Fear not that person poking around in your recycling can. They’re only a city employee.
Akron Keep Akron Beautiful’s annual campaign to ensure its recycling program continues generating revenue is already underway. A cadre of specially trained personnel will sweep the city until July 31, checking recycling carts for non-recyclable waste. In 2024, the city said clean recycling generated slightly over $21,000 in revenue. Approximately $13,000 was returned to the recycling program.
Carts containing contaminants (non-recyclables) will be left full and marked with informational “Oops” tags with guidance on what can and can’t be recycled in Akron. Residents will have the opportunity to correct the mistake and return the cart to the curb the next week.
Before the city launched the Recycle Right campaign in 2019 in conjunction with Keep Akron Beautiful, 40% of what residents put in their recycling carts wasn’t recyclable in Akron.
“This rate cost the city over $200,000 in contamination costs and put Akron’s entire recycling program in jeopardy,” the city said in a news release on June 18.
Now, the city said, the contamination rate has fallen to approximately 12%.
In 2023, Akron implemented a glass drop off program allowing glass recycling in a way that doesn’t contaminate the curbside recycling stream. In the first year of that program, at least 80 tons of glass were collected.
“The success of Recycle Right demonstrates that education, partnership, and community engagement can deliver real results,” said Akron Mayor Shammas Malik in a prepared statement. “We’ve reduced contamination, protected a vital city service, and created a program that is now generating revenue instead of costing taxpayers money. That’s a win for our environment, our finances, and our city.”
What can I recycle? What can’t I recycle?
Akron accepts metal food and beverage cans, paper, cardboard, plastic bottles and jugs, and plastic tubs.
Glass can’t be recycled in curbside cart. It must be dropped off to one of the glass recycling bins at the following locations:
Plastic bags, plastic wrap, foam cups or containers, clothing, food waste, yard waste, construction materials, or other trash can’t be recycled.
“When residents understand what belongs in their recycling carts and what doesn’t, the entire system works better,” said Keep Akron Beautiful CEO Jacqui Ricchiuti. “Over the past several years, Akron residents have helped dramatically reduce contamination, protect the city’s recycling program, and create a cleaner, more sustainable community. We’re proud to continue partnering with the city of Akron to provide the tools and information residents need to recycle with confidence.”
Contact reporter Derek Kreider at DKreider@Gannett.com or 330-541-9413.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron recycling inspections return for 2026
Reporting by Derek Kreider, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Derek Kreider, Akron Beacon Journal | USA TODAY Network
