Geauga-Trumbull Swmd - Geauga Facility

Recycling Center in Chardon, Ohio

📍 12685 Merritt Rd, Chardon, OH 44024
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📞 +1 330-675-2673 🌐 Visit Website 🗺 Get Directions

About This Location

The Geauga-Trumbull Solid Waste Management District's Geauga Collection Facility at 12685 Merritt Road in Chardon is a permanent, free drive-thru drop-off site serving residents of both Geauga and Trumbull Counties. Open every Friday year-round from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (excluding government holidays), this facility is the only one of the district's two locations that accepts full Household Hazardous Waste year-round — including chemicals, oil-based paints, automotive fluids, gasoline, and pesticides — in addition to electronics, appliances, and foam. Staff unload all items directly from your vehicle; residents must remain in their vehicles at all times. Once-a-month Saturday hours (9 a.m.–12 p.m.) are offered May through October. No fees are charged, no commercial waste is accepted, and trailer loads will be turned away.

What Geauga-Trumbull Swmd - Geauga Facility Accepts

✓ Electronics (e-waste) (Accepted year-round. Includes TVs (limit 3/day), desktop computers, laptops, monitors, keyboards, printers, modems, tablets, e-readers, satellite/cable equipment, networking gear, cables, cell phones, video game systems, DVD/VHS players, and more.)
✓ Large Appliances (Accepted year-round. Includes refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, washing machines, dryers, dishwashers (metal interior), hot water heaters, microwaves, ovens/stoves, and furnaces. Freon removed by staff at no charge.)
✓ Small Household Appliances (Accepted year-round. Includes toasters, coffee pots, and similar small plug-in items.)
✓ Foam / Styrofoam (EPS polystyrene) (Accepted year-round during operating hours. Must be clean and dry. Accepted types include meat trays, cups, take-out containers, egg cartons, and shipping/transport packaging. No foam peanuts.)
✓ Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) – full range (Accepted year-round at the Geauga facility (unlike the Trumbull facility which is seasonal May–Oct). Includes oil-based paints, used oil, gasoline/kerosene, automotive fluids, cleaning products, aerosols, drain cleaners, pesticides, herbicides, solvents, paint thinners, rust removers, fire extinguishers, and more.)
✓ Batteries (all sizes) (Accepted as part of electronics and HHW drop-off.)
✓ Fluorescent / CFL / LED light bulbs (Accepted as part of HHW drop-off.)
✓ Propane tanks (Accepted as part of HHW drop-off.)
✓ Mercury-containing items (Accepted as part of HHW drop-off.)
✓ Scrap metal / metal items (Car parts, metal cord and rope, wire hangers, and scrap pieces accepted at the collection facility.)

Related recycling guides: Electronics · Batteries · Appliances · Household Hazardous Waste

What they do not accept

✕ Latex / water-based paint
✕ Trash / general garbage
✕ Tires
✕ Explosives
✕ Construction / demolition debris
✕ Foam peanuts
✕ Acetylene tanks or unknown tanks
✕ Business / commercial waste
✕ Trailer loads of material
✕ Medical waste
✕ Joint compounds
✕ Smoke detectors
✕ Drums (large containers)

This is a residential-only facility. No commercial, business, or institutional waste accepted. See the district's unaccepted-waste page at startrecycling.com/unaccepted-waste/ for full details.

Fees

  • All accepted materials — FREE
  • Freon removal from appliances — FREE – staff handle Freon extraction at no charge
  • Paper shredding events (annual) — FREE – limit 4 boxes/bags per vehicle, each under 40 lbs

Access & restrictions

Public drop-off for residents of Geauga and Trumbull Counties only. Drive-thru facility — residents must remain in their vehicle at all times while staff unload items. · Walk-in (no appointment) · No appointment needed. Residents of Geauga and Trumbull Counties only; no commercial waste accepted. Pets are welcome but must remain restrained in the vehicle. The facility closes when wind chill is below 0°F and on government holidays.

Programs & events

  • Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection — Year-round HHW collection every Friday. Full range of chemicals, oil-based paints, automotive fluids, pesticides, and more accepted free of charge. This is the only district facility accepting full HHW year-round (Trumbull facility is seasonal May–October).
  • Electronics (E-Waste) Recycling — Year-round electronics drop-off including TVs (3/day limit), computers, phones, and more, accepted free of charge.
  • Appliance Recycling — Year-round appliance drop-off including Freon-bearing appliances. Staff remove Freon on-site at no charge.
  • Foam / Styrofoam (EPS) Recycling — Year-round EPS foam recycling. Clean food and shipping foam accepted free. No foam peanuts.
  • Annual Paper Shredding / Shred Day — Free annual document destruction event held at this facility, typically in late April or early May on a Saturday (2026 date: April 25). Open to Geauga and Trumbull County residents; limit 4 boxes/bags per vehicle under 40 lbs each. NAID-certified shredding vendor used.
  • Once-A-Month Saturday Collections (May–October) — 2026 Saturday dates: May 16, June 27, July 18, Aug 15, Sep 19, Oct 24. Hours: 9am–12pm. Full range of electronics, appliances, HHW, and foam accepted.
  • Scrap Tire Collection (community-funded events) — The District funds community scrap tire collection events hosted by local municipalities — tires are NOT accepted at this facility directly. Residents should contact their city/township for scheduled tire events.

Materials, fees and hours can change — call ahead to confirm before your visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a fee to drop off items at the Geauga Collection Facility?

No. All accepted materials — including electronics, appliances, Freon-bearing appliances, foam, and household hazardous waste — are accepted completely free of charge. Freon removal from refrigerators, air conditioners, and dehumidifiers is also performed by staff at no cost.

Do I have to be a Geauga County resident to use this facility?

Residents of both Geauga and Trumbull Counties are welcome to use the Geauga Collection Facility. However, commercial businesses and institutions are not permitted — only household/residential materials will be accepted.

Can I drop off latex paint or tires?

No. Latex (water-based) paint and tires are explicitly not accepted at this facility. The district website (startrecycling.com/unaccepted-waste/) provides guidance on alternative disposal options for both items. Oil-based paint IS accepted as household hazardous waste.

Is the facility open in winter, and does weather affect hours?

Yes — the Geauga Collection Facility is open year-round every Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., including winter months (this is unique compared to the Trumbull facility, which has limited winter service). However, the facility closes for the day when wind chill falls below 0°F and is also closed on government holidays.

Do I need to get out of my car to unload items?

No. This is a drive-thru facility. Residents are required to remain in their vehicle at all times while district staff unload all items directly from the vehicle. Pets are welcome but must stay restrained inside the vehicle.

Last verified: November 2026. Sources: source · source · source · source. Spotted something wrong? Suggest a correction.

Other Recycling Centers in Chardon

Recycling Centers Near Chardon

Contact & Location

📍
Address
12685 Merritt Rd, Chardon, OH 44024
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🌐
🏙
City / State
Chardon, Ohio

Opening Hours

Monday Closed
Tuesday Closed
Wednesday Closed
Thursday Closed
Friday 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Saturday 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (once-a-month May–Oct only; see website for dates)
Sunday Closed

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