How to Dispose of Different Materials

Household Waste

Download a guide for hard to recycle items

Recyclable items (blue bin)	Not recyclable (gray bin)
Newspapers, magazine, mail Aluminum and steel containers Foil and metal trays Plastic beverage containers, bottles, jugs, and tubes Glass bottles and jugs Milk, juice, and soup cartons	Plastic film, plastic bags Garbage, trash, or other food waste Grass and yard waste Wood debris, bulky items, shingles, concrete, bicycles...etc. Packaging materials Clothing and linens

Automotive Waste

Automotive Batteries

Recycle at battery stores, automotive repair centers, and retail stores that sell batteries.

Gasoline

Use it or give it away.

Motor Oil

Recycle at any quick-change oil location.

Tires

Tires can be dropped off during a refuse and recycling event. A small fee will be charged for recycling. Businesses that sell tires may also take them for a fee.

Construction Waste

Boards with Nails

Bend nails over and bundle if more than 5 pieces. Bundles should not weigh more than 40 pounds or be longer than 6 feet. Put small pieces in trash with note marked "nails."

Paint

Latex paint can be dropped off during a refuse and recycling event.

Roof or Driveway Coatings

Let the can dry before disposing.

Sawdust

Please bag. Do not put loose in garbage can.

Solvents

Call Lucas County Solid Waste Management District at 419-213-2230 for more information.

Window Glass

Double bag before placing in trash. If broken windows do not fit in your automated collection bin, please call for overflow/bulk pick up 48 hours prior to your regular collection day. Mark the overflow waste can "broken glass."

Food Waste

Residential Food Waste (Drop-off)

New! The food waste drop-off program will allow City of Toledo residents to compost their food waste for free. Green GoZERO totes are available at Glass City Metropark, Toledo Botanical Garden, and Swan Creek Metropark during park hours (7 a.m. to dark).

Residential and Commercial Food Waste (Pick- up)

Bad Apple Compost offers a range of residential, commercial, and zero waste event collection services to make the process of composting food scraps more accessible in Toledo and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Medical Waste

Hypodermic Needles

Place inside of coffee can or detergent bottle with lid.

Residential Medical Waste

Check with your home care provider to see if they offer disposal. If not, double bag dry medical waste before placing in trash.

Unused or Expired Medication

Contact the Toledo Lucas County Health Department at 419-213-4100 for more information.

Yard Waste

Ashes

Please bag. Do not put loose in garbage can.

Insecticides

Contact Environmental Services at 419-936-3015.

Leaves

Leaves not collected by the leaf pickup program can be dropped off to one of our collections sites, composted, or bagged and placed in your gray refuse bin.

Pool Water or Chemicals

Read our guide on how to properly drain your pool, or contact Environmental Services.

Rosebushes

Wrap in a paper grocery bag before placing in the trash, or compost.

Miscellaneous Hazardous Waste

Ammunition and Firearms

Contact the Toledo Police Department for pick-up.

Aerosol Cans

Hold can upside down and press button to release vapor, then put in your garbage can.

Deceased Animals

Contact Engage Toledo for pick-up.