Cardboard Recycling in Cleveland, OH

Cleveland residents who opt in get a blue recycling cart for cardboard at no additional cost. Residents without curbside service can use the City's recycling drop-offs at 5600 Carnegie Ave. and 3727 Ridge Road.

See all 4 options

Illustrative item photographKadarius Seegars / Unsplash

Checked October 26, 2026 · Call before you go · How we check

4 ways to get rid of a cardboard in Cleveland

Tap an option to see the address, hours, cost and rules.

All 4 Free 1 Drop-off 2 Services & pickup 2

CurbCycle PickupPickup from your home · ClevelandNo haulingWe recycle it for youFrom $80.00
How it works
Book online, set out your cardboard and we’ll pick it up and recycle it for you. You see your price before you book and pay only after pickup.
Book a pickup →
Ridge Road Transfer StationDrop-off · 3727 Ridge Rd., ClevelandCleveland residentsCost not listed
Where
3727 Ridge Rd.
Cleveland, OH 44144
Hours
Recycling Monday-Saturday 9:00 am-3:00 pm; regular waste disposal Saturday 9:00 am-3:00 pm; household hazardous waste first Friday of the month only.
Cost & rules
Cardboard
AcceptedCost unknown
Fees aren’t recorded. Don’t assume drop-off is free.
Full details & sources Official site (opens in new tab)
Carr Center drop-offDrop-off · 5600 Carnegie Ave., ClevelandCleveland residentsCost not listed
Where
5600 Carnegie Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44103
Hours
Monday-Friday 9:00 am-3:00 pm for recycling, document shredding and computer disposal; household hazardous waste first Friday of the month only.
Cost & rules
Cardboard
AcceptedCost unknown
Fees aren’t recorded. Don’t assume drop-off is free.
Full details & sources Official site (opens in new tab)
City of Cleveland opt-in curbside recyclingCity service · ClevelandCleveland residentsFree
How it works
Opt-in curbside recycling for single-family and up to four-unit homes served by the Division of Waste: one 64-gallon blue cart per enrolled household. Accepts paper, cardboard, glass, metal cans and plastic bottles, loose and unbagged. Enroll through 311 or CLErecycles.com.
Cost & rules
- You must opt in to get a recycling cart.
- Before you go: Empty, loose and unbagged.
Official page (opens in new tab)

Before you go

Check whether you have corrugated boxes, coated packaging or mixed materials.
Remove foam, plastic and other packing inserts.
Flatten boxes and check quantity limits for your program.

More about cardboard

Ohio rules

ORC 3734.65: mercury-containing thermostats may not be sold or installed in Ohio, except in a visually impaired person's home or for manufacturing process control. Source: Ohio Revised Code 3734.65: Sale or installation of mercury-containing thermostat (opens in new tab)
Ohio EPA: household lamps are not regulated as hazardous waste, but homeowners are encouraged to recycle them; Home Depot and Lowe's take compact fluorescent bulbs free at all stores. Source: Ohio EPA: Dispose of Hazardous Waste (opens in new tab)

More Ohio rules (7)

Ohio EPA: household hazardous waste disposal is usually controlled by the local or county solid waste management district; contact your district for facilities that accept it. Source: Ohio EPA: Dispose of Hazardous Waste (opens in new tab)
Ohio EPA oversees 52 solid waste management districts responsible for making sure Ohioans can reduce, reuse and recycle. Source: Ohio EPA DMWM: Solid Waste Management Planning (opens in new tab)
Every Ohio county must belong to a solid waste management district, alone or jointly with other counties. Source: Ohio EPA DMWM: FAQs (opens in new tab)
Ohio EPA: your local solid waste management district is your first source of disposal and recycling information. Source: Ohio EPA DMWM: FAQs (opens in new tab)
Ohio's 88 counties are organized into 52 solid waste management districts and authorities. Source: Ohio EPA DMWM Guidance/Fact Sheet 1005: Solid Waste Management Districts (PDF, June 2017) (opens in new tab)
Ohio EPA: district collection events (HHW, electronics, tires, appliances) are usually for district residents only, may charge fees or require appointments, and are for household materials only. Source: Ohio EPA: Special Collection Events by Solid Waste Management District (PDF, updated December 2021) (opens in new tab)
Ohio's state disposal and environmental protection fee is $4.75 per ton of solid waste. Source: Ohio EPA DMWM: FAQs (opens in new tab)

Where this information comes from (16)

Where this information comes from

Checked October 26, 2026

Recycling Program (opens in new tab) · City of Cleveland, Division of Waste Collection & Disposal
- Cleveland residents in single-family homes and buildings up to four units served by the Division of Waste are eligible for curbside recycling and must opt in. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Accepted curbside recycling: paper, cardboard, glass, metal cans and plastic bottles, emptied and rinsed, loose and unbagged. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Place all items loose and unbagged in the cart. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Residents without curbside service can use two residential recycling drop-offs: 5600 Carnegie Avenue (Mon-Fri 9-3) and 3727 Ridge Road (Mon-Sat 9-3). Checked October 26, 2026.
Waste and Recycling Guide (2026) (opens in new tab) · City of Cleveland, Division of Waste Collection & Disposal
- There is no additional cost to enroll in curbside recycling; contact 311 to start. Checked October 26, 2026.
Waste Collection (opens in new tab) · City of Cleveland, Division of Waste Collection & Disposal
- Residents may drop off bulky waste free of charge four times per year at the Ridge Road Transfer Station, up to four cubic yards per visit. Checked October 26, 2026.
- City of Cleveland residents can drop off certain bulky waste four times a year at the residential drop-off locations. Checked October 26, 2026.
Ohio Revised Code 3734.65: Sale or installation of mercury-containing thermostat (opens in new tab) · Ohio Legislative Service Commission (Ohio Laws)
- ORC 3734.65: mercury-containing thermostats may not be sold or installed in Ohio, except in a visually impaired person's home or for manufacturing process control. Checked October 26, 2026.
Ohio EPA: Dispose of Hazardous Waste (opens in new tab) · Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
- Ohio EPA: household lamps are not regulated as hazardous waste, but homeowners are encouraged to recycle them; Home Depot and Lowe's take compact fluorescent bulbs free at all stores. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Ohio EPA: household hazardous waste disposal is usually controlled by the local or county solid waste management district; contact your district for facilities that accept it. Checked October 26, 2026.
Ohio EPA DMWM: Solid Waste Management Planning (opens in new tab) · Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
- Ohio EPA oversees 52 solid waste management districts responsible for making sure Ohioans can reduce, reuse and recycle. Checked October 26, 2026.
Ohio EPA DMWM: FAQs (opens in new tab) · Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
- Every Ohio county must belong to a solid waste management district, alone or jointly with other counties. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Ohio EPA: your local solid waste management district is your first source of disposal and recycling information. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Ohio's state disposal and environmental protection fee is $4.75 per ton of solid waste. Checked October 26, 2026.
Ohio EPA DMWM Guidance/Fact Sheet 1005: Solid Waste Management Districts (PDF, June 2017) (opens in new tab) · Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
- Ohio's 88 counties are organized into 52 solid waste management districts and authorities. Checked October 26, 2026.
Ohio EPA: Special Collection Events by Solid Waste Management District (PDF, updated December 2021) (opens in new tab) · Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
- Ohio EPA: district collection events (HHW, electronics, tires, appliances) are usually for district residents only, may charge fees or require appointments, and are for household materials only. Checked October 26, 2026.

“Checked” means we read the official page on that date. Things can change, so call before you go.

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