Cuyahoga County Bulk Pickup & Hazardous Waste Rules by City

Honestly, the hardest part of getting rid of stuff in Cuyahoga County isn’t the lifting. It’s figuring out the rules. Every city runs its own bulk pickup. Every city runs its own hazardous waste collection. One city takes six items a week, the next takes three a month, and the one after that wants your mattress double-wrapped and sealed with duct tape.

So we did the homework. We checked the official websites for 15 Cuyahoga County communities, plus the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District, and put the rules in one place. Where a city’s rules weren’t clear online, we say so and give you the number to call instead of guessing.

Here’s the truth: we’re a junk removal company, so yes, we’d be glad to haul your stuff. But a lot of the time your city will take it at no extra cost, and you should know that before you call anybody.

Rules checked September 2026. Cities change their rules and their trash haulers, often when contracts renew. Always confirm with your city before you set anything out.

Use our Instant Online Price Estimator: https://ohiojunkforce.com/junk-removal-pricing/ Or call or text us at (440) 577-6010 — a real person will answer.

 

The One Thing Most People Don’t Know: You Can’t Take Hazardous Waste to the County

The Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District runs a Special Waste Convenience Center, but it is not open to the public. Household hazardous waste goes through your city. Your city’s service department collects it from residents and delivers it to the county’s facility.

That’s why every community is different. Some cities have a year-round drop-off. Some hold collection events a few times a year. A couple collect it at the curb. The program is free to Cuyahoga County households, but most cities only accept waste from their own residents, so bring ID.

What counts as household hazardous waste, according to the county: oil- or solvent-based paint, sealers, primers and coatings, solvents, paint thinner, varnishes and polyurethanes, cooking oil, automotive fluids, aerosols, adhesives, roof tar, driveway sealer, fuels, lawn and garden products, pesticides, pool chemicals, and household cleaners.

What the county program does not accept: latex paint, batteries, and fluorescent bulbs.

Rules That Apply Everywhere in Cuyahoga County

• Latex paint. It is not hazardous waste, and city hazardous waste collections won’t take it. The county says to dry it out and put it in the trash. Take the lid off and let it evaporate, mix in an equal amount of cat litter or sawdust, or pour thin layers into a plastic-lined box. Once it’s completely dry, it goes out with your regular trash. Never put liquid paint in the trash, and never pour it on the ground or down a storm drain.
• Oil-based paint and stain. The county treats it as household hazardous waste. Take it to your city’s hazardous waste collection. Don’t put paint cans in your curbside recycling.
• Empty and dried-out paint cans. The county says dried-out paint cans, empty aerosol cans, and other empty containers can go in your regular trash.
• Refrigerators, freezers, window air conditioners, and dehumidifiers. These contain refrigerant, and the county says it must be properly removed. The county points residents to their city service department or a scrap yard. Your city’s rule is below.
• Mattresses. The county says there are no local recycling options for mattresses. A clean mattress with no stains, rips, or damage may be accepted for donation, and the county lists the Cleveland Furniture Bank as one option. Otherwise it goes out through bulk pickup or to a transfer station, and most cities require it to be wrapped in plastic.
• TVs. Don’t put a TV in curbside recycling. The county says TVs can go out through your city’s bulky waste pickup or to a transfer station. The county also holds TV collection events, typically in spring and fall, with registration required. Some retailers, including Best Buy, take certain TV sizes for a fee, with a limit per household per day.
• Construction and remodeling debris. Many cities won’t collect it at the curb. Cleveland, Cleveland Heights, Garfield Heights, North Royalton, Rocky River, Westlake, and Bay Village all say so, and Strongsville’s transfer station won’t take it either.

 

Use our Instant Online Price Estimator: https://ohiojunkforce.com/junk-removal-pricing/ Or call or text us at (440) 577-6010 — a real person will answer.

