Environmental Health

Bed bugs are back.

Bed bugs are making a big comeback. They seem to come from nowhere, but are being seen more and more in apartments, hotels, homes, shelters, dormitories and nursing homes. They are active travelers, usually transported in luggage, boxes, clothing and furniture. Infestations are not tied to unsanitary living conditions; even world-class hotels have reported bed bug problems. Their name comes from their tendency to live between mattresses and feed on the occupants at night. Bed bugs do not fly or jump, but move quickly over floors, walls, ceilings and furniture.

It's important to note that bed bugs are NOT known to transfer human diseases. However, a bed bug infestation can be extremely stressful and could potentially cause health concerns if not dealt with properly. For that reason, SCPH offers guidance and education to the public about how to prevent and remove bed bugs.

Read these frequently-asked questions about bed bugs:

Learn more

page updated 4-8-2025

U.S. EPA Region 5:
www.epa.gov/aboutepa/epa-region-5

Ohio EPA Division of Materials and Waste Management: 
epa.ohio.gov/divisions-and-offices/materials-and-waste-management

Ohio EPA Scrap Tire  Clean-up Information:
epa.ohio.gov/divisions-and-offices/materials-and-waste-management/dmwm-programs/scrap-tires

Ohio EPA Emergency Response Program: 
epa.ohio.gov/divisions-and-offices/emergency-response

Ohio EPA Litter Prevention: 
epa.ohio.gov/divisions-and-offices/environmental-financial-assistance/compliance-assistance/litter-prevention

Summit ReWorks Scrap Tire Recycling Option(s) for Summit County Residents
www.summitreworks.com/231/Scrap-Tires

Summit ReWorks (household recycling and hazardous waste information): 
www.summitreworks.com/

Summit Soil and Water Conservation District: 
sswcd.summitoh.net/

Keep Ohio Beautiful: 
keepohiobeautiful.org/

Keep Akron Beautiful:
www.keepakronbeautiful.org/

page reviewed 03/07/2023

SCPH currently inspects three active solid waste transfer facilities.  These facilities are used for transferring solid waste from smaller trucks to larger, semi-trailers for transport to active solid waste landfills.  These facilities are inspected quarterly, with additional inspections conducted as necessary. Violations to the OAC are noted during the inspections, and the responsible party is notified to correct the violations within a reasonable time frame.  If the violations are not corrected, further enforcement action is taken to protect the environment and public health. 

The Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) for solid waste transfer stations can be found here:

• OAC 3745-555

Additional information provided by the Ohio EPA.

For a list of licensed solid waste transfe facilities, please click here.

page updated 1/26/24

Summit County residents can participate in this program by bringing in full sharps containers for disposal to our Environmental Health division at the Fairway Center location (Building C, 1867 W. Market St., Akron, Ohio 44313 - behind Acme #1).  Residents can also purchase new empty sharps containers at this location.

For the purposes of this program, a "sharp" is any needle, lancet, or other tool used to inject medication or take a blood sample through the skin. SCPH can accept both used and unused sharps, including sharps that contain medication such as Epi-pens and needles with attached syringes.

There is a charge of $5.00 to dispose of full 1-gallon or smaller sharps containers and an additional charge of $5.00 to purchase a new 1-gallon sharps container. Credit cards are accepted only at our Fairway location. Residents may bring in sharps containers of any size for disposal; however, all sharps must be in approved, labeled sharps containers. No other type of container can be accepted.

The Environmental Health division is open from 8:00am to 4:00pm Monday through Friday. For more information about sharps disposal, please call 330-926-5600.

The Sharps Program is also available through our Graham Road WIC office (739 Graham Road, Stow, Ohio 44224). Their usual hours are 10:ooam-6:30pm Monday and 8:00am to 4:00pm Tuesday through Friday.  **Please note: This location can only accept cash in small bills. Exact change is preferred .  Also, the office closes for all federal holidays and for a monthly staff meeting (on a Friday). Please call 330-926-5726 to make sure the office will be open when you'd like to stop by.

page update 04-08-2025

SCPH currently inspects all scrap tire generating facilities in Summit County.  These are facilities that accept scrap tires, such as tire dealers, car repair shops, auto dealerships, etc.  These facilities are inspected annually, with additional inspections conducted as necessary.  Violations to the OAC are noted during the inspections, and the responsible party is notified to correct the violations within a reasonable time frame.  If the violations are not corrected, further enforcement action is taken to protect the environment and public health.  

The Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) for scrap tire generator facilities can be found here:

• OAC 3745-27

Additional information  provided by the Ohio EPA.

For a list of registered and licensed solid waste facilities, please click here.

Page updated 1/26/24

SCPH offers guidance on small mercury spills that may occur in residences, and also responds to small mercury spills that occur at schools.  Large spills (more than 1 pound) should always be reported immediately to the Ohio EPA Spill Hotline at 800-282-9378. 

For more information see the guidance documents below or call SCPH at (330) 996-5600.

Guidelines for Handling a Small Mercury Spill

Guidelines for Handling a Large Mercury Spill

SCPH currently inspects one infectious waste treatment facility.  The inspections are conducted quarterly.  Any violations are noted during the inspections and the responsible party is notified to correct the violations within a reasonable time frame.  If the violations are not corrected, further enforcement action is taken to protect the environment and public health. 

The Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) for infectious waste treatment facilities can be found here: 

• OAC 3745-27-32
• OAC 3745-27-33
• OAC 3745-27-35
• OAC 3745-37

Additional information provided by the Ohio EPA.

For a list of registered and licensed solid waste facilities, please click here.

page updated 1/26/24

SCPH currently inspects three active construction and demolition debris (C&DD) landfills/processing facilities. These facilities accept material resulting from the alteration, construction, destruction, rehabilitation, or repair of any manmade physical structure.  These facilities are inspected monthly, with full inspections occurring quarterly.  Violations to the OAC are noted during the inspection, and the responsible party is notified to correct the violations within a reasonable time frame.  If the violations are not corrected, further enforcement action is taken to protect the environment and public health. 

The Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) for C&DD landfills can be found here:

• OAC 3745-400 

Additional information  provided by the Ohio EPA.

For a list of registered and licensed solid waste facilities, please click here.

page updated 4/23/24

Ohio rules define composting as a method of solid waste disposal using controlled biological decomposition. Composting activities occurring at a residence and those activities using less than 300 square feet at a non-residential location are not subject to Ohio’s composting regulations. 

SCPH currently inspects all of the registered compost facilities in Summit County.  These facilities are permitted to receive source-separated yard waste which may consist of leaves, grass, brush, garden waste, tree trunks, shrubs, branches, etc.

These facilities are inspected bi-annually, with additional inspections conducted as necessary.  Violations to the OAC are noted during the inspection, and the responsible party is notified to correct the violations within a reasonable time frame.  If the violations are not corrected, further enforcement action is taken to protect the environment and public health. 

The Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) for compost facilities can be found here:
http://codes.ohio.gov/oac/3745-560. 

Additional information provided by the Ohio EPA.  

For a list of registered compost facilities, please click here.

Page updated 1/26/24

SCPH inspects several closed and historic solid waste landfills.  These inspections are conducted quarterly for a period of 30 years from the date the landfill is closed.  Any violations are noted during the inspections and the responsible party is notified to correct the violations within a reasonable time frame.  If the violations are not corrected, further enforcement action is taken to protect the environment and public health. 

The Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) for closed solid waste landfills can be found here:

• OAC 3745-27
• OAC 3745-37

Additional information provided by the Ohio EPA.

For a list of registered and licensed solid waste facilities, please click here.

page updated 1/26/24