New Geauga Collection Facility recycles hazardous materials, electronics and appliances
Jun. 13—Representatives from the Geauga-Trumbull Solid Waste Management District and Geauga County officials cut the ribbon to the new Geauga Collection Facility earlier this month, providing an in-county location for local residents to recycle household hazardous waste, electronics and appliances.
The June 10 ceremony included Geauga-Trumbull Solid Waste Management District Director Jennifer Jones and Geauga County Commissioners Jim Dvorak and Timothy Lennon.
The commissioners noted that the facility took a little over six years to complete and cost just under $1.4 million. Jones added that the facility was entirely funded through savings, and no new taxes were levied.
Cavanaugh Building Corporation of Akron built the facility, and Axiom Architects of Youngstown also contributed.
The district noted in a news release that certain items should not go into landfills because they contain hazardous chemicals or regulated substances like Freon.
Jones said that these items include electronics such as televisions, computers, monitors, VCRs, batteries and cellphones; appliances such as refrigerators and microwaves; and household hazardous waste and chemicals such as oils, gasoline, pesticides, fertilizers, oil-based paints, pool chemicals and turpentine.
When it comes to recycling, "it has to be convenient or it doesn't happen," Jones explained.
She added, "I've noticed that the residents of Geauga County really, they're very environmentally or recycling minded, so I think a lot of them, if given the opportunity, will take advantage of this building."
The new facility, located at 12685 Merritt Road in Claridon Township, is centrally located in Geauga County. Previously, residents in the two counties had to go to a facility in Warren to recycle these materials, which Jones noted was a far drive for the district's western residents.
It will be open on Thursdays and Fridays, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Jones said that the facility will accept electronics and appliances on both days and household hazardous waste on Fridays.
Additionally, there will be a Special Waste Saturday on June 25, where the facility will take all of those items from 9 a.m. until noon.
The facility will not accept non-hazardous bulk items like couches and mattresses or water-based latex paints, which can be thrown away once they have been completely dried out.
Jones said that the facility will only accept items from residents of Geauga and Trumbull counties and will not take items from businesses.
A list of items that the facility accepts can be found at startrecycling.com/hhw-facilty/what-waste-is-acceptable. Residents who are unsure about an item that is not listed are encouraged to call the district at 800-707-2673.
For the month of June, residents are required to reserve a time slot at tinyurl.com/Geauga-Facility. Once there, residents will drive through the facility's rear entrance and stay in their vehicles while the facility's staff unload the items to be recycled.
Both commissioners expressed their appreciation for the new facility.
"It's a long time coming and I was happy to work with Trumbull County commissioners and [Geauga County commissioners] Tim and Ralph," Dvorak said.
"This is a huge asset for both counties and the district as a whole," Lennon said.
The facility is located in what Jones, Dvorak and Lennon all described as the county's "service corridor" or "service campus." Lennon said that a hospital and various county services are nearby, including the Sheriff's Office, Department on Aging and County Engineer.
Just across the street from the collection facility is the new county office building, which will host its own ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 24.