 

Quick Look: 15 Cuyahoga County Communities

City	Bulk items	Mattresses	Household hazardous waste
Cleveland	Up to 3 items, first full week of each month, on your regular day	Wrap in plastic	First Friday of every month, Carr Center and Ridge Road Transfer Station
Parma	Weekly, on your regular rubbish day (Rumpke)	Wrap in sealable plastic	Collection events at the Parma Service Garage (spring and fall in 2026)
Lakewood	Regular collection day	Wrap and seal in plastic	Year-round drop-off, 12920 Berea Rd.
Euclid	Regular trash day	Double-wrap in plastic, seal with duct tape	Week-long round-ups at the Service Center, 25200 Lakeland Blvd.
Cleveland Heights	Up to 4 items free, on a rotating route week; extras $10 each	Wrap in plastic	Curbside by appointment, (216) 691-7300
Strongsville	Regular trash day	Out with regular trash	Round-ups at 16099 Foltz Pkwy. (spring and late summer in 2026)
Westlake	Weekly on your collection day; notify Rumpke 24 hours ahead	Wrap in plastic	Collections at 741 Bassett Rd. (May and September in 2026)
North Olmsted	Weekly, up to 6 items, no extra cost	Wrap in plastic, seal with tape	Week-long collections at 5200 Dover Center Rd. (April, July, October in 2026)
North Royalton	Weekly, on your service day	Wrap and seal in plastic	Drop-off station, 11545 Royalton Rd., on set Saturdays
Garfield Heights	Picked up by Kimble; call for your pickup day	Wrap in plastic, secure with tape	Collections at 13600 McCracken Rd. (May and September in 2026)
Shaker Heights	Free scheduled pickup of up to 3 items, or Saturday drop-off	Wrap in plastic	Weekend collections at 15600 Chagrin Blvd. (spring and September in 2026)
Solon	Your scheduled collection day, next to your cart	Wrap in plastic, seal with packing tape	Year-round drop-off, 6600 Cochran Rd.
Rocky River	Regular refuse day, on the tree lawn	Must be bagged	Curbside on your regular refuse day
Berea	Weekly, on your regular collection day (Kimble)	Wrap and seal in plastic	Collections at 400 Barrett Rd. (May and September in 2026)
Bay Village	Weekly, up to 8 items (Republic)	Wrap in plastic	Last Friday of the month, March through October, 31300 Naigle Rd.

Dates shown are from each city’s 2026 schedule. Check your city’s page for upcoming dates.

City-by-City Details

Cleveland Bulk Pickup and Hazardous Waste Rules

• Bulk items: The city’s Division of Waste collects up to three bulk items per home on your regular collection day during the first full week of each month.
• Bulk drop-off: Residents can drop off bulk waste free four times a year at the Ridge Road Transfer Station, up to four cubic yards per visit.
• Mattresses: Mattresses and cloth furniture must be wrapped in plastic.
• Appliances: Must be drained of coolants and fluids.
• Not collected: Waste from construction, renovation, or demolition, including concrete, wood, brick, drywall, shingles, siding, toilets, and sinks.
• Hazardous waste: First Friday of every month at the Carr Center (5600 Carnegie Ave.) and the Ridge Road Transfer Station (3727 Ridge Rd.). The county lists hours as 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., residents only. No latex paint.

Check current rules: https://www.clevelandohio.gov/city-hall/departments/public-works/divisions/waste/waste

Questions: 3-1-1 or (216) 664-3711.

Parma Bulk Pickup and Hazardous Waste Rules

• Bulk items: Rumpke picks up bulk items on your weekly rubbish day. Appliances, mattresses, box springs, sofas, and large furniture can go on the tree lawn. Put bulk items within three feet of the curb by 7:00 a.m., and not before noon the day before.
• Mattresses: Mattresses, box springs, and upholstered furniture like sofas must be wrapped in sealable plastic. The city says this protects workers from bedbugs.
• Cardboard: Large boxes that don’t fit in the cart must be broken down, folded, and placed next to the cart.
• Not in the carts: Batteries, oil-based paint, motor oil, scrap tires, pool chemicals, propane tanks, hot ashes, large car parts, and syringes.
• Hazardous waste: Collection events at the Parma Service Garage, 5680 Chevrolet Blvd. In 2026 they were held in March and October. No latex paint.

Check current rules: https://www.cityofparma-oh.gov/275/Rumpke-Rubbish-Removal

Rumpke: (800) 828-8171, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Lakewood Bulk Pickup and Hazardous Waste Rules

• Bulk items: Large items that won’t fit in your cart are picked up on your regular collection day. Set them out between 6:00 p.m. the night before and 6:00 a.m. on collection day.
• Mattresses: Mattresses, box springs, upholstered furniture, and carpet rolls must be wrapped and sealed in plastic. Mattress bags are sold at the city’s drop-off facility.
• Appliances: For air conditioners, refrigerators, washers, dryers, and similar items, call the Division of Refuse and Recycling for instructions or bring them to the drop-off facility.
• Hazardous waste: Year-round drop-off at 12920 Berea Rd., Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and Saturday 8:00 a.m. to noon. Proof of Lakewood residence required. Oil-based paint is accepted here.
• Latex paint: Dry it out and put it in the trash. Lakewood asks you to leave the lids off so the collector can see the paint is hardened.

Check current rules: https://lakewoodoh.gov/public-works/refuse-recycling/rules/

Check current rules: https://www.lakewoodoh.gov/accordions/division-of-refuse-recycling-faqs/

Division of Refuse and Recycling: (216) 252-4322.

Euclid Bulk Pickup and Hazardous Waste Rules

• Bulk items: Euclid contracts with Kimble. Bulk items are picked up on your regular trash day, as long as they’re set out properly.
• Mattresses: Mattresses, box springs, and upholstered furniture must be double-wrapped in plastic and sealed with duct tape.
• Appliances: Remove the doors on any appliance that seals shut.
• Tires: Not collected at the curb.
• Latex paint: Picked up at the curb if you remove the lid and mix the remaining paint with sand, dirt, kitty litter, or sawdust to an oatmeal consistency.
• Hazardous waste: Week-long round-ups at the John A. Piscitello Service Center, 25200 Lakeland Blvd., free to Euclid residents. Check the city’s page for the next dates.

Check current rules: https://www.cityofeuclid.gov/refuse-collection

Check current rules: https://www.cityofeuclid.gov/hhw

City of Euclid: (216) 289-2700.

Cleveland Heights Bulk Pickup and Hazardous Waste Rules

• Bulk items: The city is divided into four bulk routes, and each week one route is collected. Find your route week on the city’s 2026 Refuse and Recycling Calendar, and put items out between 7:00 p.m. Sunday and 7:00 a.m. Monday of that week. Up to four items per pickup at no charge.
• Extra items: More than four items, or a different day, is a special pickup at $10 per item, paid in advance, up to 10 items. Use the city’s Bulk Pickup Request Form.
• Not collected: Bulk from large move-outs or clean-outs, and any building or construction debris.
• Mattresses: Any fabric item, including mattresses and box springs, must be wrapped in plastic.
• Appliances: Remove all doors and lay the appliance flat. Refrigerators and washers are accepted.
• Hazardous waste: Special curbside collection. Call to schedule. Items must be labeled, sealed, non-leaking, and in a sturdy box. No latex paint.

Check current rules: https://www.clevelandheights.gov/255/Large-Or-Bulk-Items

Refuse Division: (216) 691-7300.

Strongsville Bulk Pickup and Hazardous Waste Rules

• Bulk items: Strongsville contracts with Republic Waste Services. Put appliances and large items like sofas, doors, dressers, and mattresses on the curb on your regular trash day. Carpet must be cut into 3-foot sections, rolled, tied, and under 35 pounds.
• Mattresses: Can go out with your regular trash.
• Appliances with Freon: Freon must be removed by a certified professional and the appliance tagged, or Republic won’t pick it up. Remove refrigerator and freezer doors. If you bring the appliance to the Foltz Parkway Transfer Station, Republic will remove the Freon.
• Transfer station: 16099 Foltz Pkwy., Strongsville residents only with proof of residency. As of August 2026, cash is no longer accepted. No paint or construction and remodeling waste.
• Hazardous waste: Round-ups at 16099 Foltz Pkwy. In 2026 they were held in April and August. Households only. No latex paint.
• Latex paint: Take the lids off, let it dry, and set it out with your trash on your regular day.

Check current rules: https://www.strongsville.org/departments/service-department/refuse-collection

City of Strongsville: (440) 580-3100.

