Recycling and Trash Service Guidelines

North Royalton contracts with RUMPKE Waste and Recycling to provide trash, recycling, yard waste, and bulk item collection services for our residents. If you have any questions or concerns regarding trash or recycling, please contact the North Royalton Service Department at (440) 582-3002.

The City does not provide any trash, recycling, yard waste, and bulk item pick-up services to apartments or businesses, even if the business is operated out of a private residence.

Click here to view 2024 North Royalton Recycling and Trash Service Guidelines.

Curbside Trash
All materials must be out for collection by 7:00 a.m. on your designated service day, but not before sunset the day prior. Rumpke will not return for late put-outs. Place items near the street line for convenient pick-up extending not more than five feet from the street line. All emptied containers must be removed from the street line and returned to their place of storage on the same day as your designated service day.  (City Code 1060.01)

Residents must supply their own trash cans or bags. Trash cans must have lifting handles and not exceed 36-gallon capacity or 50 pounds in weight when filled. Trash should be contained in bags prior to being deposited in trash cans. Plastic trash bags may be placed outside of trash cans, but cannot exceed 50 pounds in weight when filled and closed. All containers for trash must be able to withstand inclement weather. Therefore, cardboard boxes, cardboard drums or other cardboard items are not to be used as containers for trash. Residents have the option of renting a trash cart from Rumpke by contacting them directly at (800) 828-8171.

Bulky Items
RUMPKE collects acceptable bulky household items weekly on your designated service day. As a courtesy, residents should notify the day prior of their service day by contacting the North Royalton Service Department at 440-582-3002 by 4:30 p.m.

Bulk items include: furniture, basketball hoops (dismantled), refrigerators and freezers (remove doors), appliances, TVs, large toys, and extra bags. Carpet, padding, and large rugs cut to 4-foot lengths, roll, and tape or tie. Mattresses, box springs, upholstered couches, chairs, and recliners MUST be completely wrapped and sealed in plastic. Wood furniture or other large items such as large boxes, exercise equipment, pianos, hot tubs, bathtubs, and countertops longer than 4-foot and/or weigh over 50 pounds must be broken down. Loose wood must be cut to 4-foot lengths, bundled, nails or screws hammered over for safety, and stacked neatly. Contain all loose debris in plastic bags. Bundles and bags cannot exceed 50 pounds in weight. Cardboard boxes should not be used for disposal of bulk items. All waste generated by a contractor shall be removed by the contractor.

If you have large amounts of trash, you must take it to a local waste facility. Hours, prices, and specifications are determined by the facility.

Consider donating useable household goods through a local charity or thrift store. Additionally, the Solid Waste District produces a Pass It On Book to help residents of Cuyahoga County donate their goods for reuse.

Christmas Trees
Christmas trees are collected the first two weeks in January. All Christmas trees must be cut into 4-foot lengths. Please, no decorations, ornaments, tinsel, lights or bags. For those interested in recycling their trees, some local farms will accept Christmas trees as animal feed. Click here for information on recycling your Christmas tree.

Artificial trees cannot be recycled. If they are no longer usable, they should be placed in the regular trash for disposal. If they are pre-lit, the light strings can be removed from the tree and recycled through a holiday lights recycling program.

Curbside Recycling
Recycling is picked up on your regular trash collection day. Rumpke provides each residence with a 65-gallon recycling cart. The recycle cart shall remain at the residence, as it is the property of Rumpke, and the serial number on the container coordinates with the residence address. Recycling carts containing trash or contaminates will be tagged as unacceptable and not emptied.

Recycle right in your home by placing only these items listed below in your recycling. Items should be loose – unbagged – in your recycling cart.

Aluminum Cups: Empty and rinse. No straws.
Cans: Empty and rinse.
Cardboard: Empty and flatten.
Cartons: Empty and rinse. Discard cap in the trash and flatten.
Cups (Paper and Plastic): Empty and rinse. No straws. Discard lids. No plastic party cups.
Glass Bottles and Jars: Empty and rinse.
Paper and Boxes: Empty and flatten boxes.
Plastic Bottles and Jugs: Empty and rinse. Replace the cap. 
Plastic Tubs: Empty and rinse. Attach lid.

Other Recycling
Many items can be recycled, reused, or donated elsewhere. Here are some examples.

Construction Debris: These items must be disposed of by the resident. Consider donating materials or deconstruct materials to resell, reuse or repurpose. Otherwise, make arrangements with your contractor or take materials to a private facility for a fee.

Plastic Bags: Plastic bags and plastic film DO NOT belong in your curbside recycling. Instead, these items can be recycled at some retail locations. Check with your local store to confirm, as the list may vary.

Propane Tanks: Recycle unwanted 20lb grill tanks by writing “RECYCLE” on the tank and taking it to any Blue Rhino or Tank Traders location. Any standard 20lb grill tank is accepted.

Refrigerant gas, welding tanks, and medical cylinders should be disposed of or recycled through the company it was purchased or received from. Learn more about helium and oxygen tanks.

Shredded Paper: Shredded paper should not be placed in your curbside recycling, as it’s too small to make it through the recycling process. Instead, place in a paper bag and drop off at Paper Retriever or River Valley Paper Company recycling bins typically located in the parking lots of schools, places of worship and community centers.

Tires: When buying new tires, recycle your old tires through your tire retailer at the time of purchase. If you already have tires at home, contact a local tire store for disposal options. There are no free disposal options for tires.

Proper Disposal
Some items require special handling for proper disposal.

Batteries: Primary/single-use alkaline batteries are not hazardous and can be disposed of in the regular trash once they wear out. Rechargeable batteries can be recycled for free through local Call2Recycle drop boxes, found at many local retail electronic and hardware stores.

Flags: The U.S. flag, our national symbol, should not be placed in the regular rubbish. When a flag is tattered and worn, it should be destroyed in a dignified manner. Drop boxes can be found in the lobbies of North Royalton City Hall and North Royalton Police Department.

Fluorescent Bulbs: Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and high-intensity discharge (HID) can be recycled for free at most Home Depot and Lowe’s locations. Fluorescent tubes and ballasts can be recycled at some BatteriesPlus locations for a small disposal fee. Residents can also contact the Solid Waste District for alternate disposal options.

Latex Paint: Latex paint is non-hazardous. Find a reuse or dry it out (add cat litter, sawdust, etc.), remove the lid, and place with your regular trash for disposal.

Medications: The North Royalton Police Department offers 24/7 drop-off for prescription pills, tablets and capsules in the Police Station Lobby. No liquids, needles, or syringes.

Needles: Check with your healthcare provider or facility for a take-back program. If not, place needles in a rigid plastic container (detergent, milk jug, etc.), tape lid shut, write “SHARPS” on container, and place with regular trash.

Looking to recycle, donate, or dispose of other items? Visit the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District's website to discover an expanded list of materials that can be searched for under the “What Do I Do With” function. Additionally, you can find details on how to recycle properly, Recycling FAQs for Cuyahoga County, and special recycling collections held at the Solid Waste District.