The Cincinnati Recycling and Reuse Hub will begin charging for most recyclable items in early 2026, moving to a membership-based model as material volume and operating costs continue to climb.
Under the plan, most residents will need a “Hub Club” membership to drop off hard-to-recycle items at its Lower Price Hill facility. An annual membership costs the equivalent of $10 per month and includes unlimited visits, while a $15, 30-day pass provides unlimited drop-offs for a full month with no long-term commitment. A one-time drop-off will also cost $15.
With a Hub Club membership, customers can bring general recycling materials – including soft and rigid plastics, metal, select textiles, Styrofoam and TerraCycle items – at no extra cost. Most universal waste materials, such as batteries, lightbulbs, tires and certain electronics, will still have separate processing fees because they contain hazardous components.
Residents don’t need a membership to drop off universal waste, but those processing fees will still apply. Shopping at the Hub Shop or donating reusable items remains free and open to everyone.
The changes go into effect Jan. 1.
“Charging fees certainly isn’t something we wanted to do, but it was the only option,” said Chad Planner, executive director of the nonprofit.
Why the change
Planner said the shift is necessary to keep pace with the community’s growing use of its services. Since opening roughly five years ago, the Hub has expanded rapidly. This year, it expects to collect nearly 600,000 pounds of materials – a nearly 50% increase over 2024.
In total, the facility is approaching 2 million pounds diverted from landfills since opening.
Despite the success, the cost of doing business has become more expensive, Planner said, with plastics being particularly challenging. Even in the best-case scenario, the Hub receives about 14 cents per pound for certain plastics while spending roughly $1.25 per pound to collect, sort, process and ship them. There’s also been a decrease in government funding, Planner said.
To address those challenges, the organization added only 15% more staff to meet demand, relying instead on more than 7,000 volunteer hours and increased corporate partnerships – but the numbers still didn’t add up.
Planner said the team debated price increases for years due to concerns about accessibility and impact. Two things really worried them: a decrease in accessibility for its existing customers and the community in general.
“The organization has had this internal debate for years, but at this point in our existence there was no other option,” Planner said. “We had to become self-sufficient and move to a pay-for-service model.”
Looking ahead: Sustainability and community impact
Planner admitted this is new territory for the Hub, and while he’s optimistic, he’s not entirely sure how many people will participate. “And our hope is that the fees will not significantly impact donations, because they really address two separate needs,” he said.
Fees will cover only the cost of processing materials, while donations continue to fund community programs, including the Hub’s electronics-repair initiative, free services for more than 30 food pantries and nonprofits, and G.R.E.E.N. collection events in underserved communities.
Planner believes the approach will succeed, though. While the Hub’s model is unique, it’s not entirely without precedent. National companies like Ridwell and TerraCycle charge residents for hard-to-recycle boxes or bags, and local groups such as Queen City Commons charge memberships for composting services.
“There really isn’t a clone of the Hub anywhere in the country,” Planner said. “But we did reference other models when trying to determine the best plan for our community.”
Early signs are encouraging. Hundreds of people have already signed up during the pre-Jan. 1 early registration period, which comes with a $20 discount.
Perhaps most important, the Hub’s core services remain unchanged. It continues to operate three days a week for drop-offs and sales, while corporate recycling services run as usual – ensuring the community still has access to the resources they’ve relied on since Day 1.
“We have roughly 4,000 households that we serve currently, and we hope that they all join… and more,” Planner said.
Cincinnati Recycling and Reuse Hub
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