Westlake Bulk Pickup and Hazardous Waste Rules

• Bulk items: Rumpke picks up bulky items weekly on your regular collection day. Put them out by 6:00 a.m., next to your rubbish cart, and notify Rumpke 24 hours in advance.
• Mattresses: Mattresses, box springs, and upholstered furniture must be wrapped in plastic. Bags and wrap are sold at storage facilities and hardware stores.
• Appliances: Refrigerators and freezers must have the doors removed. Refrigerators, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, and refrigerated water coolers are collected separately from other large items.
• Carpet: Rolled and tied in 4-foot sections, separate from padding, under 50 pounds.
• Not collected: Tires. Contractors must remove all building and construction materials.
• Hazardous waste: Collections for Westlake residents only at the Westlake Service Center, 741 Bassett Rd. In 2026 they were held in May and September. Oil-based paint is accepted; latex paint is not. Dry latex paint out and put it in your household trash.

Check current rules: https://www.cityofwestlake.org/o/cw/page/heavy-bulky-refuse

Rumpke: (800) 828-8171. Service Department: 440-835-6432.

North Olmsted Bulk Pickup and Hazardous Waste Rules

• Bulk items: Republic Services picks up bulk items weekly at no additional cost, up to six items per household per week, including plastic bags. Carpet, boxes, and wood must be four feet or less, bundled, tied, and under 35 pounds. Separate toilet tanks from bowls.
• Mattresses: Wrap in plastic and seal with tape.
• Appliances: Doors and Freon must be removed before pickup.
• Hazardous waste: Week-long collections at the North Olmsted Service Garage, 5200 Dover Center Rd. In 2026 they were held in April, July, and October. No latex paint.

Check current rules: https://www.north-olmsted.com/departments/public_service/garbage_and_recycling_collection/bulk_waste_collection.php

Service Department: (440) 716-4151.

North Royalton Bulk Pickup and Hazardous Waste Rules

• Bulk items: Rumpke collects bulky items weekly on your service day. Cut carpet into 4-foot rolls and tape them. Items longer than 4 feet or heavier than 50 pounds, like exercise equipment, pianos, and hot tubs, must be broken down. Bundles and bags can’t exceed 50 pounds. Waste from a contractor working at your home must be removed by the contractor.
• Mattresses: All mattresses, box springs, couches, chairs, and recliners must be completely wrapped and sealed in plastic.
• Appliances with Freon: Call Rumpke at (800) 828-8171 the day before your trash day to schedule pickup. Remove refrigerator and freezer doors.
• Hazardous waste: Recycling Drop-Off Station, 11545 Royalton Rd. May through September on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays, October through April on the 1st Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Residents only, with a driver’s license. Oil-based paint is limited to 6 gallons per resident. Latex paint is not accepted.

Check current rules: https://www.northroyalton.gov/departments/service_department/recycling_and_trash_service_guidelines.php

Check current rules: https://www.northroyalton.gov/departments/service_department/recycling_drop-off_station.php

Service Department: (440) 582-3002.

Garfield Heights Bulk Pickup and Hazardous Waste Rules

• Bulk items: Kimble Recycling and Disposal picks up couches and upholstered furniture, mattresses and box springs, refrigerators, and TVs. Rubbish can go on the tree lawn after 6:00 p.m. the evening before pickup from April through October, and after 4:00 p.m. from November through March. Call the Service Department if you’re unsure of your pickup day.
• Mattresses: Mattresses, box springs, couches, and upholstered furniture must be wrapped in plastic and secured with tape.
• Appliances: Take the doors off refrigerators.
• Latex paint: Picked up with your rubbish. Put cat litter or sawdust in the can to soak up the paint, and set the can in an open box with the lid off.
• Not collected: Construction debris. The city says if you’re rehabbing a house, or have rubbish because you’re moving out, you must use a dumpster.
• Hazardous waste: Oil-based paint can be dropped off at the Service Garage, 13600 McCracken Rd., during the city’s hazardous waste collections. In 2026 they were held in May and September.

Check current rules: https://www.garfieldhts.org/213/Rubbish-Pick-Up

Service Department: (216) 475-3373.

