GARFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio — Recycling centers across Northeast Ohio are operating on all cylinders as the holiday season continues.
"The last two weeks of December and into the early part of January any material recovery facility that is their peak season," said Beth Biggins-Ramer, executive director of the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District.
The Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District says recycling centers see a 25% increase in the volume of materials from Thanksgiving through the New Year.
"The volume will be super significant," said Biggins-Ramer.
In 2022, Cuyahoga County recycled nearly 73,000 tons of cardboard.
This holiday season, many families across Northeast Ohio received packages inside a cardboard box.
Biggins-Ramer told 3News that new cardboard boxes can be recycled and turned into another box seven to eight times.
"Your special delivery box could end up back on your porch in about a month's time," said Biggins-Ramer.
The quick turnaround in repurposing the materials is due in part to the facilities being located in Northeast Ohio.
"We have four material recovery facilities in Northeast Ohio that all of this material goes to and all of that material has a value and is getting to market to be created into a new product," said Biggins-Ramer.
Drop-off bins to recycle paper or cardboard can be found at service departments, places of worship and at local schools.
The Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District has a dropdown menu called "What do I do with?" to search how to recycle items if you're unsure.