Recycling program expands in Mahoning County


STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — Mahoning County’s residential recycling program is expanding effective today to accept a much wider variety of plastic and paper items at curbside, the county recycling division has announced.

Five new categories of plastics are being accepted at curbside. The numbers refer to the numbers inside the triangles on the container bottoms.

Newly accepted are:

UNo. 3: clear food packages.

UNo. 4: squeezable bottles, bread bags and plastic grocery bags.

UNo. 5: ketchup bottles, yogurt containers, margarine tubs and medicine bottles.

UNo. 6: CD cases, aspirin bottles, cups, plates and cutlery.

UNo. 7: shampoo bottles and similar containers.

For the past year, No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5 plastics have been accepted only at drop-off sites, and No. 6 and No. 7 plastics weren’t accepted at all.

Plastic foam materials, including packing peanuts or chunks, will not be accepted.

Previously, the only plastics accepted at curbside were No. 1 — clear soft drink and bottled water containers, and No. 2 — colored or translucent milk or juice containers.

Curbside paper collection has been expanded to include copier paper, colored paper, graph paper, business cards, carbonless blue prints, poster board, envelopes, file folders, shredded paper, catalogs, greeting cards, paperback books, mail inserts, paper trimmings and coated paper.

Those types of paper previously were only accepted at drop-off centers.

Previously, the only types of paper accepted at curbside were newspapers and magazines.

Because of space limitations in the bins, corrugated cardboard and paperboard (such as cereal and tissue boxes) are still only accepted at drop-off recycling centers and not at curbside.

No hardback books will be accepted.

Metal food and beverage cans and clear, green and brown glass bottles continue to be accepted at curbside and at drop-off centers.

The expansion in categories of items accepted by the program is because of the increased value of these items and to the commitment of Allied Waste Industries, which collects recyclables here, to the county’s recycling program, said Jim Petuch, recycling division director.

By using this site, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of use.

» Accept
» Learn More