LEAVE THOSE LEAVES IN PLACE! Consider skipping the raking and bagging of your leaves this year

Every year nearly 8 million tons of leaves end up buried in landfills across the United States. Due to a lack of oxygen, those leaves are unable to decompose quickly and instead release methane gas. However, when fallen leaves are left in your yard they can decompose faster and leave behind organic matter that greatly enhances soil health. Leaves are full of nutrients that will make your lawn thrive, including potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen. While ditches, driveway culverts, and storm drains still need to be kept clear of leaves and other debris to prevent flooding, wildlife and lawn experts agree that when it comes to your lawn it is usually better to skip the raking and bagging and leave those leaves in place!

Chopping up blankets of leaves with a lawn mower may be necessary to thin out the material and break the leaves down quickly. This is important because thick layers of leaves left on your lawn blocks out the sunlight which is needed for photosynthesis. Excess leaves can be raked around trees and shrubs in 3 – 6 inch deep piles or into a landscape bed or garden and used for mulch. Combining fallen leaves with grass clippings and other organic green material can also produce nutrient-rich compost.

CLICK HERE to learn more about home composting, or CLICK HERE to learn more about other leaf and yard waste disposal options in Clermont County.

PUBLIC RECYCLING DROP-OFF SITE temporarily relocated from Miami Township (north) Fire Station 27 to Epiphany United Methodist Church

On Monday, November 13, 2023 the public recycling drop-off containers at Miami Township Fire Station 27 (6492 Branch Hill Guinea Pike) were temporarily relocated due to planned construction/renovation at the fire station property. The new temporary location of the containers is at the rear parking lot of Epiphany United Methodist Church, located at 6635 Loveland Miamiville Road. Residents can enter the rear parking lot via Paxton Road to access the temporary recycling drop-off location. The recycling containers are expected to be moved back to Miami Township Fire Station 27 sometime in mid-2024 after construction/renovations are completed.

Reminder: Only paper/cardboard, plastic bottles/cups, aluminum/steel cans, and glass bottles are accepted for recycling at any of the 28 public drop-off sites in Clermont County. All cardboard boxes need to be flattened and free of any packing material. Styrofoam, rigid plastics, clothing or trash are NOT permitted at any of the public recycling drop-off locations. Curbside recycling is also available in this area – contact your waste hauler for pricing and additional information. For a complete listing of accepted recyclable material CLICK HERE.

HOLIDAY LIGHT RECYCLING available at several Clermont County locations through February 1st

Don’t throw those strings of Christmas lights away – recycle them this holiday season!

While decorating for the holiday season, you may encounter the dreaded wad of lights that is impossible to untangle, or a few strings of lights that mysteriously decided to quit working. Don’t throw those strings of lights away – recycle them properly!

The Adams-Clermont Solid Waste District is once again providing convenient opportunities to recycle any unwanted or non-working decorative string lights. From now until to February 1st residents will be able to recycle their traditional or LED-style string lights by dropping them into a specially marked outdoor container at the following locations:

  • Shor Park: 4659 Tealtown Road Milford, OH 45150 (container is by public restrooms)
  • Sycamore Park: 4082 State Route 132, Batavia OH 45103 (container is by public restrooms)
  • Chilo Lock 34 Park: 521 County Park Rd, Chilo, OH 45112 (Museum and Visitors Center)
  • Clermont County Soil & Water Conservation District @ Clermont County Fairgrounds, 1000 Locust St. Owensville, OH 45160 (container is in front of agricultural service center, near gazebo)
  • Pierce Township Service Department: 950 Locust Corner Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45245 (next to public recycling dumpsters)
  • Clermont County Water Resources: 4400 Haskell Lane Batavia, OH 45103
  • Cincinnati Nature Center (CNC members only): 4949 Tealtown Road, Milford, OH 45150 (Rowe Woods Visitor Center)
  • Long Branch Farm & Trails (CNC members only): 6926 Gaynor Road, Goshen, OH 45122

It is important to remember that holiday lights cannot be placed in your curbside recycling bin or in the public recycling drop-off container you typically use because they will tangle around the machinery and automated equipment at the recycling processing center. Holiday lights require special handling and processing that the Adams-Clermont Solid Waste District is happy to provide! Please note this collection event is for traditional or LED string lights only – fluorescent bulbs, halogen bulbs, or any other holiday decorations cannot be accepted.