Shaker Heights Bulk Pickup and Hazardous Waste Rules

• Free bulk pickup: Schedule a free pickup of up to three large items online or by calling Public Works. For single-family, two-family, and duplex homes. Public Works calls you to set a date, and you put the items out the day before, in front of or near the garage. Crews will not enter your home. In 2026, requests are taken through October 30.
• Free bulk drop-off: Saturdays, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at the Service Center, 15600 Chagrin Blvd. One drop-off per household per quarter, one vehicle. Bring a driver’s license plus a gas or electric bill from the last 90 days, or vehicle registration. No trailers or box trucks.
• Mattresses: Mattresses, rugs, and soft furniture must be wrapped.
• Not accepted: Paint (oil or latex), propane tanks, household hazardous waste, construction debris, and tires for pickup. Hazardous waste, large amounts of construction debris, computers, paint, and yard waste at the drop-off.
• Hazardous waste: Weekend collections at 15600 Chagrin Blvd. In 2026 they were held in April, May, and September, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Residents only. No latex paint.

Check current rules: https://www.shakerheightsoh.gov/212/Large-Items-for-Disposal

Public Works: 216-491-1490.

Solon Bulk Pickup and Hazardous Waste Rules

• Bulk items: Large items and appliances are picked up at the curb on your scheduled collection day. Place them near your rubbish cart. That includes exercise equipment, furniture, washers, dryers, dishwashers, and microwaves. The city also encourages residents to drop these items off at the Service Department.
• Mattresses: Must be wrapped in plastic and sealed with packing tape.
• Appliances: Refrigerator and freezer doors must be removed. Lawn equipment must have the oil and gasoline removed.
• Hazardous waste: No longer picked up at the curb. Bring it to the Service Department, 6600 Cochran Rd., Monday through Friday, 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. and noon to 3:00 p.m. That includes oil-based paint, fertilizers, motor oil, gasoline, propane tanks, computers, and fluorescent bulbs.
• Latex paint: Dry it out, put the lid back on, place the can in a trash bag, and put it in your rubbish cart.
• Tires: The Service Department can’t take them. Take them to a tire dealer.

Check current rules: https://solonohio.org/531/Rubbish

Service Department: (440) 248-5834.

Rocky River Bulk Pickup and Hazardous Waste Rules

• Bulk items: Couches, appliances, and other bulk items can go on your tree lawn on your regular refuse day. Cans and bags can’t exceed 50 pounds. Construction contractor waste is not collected.
• Mattresses: Must be placed in bags, sold at local hardware stores or available at the service garage.
• Hazardous waste: Collected from your tree lawn on your regular refuse day, plus special collection dates. No latex paint.
• Transfer station: 22401 Lake Rd., for Rocky River residents only, with photo ID. The city’s website lists Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and Saturday 8:00 a.m. to noon. Closed Wednesday and Sunday. No paint, tires, propane tanks, batteries, roofing, or hazardous waste.

Check current rules: https://rrcity.org/service/REFUSERECYCLINGGUIDEfor2026.pdf

Service Garage: 440-356-5630.

Berea Bulk Pickup and Hazardous Waste Rules

• Bulk items: Kimble Recycling & Disposal picks up bulk items at the curb on your regular collection day each week.
• Mattresses: Mattresses and upholstered items must be wrapped and sealed in plastic.
• Tires: Not picked up with rubbish or by the city.
• Latex paint: Dry it out with kitty litter. Once dry, the cans go in the trash cart with the lids removed.
• Hazardous waste: Collections at the Berea Service Garage, 400 Barrett Rd., for Berea residents only, with proof of residency. In 2026 they were held in May and September. Oil-based paint is accepted; latex paint is not.

Check current rules: https://www.cityofberea.org/301/Heavy-Bulk-Items

Kimble: (800) 201-0005. Service Garage: (440) 826-5853.

Bay Village Bulk Pickup and Hazardous Waste Rules

• Bulk items: Republic Services picks up bulk items weekly on your regular collection day, limited to eight items per week. That includes furniture, carpet rolled and tied in 4-foot lengths, disassembled tables and swing sets, and TVs.
• Mattresses: All furniture and mattresses must be wrapped in plastic.
• Appliances: Front doors and Freon must be removed.
• Not collected: Tires, batteries, large car parts, and liquids. Contractors must remove building materials and remodeling debris.
• Hazardous waste: Last Friday of the month, March through October, 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., plus two Saturday dates in 2026 (April and September), at the Service Garage, 31300 Naigle Rd. No latex paint, ammunition, medical waste, or smoke detectors.
• Latex paint: Let it dry, then put it in your regular trash.

