Cleveland’s redesigned recycling program doubles participation

After overhauling its recycling program last year, the city of Cleveland reports the number of participants has more than doubled since last June as well as decreased contamination levels.

An investigation from Cleveland’s Fox 8 in June 2019 revealed nearly all recyclables collected in the city were sent to landfill, with then-Mayor Frank Jackson citing contaminated loads, and documents obtained by Fox 8 show the city reporting up to 95 percent of recycling was being sent to landfill.

Jackson intended to hire a consultant to help with a redesign of the program, but when the city’s contract with Dover, Ohio-based Kimble Cos. ended in May 2020 and officials failed to negotiate a new contract, curbside recycling in Cleveland was halted.

Officials also cited an unstable recycled commodity market and high costs as reasons for abandoning the program, though two drop-off sites were maintained—one each on the city’s west and east sides.

But in March 2022, the city approved a $1.5 million contract with Cincinnati-based Rumpke Waste & Recycling to haul recyclables from the city’s transfer station to its material recovery facilities, while the Cleveland Division of Waste handles curbside collection.

The program was redesigned as an opt-in program, and in the months since bringing curbside recycling back to the city, officials say the number of participating households has more than doubled from initial sign-ups and now totals 70,000.

Recycling Coordinator Ren Brumfield tells Fox 8 in a recent report that contamination also is down. The rate was above 60 percent when the program was halted but has now reached 15 percent.

“We’re so much better than we used to be,” Brumfield tells Fox 8.

According to Fox 8, this summer, the city plans to make a push to educate residents on what can and cannot be recycled and also will encourage those to haven’t signed up to join the program.