Businesses or organizations that have a large quantity of holiday lights to recycle can email DSNYDER@clermontcountyohio.gov or call 513-732-7744 for special accommodations.

Adams-Clermont Solid Waste District’s Educational Campaign Showcased by Ohio EPA

The Adams-Clermont Solid Waste District’s efforts to promote proper recycling at its 45 public drop-off sites has been catching residents attention for a while, and also recently caught the attention of the Ohio EPA (OEPA). The Solid Waste District’s successful ongoing campaign was featured in the OEPA’s “Scraps of Wisdom” winter newsletter, which shares program highlights, best practices, and case studies for solid waste management districts and local health departments.” To read the full version of the OEPA newsletter article  CLICK HERE

tips for PROPER BATTERY DISPOSAL

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You may have seen some messages from Rumpke recently about battery disposal. Read on to find out what you are supposed to do with your spent batteries in Clermont County or Adams County, regardless of what trash service you use.

Alkaline batteries are single use, non-rechargeable, and are typically AAA, AA, C, D, and 9V sizes. Alkaline batteries will say “alkaline” on the battery. Alkaline batteries are ok to throw away in the trash. Check the batteries to be sure they do not say “lithium” or “rechargeable” before throwing away. Tape the terminals of 9V batteries before throwing away. Throw the batteries out as you use them. No need to collect them for special disposal. If you have a large collection you need to throw away, throw them into your bags of household trash a handful at a time. Do not place alkaline batteries in your recycling.

NEVER place lithium or rechargeable batteries in the trash or recycling. Lithium or rechargeable batteries come in may forms, from many kinds of battery powered devices. Lithium and rechargeable batteries can be AAA, AA, C, D, and 9V sizes, looking the same as alkaline batteries if you don’t pay close attention. These batteries will be labeled as “lithium” or “rechargeable” if they are not alkaline. Other types of lithium and rechargeable batteries can be found in

  • Cell phones
  • Computers
  • Tablets
  • Children’s toys
  • Electric scooters
  • Vape pens and e-cigs
  • Cameras
  • Power tools
  • Lawn care equipment
  • Medical equipment
  • Hearing aid button batteries

Placing lithium or rechargeable batteries in your trash or recycling causes devastating fires inside collection trucks and at facilities. Instead, you must dispose of lithium or rechargeable batteries by taking them to Lowes, Best Buy, or for a fee, Batteries Plus Bulbs. Some stores which sell products with lithium or rechargeable batteries will have a special collection box for these batteries near their customer service desk. Call the store you plan to go to before heading over to confirm that they are running a lithium/rechargeable battery collection program.

If you have a business that regularly generates spent lithium or rechargeable batteries, you can look into purchasing your own battery disposal box from Call2Recycle. Once you fill the box, you can just ship it back to Call2Recycle.

Lead-acid car batteries never go in the trash or recycling. Ohio law requires anyone who sells car batteries to take old ones back. Contact your preferred auto service provider for car battery drop-off information.

Do you have other materials lying around your house that you need to dispose of, but don’t know how to do it properly? Check out this page for all things recycling and disposal in Adams and Clermont County  http://oeqrecycle.clermontcountyohio.gov/tree/

No Bags in Recycling Bins

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Plastic bags do not go in curbside or drop-off recycling bins! Trash bags and shopping bags cannot be recycled at the facilities we send our recyclables to. When bags go to our recycling facilities, they can tangle on the sorting equipment and cause it to break down. Remove your recyclables from bags when you put them in the bin.

Although plastic shopping bags cannot be recycled through our curbside or drop-off recycling programs, recycling your bags is still possible through special programs. Try bringing your shopping bags to a grocery or department store for recycling. Many stores have plastic bag recycling bins just inside their entryways. Make sure your bags are clean and dry before dropping them off at a store recycling program.

 

Example of an in-store plastic bag recycling program