Check current rules: https://www.cityofbayvillage.gov/364/Trash-Recycling

Republic Services: (440) 458-5191.

When It Makes Sense to Call Us Instead

If your city will take it and you can wait, use your city. We mean that. But there are times when bulk day doesn’t cut it:

• You have more than your city allows. Cleveland takes three items a month. Cleveland Heights takes four per pickup. North Olmsted takes six a week, and Bay Village eight.
• It’s a whole cleanout or move-out. Cleveland Heights won’t take bulk from large move-outs or clean-outs, and Garfield Heights says move-out rubbish needs a dumpster.
• The stuff is still in the basement, the attic, or an upstairs bedroom. City crews pick up at the curb. Somebody still has to get it there.
• You can’t wait for bulk week or a scheduled pickup date.
• It’s construction or remodeling debris your city won’t collect. We take it to transfer stations and landfills that accept it, so it doesn’t matter which city you live in.
• It’s an old refrigerator or window air conditioner. We take them to metal recyclers, who remove the refrigerant.

One thing to know: we can take dried-out paint cans, but we can’t take liquid paint or hazardous waste. That goes to your city’s collection, and the guide above tells you where.

The number you get on the phone or online is an estimate, built from your description. When the crew arrives, they see the actual items and give you a firm quote before anything is touched. That’s the number you pay. If it doesn’t work for you, you owe nothing and we leave.

Same-day or next-day service is typically available, and we never charge a rush fee.

Every job is backed by our Amazing Service Guarantee: we promise to be friendly, professional, and dependable, or it’s FREE!

Use our Instant Online Price Estimator: https://ohiojunkforce.com/junk-removal-pricing/ Or call or text us at (440) 577-6010 — a real person will answer.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I put an old mattress out with my regular trash in Cuyahoga County?

In most Cuyahoga County communities, yes, but almost every city has a rule about how. Cleveland, Westlake, Bay Village, and Cleveland Heights require mattresses to be wrapped in plastic. Parma, Lakewood, North Olmsted, North Royalton, and Berea want them wrapped and sealed. Euclid wants them double-wrapped and sealed with duct tape, and Solon wants them sealed with packing tape. Rocky River requires a mattress bag. Cleveland only takes bulk items during the first full week of the month, up to three per home. Strongsville lets you set a mattress out with your regular trash. The Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District says there are no local recycling options for mattresses, but a clean, undamaged one may be accepted for donation. Rules change, so check your city’s page before you drag it to the curb.

How do I get rid of leftover latex paint in Cuyahoga County?

Latex paint isn’t hazardous waste, and city hazardous waste collections in Cuyahoga County won’t take it. The Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District says to dry it out and throw it in the trash. Take the lid off and let it evaporate, mix in an equal amount of cat litter or sawdust, or pour thin layers into a plastic-lined box. Once it’s completely dry, put it out with your regular trash. Never put liquid paint in the trash, and never pour it on the ground or down a storm drain. Some cities add their own rules. Lakewood asks you to leave the lids off so the collector can see the paint is hardened, Euclid wants it mixed to an oatmeal consistency, and Solon says to put the lid back on and bag the can.

What do I do with old stain, varnish, or oil-based paint in Cuyahoga County?

Stain, varnish, paint thinner, and oil-based paint are household hazardous waste. You’ll mostly find them in older garages and basements, and the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District says they belong at your city’s hazardous waste collection, not in the trash or the recycling bin. Each city runs its own. Lakewood and Solon take it year-round, Cleveland takes it the first Friday of every month, Cleveland Heights picks it up at the curb if you call to schedule, and most other cities hold collection events a few times a year. Most cities only accept it from their own residents, so bring ID. North Royalton limits oil-based paint to six gallons per resident.

Can I drop off hazardous waste at the county’s facility?

No. The Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District runs a Special Waste Convenience Center, but it isn’t open to the public. Household hazardous waste in Cuyahoga County goes through your city. Your city’s service department collects it from residents, whether at a drop-off site, a collection event, or the curb, and then delivers it to the county’s facility. The program is free to Cuyahoga County households, but most cities only accept waste from their own residents. That’s why the rules, dates, and locations are different in every community. Find your city in the guide above, or call your city’s service department.

