Recycling Centers in Athens, OH
Find drop-off recycling locations in Athens, Ohio. View hours, addresses, and phone numbers for each facility.
Athens has 2 recycling centers listed in this directory. Each listing includes the address, phone number, and opening hours where available. Call ahead to confirm accepted materials before making the trip.
Recycling in Athens: A Local Guide
Athens, Ohio — the seat of Athens County in the Appalachian foothills of southeastern Ohio — is served by two recycling operations that together cover most household material streams. Residents can access curbside collection and county-wide drop-off bins through the Athens-Hocking Solid Waste District, and can also bring recyclables directly to Ohio University's campus recycling facility.
Athens-Hocking Recycling Centers (now operating as the Southeast Ohio Recycling Terminal, SORT) is a nonprofit Materials Recovery Facility at 5991 Industrial Drive. The facility is not a public walk-in drop-off — its website explicitly states that — but it coordinates curbside recycling and refuse pickup for residential and commercial customers throughout Athens and Hocking Counties, runs a compost collection program, and hosts seasonal Special Materials Recycling Drives each spring and fall for appliances, tires, fluorescent bulbs, and household batteries. For public drop-off, residents use any of the 22 AHSWD bin sites scattered across the two-county area, or sign up for curbside service starting at $13.80/month.
Campus Recycling at Ohio University, located in Ridges Building 34 at 154 South Ridge Drive, is the first university recycling department established in Ohio and accepts free mixed-stream drop-offs Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Clean paper, cardboard, glass bottles, metal cans, aluminum foil, and rigid plastics #1–#7 all go together in one bin — no sorting required. Small electronics, batteries, light bulbs, and toner cartridges are accepted via green e-waste cabinets on campus. A 2021 OU news article confirmed that off-campus and community residents — including those whose landlords do not provide recycling — are welcome to use the Building 34 drop-off; calling or emailing ahead is recommended since the building has restricted access.
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Frequently Asked Questions — Recycling in Athens
Can Athens residents who aren't OU students use Campus Recycling?
Yes. Ohio University explicitly allows off-campus community members, particularly those whose landlords do not provide recycling service, to use the free mixed-stream drop-off at Ridges Building 34. Hours are Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:00 PM. Call (740) 593-0231 or email recycle@ohio.edu before visiting, as the building has restricted access.
Where can I drop off electronics in Athens, OH?
Two options: Campus Recycling (Ridges Building 34, Mon–Fri 8am–4pm) accepts small electronics, cell phones, tablets, batteries, light bulbs, and toner cartridges via on-campus green e-waste cabinets — free and open to the community. Athens-Hocking Recycling Centers (SORT) at 5991 Industrial Dr also accepts electronics year-round. Seasonal Special Materials Drives at AHRC/SORT handle larger items like TVs.
Is there a free curbside recycling program in Athens County?
Curbside service through Athens-Hocking Recycling Centers (SORT) is subscription-based, not free — rates start at $13.80/month for weekly collection. However, the Athens-Hocking Solid Waste District operates 22 free drop-off bin sites across Athens and Hocking Counties where residents can bring standard recyclables at no charge.
Does Campus Recycling accept plastic bags or Styrofoam?
No. Film plastics (grocery bags, sandwich bags, bubble wrap, shrink wrap) are no longer accepted and must go in the trash. Styrofoam is also not accepted in the mixed-stream bin. For plastic bag take-back, check local retailers.