Youngstown, OH Trash & Recycling: Recycling Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 979.15, Ord. 91-707 (1991)
- Separation required
- Yes, before weekly curbside pickup
- Covered materials
- Aluminum, glass, plastic bottles, paper, steel cans, newspapers
- Failure-to-separate fine
- $50 first offense, $100 repeat
- General § 979.15 fine
- Up to $250.00
- Curbside recyclables ownership
- Become City property once set out
Summary
Youngstown Codified Ordinances § 979.15 makes recycling separation mandatory: before setting out weekly trash, residents must pull aluminum cans, glass containers, plastic beverage bottles, paper and newspapers into a separate City-provided bin. The program launched under Ordinance 91-707, and skipping separation is a chargeable violation under the same section.
(a) Definition. ... "Recyclable material" or "recyclables" means materials having an economic value in the secondary materials market. The following materials have such an economic value: aluminum cans and articles, bi-metal cans, glass containers ... and newspapers. (b) Program Established. There is hereby established a recycling program which includes mandatory separating by City residents of recyclables from garbage and rubbish discarded for municipal pick-up and which also includes transport and subsequent placement of such recyclable materials into the secondary materials market. (c) Separation of Recyclables and Placement for Removal. Residents of the City, prior to placing household refuse at the street line for weekly collection ... shall separate all recyclable material from other refuse which shall be collected by the City along with the regular rubbish by its designated agent. ... (d) Failure to Separate Recyclable Materials. It shall be a violation of this section for any person to place refuse for collection by the Municipality unless they have first separated out all recyclable material for separate pick-up as set forth in subsection (c) hereof.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 979 of the Youngstown Codified Ordinances establishes the City's curbside recycling program at § 979.15, enacted by Ordinance 91-707 on November 20, 1991. Subsection (a) defines 'recyclable material' as anything with economic value in the secondary materials market, listing aluminum cans and articles, bi-metal cans, glass containers, plastic beverage containers, computer printout paper, computer tab cards, office paper, steel cans and newspapers. Subsection (b) makes separation mandatory citywide: residents must separate recyclables from garbage and rubbish set out for municipal pickup so the material can move into the secondary materials market.
Subsection (c) spells out how: before placing household refuse at the street line for weekly collection, residents bundle newspaper separately with string, twine, or a paper sack, and place every other recyclable in a separate container supplied by the City, set beside the regular refuse rather than mixed into it. Subsection (d) makes noncompliance a violation of § 979.15 in its own right: putting refuse out without first separating recyclable material breaks the section regardless of intent. Once recyclables reach the street line they belong to the City under subsection (e), and only City-authorized collectors can pick them up, including the orange recycling bin marked with the City seal; unauthorized removal is a separate offense for each pickup. Subsection (f) still lets a resident donate or sell recyclables to any other party, for-profit or not, instead of using curbside pickup.
Violations & Fines
General violations of § 979.15 carry a fine up to $250.00 under § 979.99(c). Failing to separate recyclables under § 979.15(d) specifically is capped lower: no more than $50.00 for a first offense and $100.00 for each later offense. Removing recyclables from the curb without City authorization is a separate offense for every pickup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the City of Youngstown require residents to separate recyclables?
What is the penalty for not separating recyclables in Youngstown?
Can someone else take my recyclables off the curb?
Can I sell my recyclables instead of using curbside pickup?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Youngstown
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