How do I get rid of an old refrigerator or window air conditioner in Cuyahoga County?

Refrigerators, freezers, window air conditioners, and dehumidifiers contain refrigerant, and it has to be removed properly before the appliance is scrapped. Cities handle this differently. Strongsville requires the Freon to be removed by a certified professional and the appliance tagged, or Republic won’t pick it up, though Republic will remove the Freon if you bring the appliance to the Strongsville transfer station. North Royalton and Westlake ask you to call Rumpke ahead to schedule a pickup, and Bay Village requires the doors and Freon removed. Cleveland Heights collects Freon appliances at the curb if you call. Cleveland takes appliances drained of coolants and fluids. Many cities also want refrigerator and freezer doors removed before pickup. Ohio Junk Force also takes refrigerators and window air conditioners to metal recyclers, who remove the refrigerant.

Why won’t my Cuyahoga County city pick up the debris from my remodeling project?

Most Cuyahoga County cities treat construction and remodeling debris differently from household trash. Cleveland won’t collect waste from construction, renovation, or demolition, including concrete, wood, brick, drywall, shingles, siding, toilets, and sinks. North Royalton says waste from a contractor working at your home has to be removed by the contractor. Rocky River won’t collect construction contractor waste from the tree lawn, and Strongsville’s transfer station doesn’t accept construction or remodeling waste. Some cities allow smaller amounts if they’re cut down and bundled, like North Olmsted’s rule that wood be four feet or less, bundled, tied, and under 35 pounds. Check your city’s rules before you tear anything out.

How many bulk items will Cuyahoga County cities pick up at once?

It depends on where you live. Cleveland picks up to three bulk items per home, only during the first full week of each month. Cleveland Heights takes up to four items per pickup at no charge, on a rotating route week. Shaker Heights offers a free scheduled pickup of up to three items. North Olmsted allows up to six items per household each week, counting plastic bags, and Bay Village allows eight. Parma, Lakewood, Euclid, Strongsville, Westlake, North Royalton, Solon, Rocky River, and Berea pick up bulk items on your regular day and don’t list a weekly item count. Some cities have size and weight limits too, like North Royalton’s 50-pound limit on bundles and bags. Check your city’s current rules before you set things out.

Can I put paint cans in my curbside recycling bin in Cuyahoga County?

No. The Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District says not to put paint cans in curbside recycling. What you do instead depends on what’s in the can. Dried-out paint cans and empty containers can go in your regular trash. Latex paint can go in the trash once it’s completely dried out. Lakewood, Strongsville, and Berea want the lids off, while Solon says to put the lid back on and bag the can. Oil-based paint is household hazardous waste and belongs at your city’s hazardous waste collection. Liquid paint of any kind should never go in the trash, the recycling bin, a storm drain, or on the ground.

What should I do with an old TV in Cuyahoga County?

Don’t put a TV in your curbside recycling. The Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District says TVs can go out through your city’s bulky waste pickup or be taken to a transfer station, so check your city’s bulk rules first. The district also holds TV collection events, typically in spring and fall, and registration is required. Some retailers take TVs too. Best Buy accepts certain sizes for a fee, with a limit per household per day.

When does it make sense to hire a junk removal company instead of waiting for bulk pickup?

Honestly, if your city will take it and you can wait, use your city. It often costs you nothing extra. Hiring someone makes sense when you have more than your city allows, when the items are still in a basement, attic, or upstairs bedroom, when you can’t wait for bulk week, or when it’s remodeling debris your city won’t collect. Some cities won’t take whole cleanouts at all: Cleveland Heights doesn’t accept bulk from large move-outs or clean-outs. With Ohio Junk Force, the number you get on the phone or online is an estimate, built from your description. When the crew arrives, they see the actual items and give you a firm quote before anything is touched. That’s the number you pay. If it doesn’t work for you, you owe nothing and we leave.

Still Not Sure What Your City Will Take?

Call your city’s service department first. If it’s more than bulk day can handle, we’re here.

Use our Instant Online Price Estimator: https://ohiojunkforce.com/junk-removal-pricing/ Or call or text us at (440) 577-6010 — a real person will answer.

— Chris & Shawna, Ohio Junk Force