Dark Green Bin
Richmond Heights provides weekly curbside trash collection, using a city-provided 96-gallon green cart. Place your cart on the tree lawn by 7:30 a.m. on collection days and ensure it’s within three feet of the curb, keeping it clear of obstacles like parked cars and mailboxes.
Accepted Items:
- General Household Waste: Food scraps, non-recyclable plastics (like plastic bags), wrappers, and other non-recyclable materials.
- Soiled Paper Products: Used paper towels, tissues, napkins, and other paper products that can’t be recycled.
- Broken Household Items: Small items like broken dishes, utensils, and small appliances that fit within the bin and are non-hazardous.
Recycling: What Goes in the Bright Green Bin
Richmond Heights offers weekly curbside recycling for clean, dry recyclables:
Accepted Items:
- Cans: Rinse all metal food and beverage cans.
- Cartons: Rinse and cap milk, juice, soup, and broth cartons.
- Glass: Clean food and beverage bottles and jars.
- Paper & Boxes: Newspapers, magazines, cardboard, and clean pizza boxes (flatten cardboard to save space).
- Plastic: Rinsed bottles and jugs with lids.
Recyclables should be loose (not bagged) in the bin, ensuring contamination-free collection.
Yard Waste Disposal
Richmond Heights has guidelines for yard waste that help you keep your property clean and eco-friendly:
- Grass Clippings and Leaves: Bag in biodegradable bags and limit to six bags per collection to avoid extra charges. For a natural, cost-effective alternative, consider finely mulching grass clippings and leaves back into the lawn as a natural fertilizer.
- Branches and Brush: Chipping is available on the first and third weeks of the month (except during leaf season), and branches should be about 3.5 to 6 inches in diameter. Contractors hired for tree trimming or cutting are responsible for removing debris.
This approach reduces waste and provides nutrients to your soil, promoting healthier grass and saving money on fertilizer.
Bulk Trash Pickup
For large items, Richmond Heights provides bulk trash pickup on regular collection days. Waste Management handles large furniture and appliances, but there are some special instructions to follow:
Accepted Items:
- Furniture: Sofas, chairs, tables, and other large furniture items. Fabric items must be wrapped in plastic and sealed.
- Appliances: Refrigerators, stoves, and air conditioners. Remove doors for safety.
- Carpeting: Cut into four-foot sections, rolled, and tied, with each roll weighing no more than 30 pounds.
Call Waste Management in advance to confirm your bulk item pickup and follow all preparation guidelines for smooth collection.
Hazardous Waste and Special Collections
Richmond Heights holds periodic collection events for items that aren’t suited for regular trash or recycling:
- Household Hazardous Waste: Oil-based paints, pesticides, automotive fluids, and other hazardous items are accepted during special events.
- Electronics: Computers and electronics can be dropped off, although televisions may not be accepted—check the current guidelines.
- Scrap Tires: Off-rim tires can be disposed of at designated drop-off events.
These events make it easier to dispose of hazardous and electronic items that shouldn’t go in regular trash.
Final Reminders for Richmond Heights Residents
- Bin Placement and Removal: Set bins out by 7:30 a.m. on collection day and remove them by the end of the day.
- Storage: Keep bins out of sight when not in use, maintaining a tidy neighborhood appearance.
Need Help with Large or Specialty Disposal?
If you have items that fall outside of city guidelines or if you’d rather skip bundling branches and handling bulk items yourself, our team can help. From construction debris and large cleanouts to specialty waste, we make disposal hassle-free so you can focus on what’s important.