City of Akron Announces New Recycling App
City of Akron Press Release
From the desk of Ellen Lander Nischt
Published: 10-29-2019
Akron, Ohio, October 29, 2019 – The City of Akron, with support from Keep Akron Beautiful and The Recycling Partnership, has just launched a new app and online search tool for residents to learn about recycling correctly with their curbside carts. “Akron Recycles,” powered by ReCollect, can be downloaded on Android and Apple devices from the app store and used to look up residential trash and recycling collection schedules, as well as search for recyclable items with the Waste Wizard tool.
“Akron Recycles” can help answer questions about materials quickly in the Waste Wizard tool with a simple search that yields an image of the item and the proper way to dispose of or recycle it. Look up “garden hoses,” for example, and you’ll see a simple response that these items should go in your trash cart. Searching “egg carton” reveals several responses, depending on whether the item is made of paper, styrofoam, or plastic. Typing in “yard trimmings,” will show that these biodegradable materials should be placed in lawn and leaf bags, and the app reminds users to schedule bulk waste collection through 3-1-1.
Over the summer, the City of Akron took part in the Recycle Right campaign which was designed to reduce contamination in our recycling stream. This educational initiative involved a “feet on the street” effort to tag carts as a way to provide direct feedback to residents who were recycling incorrectly and help them get it right the next time. “This campaign taught us that most residents want to recycle correctly and support a sustainable program in Akron, but they don’t always know what should and should not be placed in recycling carts. Through the free Akron Recycles app, we can offer residents continuing education in a convenient, easy-to-use format that is available at your fingertips," said Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan.
The “Akron Recycles” app is funded through a grant from The Recycling Partnership. “We’re excited to help Akron deploy this user-friendly tool for their residents to better understand how to recycle correctly at the curb. With easy and convenient access to information from a handy app, residents all across the city can feel empowered to help improve the recycling stream by learning exactly what to- and what not to- include in their curbside carts,” says Rachel Kipar, Community Program Coordinator with The Recycling Partnership.
The need to improve the quality of recyclables is a high priority for communities across the nation, including Akron, considering today’s national recycling market conditions and the desire to continue a sustainable recycling program. For more information about Akron’s recycling program, please visit www.akronohio.gov/recycling.
For further information, contact:
Ellen Lander Nischt
Press Secretary
Phone: 330-375-2325
E-mail: [email protected]
