Disposal and Recycling Centers

Mecklenburg County does not collect curbside materials. The collection at your home is the responsibility of the municipality in which you live. For residents wishing to haul their own materials, Mecklenburg County has two types of drop off centers: Full Service and Self Service. 

Full Service Drop-Off Disposal and Recycling Centers

County residents can take their recyclable materials, yard waste, bulky waste, electronic waste, and household hazardous waste to any of the four full-service drop-off centers Monday - Saturday from 7 a.m. - 4 p.m. Restrictions apply.

Solid Waste Projects

Important Things to Know about the Full Service Drop-Off Disposal and Recycling Centers

Staffed Recycling Centers

Mecklenburg County Solid Waste and Recycling operates one staffed recycling center inside the William R. Davie Park. County residents can recycle the same 6 items you recycle curbside, as well as most enhanced recycling items.  

Note – some items go into special containers for those products. Staff will assist in showing you which containers.

Normal Hours of Operation
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday, 
9 a.m. - 5 p.m. 
Closed Wednesday and Saturday.

 

Items accepted at this center:

  • Plastic bottles and jugs with necks
  • Cardboard
  • Cans (Aluminum and steel)
  • Milk and juice cartons
  • Paper
  • Glass bottles
  • Rechargeable batteries
  • Bicycles
  • Hardback and softcover books
  • Textiles
  • Shredded paper
  • White rigid foam
  • Food scraps

Items NOT accepted at this center:

  • Household waste
  • Scrap metal
  • White goods (appliances such as stoves, refrigerators, washer and dryer machines, and AC units)
  • Tires
  • Yard waste
  • Bulk
  • Construction and demolition debris. 

These items are only accepted at our larger four full-service centers.

Self Service Recycling Centers

Solid Waste and Recycling operates five self service recycling centers that are limited to accept the same items that you can recycle with curbside cart recycling. These items include: aluminum and metal cans, cardboard, milk and juice cartons, glass bottles, paper, and plastic bottles and jugs.

Materials Recovery Facilities

Mecklenburg County uses processing centers, known as Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs), to separate single stream recyclables into separate, distinct items. The County owns two MRFs: the Metrolina MRF and Pence Road MRF. These processing centers separate bottles, cans, cardboard and other items from the collected recyclables delivered by commercial trucks. Some neighboring jurisdictions, such as Cabarrus County and the City of Concord, also use Mecklenburg County MRFs.

The Pence Road MRF is currently operating as the primary sorting facility, while the Metrolina MRF undergoes a retrofit project expected to be complete in summer 2026. 

Please note: MRFs are not a location for personal recycling drop-off.

Map and Directions

Recycling-Centers-Map
printable version