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Mecklenburg Solid Waste experts receive hundreds of residential waste disposal and recycling questions weekly. To educate and empower Natural Awakenings readers, their experts provide updates and answer some of the most frequently asked questions in a bi-monthly column.

Mecklenburg County Solid Waste Encourages Residents to Recycle Beyond Curbside 

Mecklenburg County’s Solid Waste division is working to improve the environment and recycling “culture” by encouraging residents to use its Enhanced Recycling program at all four full-service centers. 

From the old TV in your bedroom to yard waste and paint, residents can recycle/dispose of more items, preventing them from heading to the landfill. 

Enhanced Recycling Items:

-       Clean wood and furniture 

-       White rigid foam (cannot easily break or bend)

-       Paperback and hardback books

-       Textiles such as clothing, towels, sheets, etc.

-       Food scraps

-       Solar panels 

-       Shredded paper

-       Working electronics (TVs, computers, monitors, etc.)

-       Bicycles 

Residents just need to drop off enhanced recycling items at any full-service center. 

In the single fiscal year 2024, the Enhanced Recycling Program saved hundreds of tons of items from our landfill:

-       42 tons of white rigid foam

-       19 tons of shredded paper

-       66 tons of hardback books

-       55 tons of textiles

-       446 tons of electronics

-       645 tons of household hazardous waste

-       131,073 tons of yard waste

-       26,267 tons of tires

We appreciate the recycling efforts of Mecklenburg County residents and look forward to recycling even more items in 2025.

Full-service centers: Hickory Grove-8007 Pence Rd., Charlotte; Compost Central-140 Valleydale Rd, Charlotte; Foxhole-17131 Lancaster Hwy, Charlotte and North Mecklenburg-12300 Statesville Rd., Huntersville. If you have program questions about recycling, waste diversion or anything else related to waste, please visit WipeOutWaste.com. To submit a waste disposal and recycling question, email SolidWaste@MeckNC.gov. Jeff Smithberger, Director of Solid Waste, answers the top seven residential recycling questions at https://tinyurl.com/MeckRecyleRightFAQs.

Mecklenburg Solid Waste - 2145 Suttle Ave, Charlotte, NC

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