City of Bedford Heights

Overview

The City of Bedford Heights has a long and proud heritage in the extension of public service initiatives within the City. Even in its earliest years, named "The Service City" consecutive administrations have prioritized and utilized a premier service extension both in municipal extension and community outreach.

The Public Works/Service Division hosts its headquarters at 25401 Solon Road in Bedford Heights. Under the leadership of

Director Nick Baucco the Department of Public Service does an outstanding outreach within the community, not limited to:

• Free bee and wasp spraying/removal
• Free branch chipping
• Free leaf removal
• Free mulch
• Hazardous tree removal, tree planting
• Landscaping municipal grounds features such as flags, planters, flower baskets
• Overseeing recycling initiatives
• Snow plowing
• Street maintenance
• Table and chair loan
• Truck loan initiative

To most efficiently serve the community in this extensive outreach many of the above initiatives are seasonal programs. Contact the Public Service Director at 440-232-8832 for further information on program parameters. Notice that there are additional postings on this web page for your convenience.

Curbside Recycling

The City sponsors a curbside recycling program that is administered through our Department of Public Service. Residents are urged to assist in the effort. Recyclable trash can include glass bottles, cans, plastic bottles and some other plastic items. The City separates recyclable paper and cardboard; glossy papers, such as magazines and flyers frequently observed in newspapers or mailing advertisements should be separated from these items. Paper items are to be placed curbside tied in bundles or neatly stacked in paper bags. Recycled items are to be set out simultaneously and placed next to regular refuse for collection on Friday (streets North of Columbus) and Thursday (streets South of Columbus).

In determining what plastic items are included in the city recycling policy look for imprinted logos designating plastic types as 1-7.  

Plastics are identified by numbers one through seven.   Here’s some common products you’ll find of each type:  #1 PET (Polyethylene terephthalate)*: soda bottles, oven-ready meal trays and water bottles; #2 HDPE (High-density polyethylene)*: milk bottles, detergent bottles and grocery/trash/retail bags; #3 PVC (Polyvinyl chloride): plastic food wrap, loose-leaf binders and plastic pipes; #4 LDPE (Low-density polyethylene): dry cleaning bags, produce bags and squeezable bottles; #5 PP (Polypropylene): medicine bottles, aerosol caps, drinking straws and food containers (such as yogurt, ketchup bottles and sour cream/butter/hummus tubs); #6 PS (Polystyrene): compact disc jackets, packaging Styrofoam peanuts and plastic tableware; #7 Other: reusable water bottles, certain kinds of food containers and Tupperware.  Rinse all bottles.   *PET and HDPE are the most common forms of plastic, so they are the easiest types to find locations where they are accepted for recycling.

Note that items such as Styrofoam packing materials, motor oil containers and glossy general mail are not recyclable. Please find other uses for these items or discard them with your regular trash packaging.

Every household in the City was issued an 18 gallon green recycle bin. All of the recyclables are to be placed in the bins and then the bin placed next to the regular rubbish. The residents can also still use the blue bags for any additional recyclables. Trash bags can be purchased at the Service Department and the Community Center. If you are in need of a recycling bin please call the Service Department at (440) 232-8832.

From time to time the city hosts mass collection of recycling items such as phone books at the Community Center (June and July), used tires without rims at the Public Service Garage (September), and toxic substances such as oil-based paints, pesticides, gasoline, anti-freeze and paint thinners (May and November). If you have questions about recycling, please contact the Department of Public Service at 440-232-8832 Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. for further information.

Trash Disposal

The current contract for trash pickup in Bedford Heights has allowed the city to continue this program for Bedford Heights’ residents and city facilities without charging an additional personal user fee; yet there are some program parameters expected to be followed by participants; such as:

Garbage is to be neatly and completely bagged and whenever possible placed in cans curbside so as to not attract wildlife or compromise public health or the appearance of the neighborhood.

Items placed curbside for pickup are not to be put out earlier than 6:00 p.m. on the evening immediately before the rubbish pickup day. With the occasional exception of a few holidays or other circumstances the city will announce, residents can expect garbage pickup on the North side of Columbus Road and all roads within the Northern half of the city on Friday’s of each week. On these streets, rubbish and recyclables may be appropriately placed curbside Thursday evenings after 6:00 p.m. The South side of Columbus Road and the Southern balance of the community will have Thursday as their charted rubbish pickup day allowing them to set out items after 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday evenings.

Private contractors are required to remove construction debris at their own expense. They cannot leave it behind for the city to dispose of properly. Homeowners should be advised that a fee can be charged for removal of items left curbside that fall outside the parameters of the program. Automotive parts, including batteries, tire rims, etc. cannot be left curbside for disposal. This kind of trash must be personally taken to a salvage yard. It is the responsibility of the residents to get their garbage curbside by the time the trucks arrive. As the empty cans are left curbside, the city asked residents to remove them from the tree lawn prior to the end of the day of service.

If residents have a large item to dispose of such as furniture, appliances, etc., contact the Department of Public Service to assure it falls within the parameters of the program. Remember to remove doors from cabinets, refrigerators, etc. when setting them outside. No items should conflict with public safety. The city encourages recycling and requests recycled goods be placed outside, set apart from other garbage/rubbish as noted in the recycling portion of this web page.

Failure to follow this policy especially, but not limited to, premature placement of garbage curbside can lead to the resident being fined for noncompliance. For questions contact the Department of Public Service at 440.232.8832.

Tool Loan Program

Wanting Bedford Heights homeowners to have every advantage of maintaining strong property values, the City of Bedford Heights has been proud to continue a Tool Loan Program which allows residents to access tools they may only seldom need or perhaps to accommodate residents when your own are not functioning. Tools are offered on an as available basis for a period of 24 hours. Proper identification, proof of residency and payment of a refundable deposit are required. To reserve a tool, or to check on the availability of a tool, please call the Public Service Garage at 440-232-8832.

Tools are carefully maintained and serviced and consequently the city asks participants to use care and return tools clean, on time and with regard for the needs of fellow community members.

At the time of this posting, our tool loan inventory includes: