Enhanced Recycling
Go beyond the limits of your curbside bin, and bring those special items to any of our four Full-Service Recycling Centers.
Enhanced Recycling is special recycling that is only available at our four Full-service Recycling and Disposal Centers, and consists of:
- Bicycles
- Clean Wood and Furniture*
- Food Scraps*
- Hardback and Softcover Books
- Medical Devices*
- Shredded Paper
- Solar Panels*
- Textiles
- White Rigid Foam
* Not accepted at all Full-Service Centers. Please see details below.
Bicycles
We accept old and broken bicycles. Bicycle frames may be placed with scrap metal. Bicycles still in good condition will be repurposed or donated to help children in need.
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Clean Wood and Furniture
Keep wood pallets, wooden furniture, and other clean wood items out of the landfill! Recycle your wood waste in the designated bins at our full-service recycling centers. Items will be ground and used in furniture construction. Magnets will collect the drawer pulls and nails.
For residents, the first item is free. Flat fees start at $8 for multiple items. Larger loads will be weighed and charged $38 a ton.
Accepted items (painted or varnished) include:
- Pallets and wood packaging, like crates
- Solid untreated wood (2x4s, etc.)
- OSB board and plywood products
- Wooden furniture (desks, dressers, etc.)
- Wooden doors and frames
- Construction wood waste (clean)
- Particle board
The following items can be dropped off, but will go to the landfill: telephone poles and treated lumber, pressure-treated lumber, excessive contamination (plastics, cardboard, etc.), rotten wood or railroad ties, MDF and laminate flooring.
NOTE: The North Mecklenburg Recycling Center cannot accept wood waste at this time due to construction.
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Food Scraps
We accept residential food scraps at Compost Central Recycling Center (140 Valleydale Rd.), Hickory Grove Recycling Center (8007 Pence Rd. ), and Foxhole Recycling Center (17131 Lancaster Hwy). No cost to residents.
If you do not have a food scrap bin or collection container at home, you can get one at one at our free bin giveaway events. They’re held every Wednesday, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., at one of our centers (on a rotating schedule). There are also a select few at each site for request. We also have them at our main office, just drop by, 2145 Suttle Avenue.
You can follow us on Facebook at Mecklenburg County Recycling for upcoming give away dates, times, and locations. This is a free program for all Mecklenburg County Residents.
Yes! Any food waste is acceptable, but non-food items must be placed in the trash bin.
- No Plastic-coated paper plates
- No to-go drink cups
- No to-go containers and utensils
- No paper towels or napkins
- No compostable utensils and plates
- No plastic bags and zip-lock bags
- No snack wrappers
Remember, if it's edible, it's acceptable! Please make sure that all packaging and containers are removed and food waste/ scraps are emptied before placing in our designated food waste collection bins.
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Hardback & Softcover Books
This is where those hard and soft back books need to go. Yes, they all will get recycled. If they are still good for reading, you can donate them to many sources; however, if the books have reached the end of practical use, drop them in the special book recycling bin. All books will get ground and sent for recycling. Please remove any plastic inserts in books or extra items like compact discs. Just put the books into the special marked containers.
About 66 tons of hardback books were collected system-wide in Fiscal Year 2024!
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Medical Devices
Mecklenburg County Solid Waste has partnered with local non-profit Assist M.E. N.C. to collect certain medical devices at Compost Central Recycling Center (140 Valleydale Rd.). The non-profit will donate those devices to people in need of devices who cannot afford them.
Accepted medical devices:
- Hospital beds
- Power wheelchairs
- Manual wheelchairs
- Upright walkers
- Knee scooters
- Scooters
- Tub transfer benches
- Shower chair with back
- Bedside commodes
- Grab bars for bathtubs
- Hoyer lifts
- Lift chairs
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Shredded Paper
Yes, we will accept your shredded paper! Just dump your shredded paper into the special marked bin if you bring it in a plastic bag. (We do not want the plastic bag mixed with paper.) If you deliver in a paper bag, that is OK. Shredded paper will get bailed up together, and then sent for recycling.
About 19 tons of shredded paper were collected system-wide in Fiscal Year 2024!
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Solar Panels
We are now accepting solar panels at Compost Central (140 Valleydale Rd). Residents and businesses can drop off up to 10 panels. If you have more than 10 panels, please email [email protected] first.
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Textiles
We’ll take your clothes, shoes & accessories! You can also recycle your pillows, sheets, and towels. Accessories include things like belts, vests, and hats. Basically, anything clothing or wearable-related. If your items can be directly repurposed as clothing, they will be. Things that can't be repurposed will be used as secondary ground fiber and used as towels and similar products.
Bring your items to one of our full-service recycling centers and place them directly into the big blue bins. For shoes, make sure they are tied together.
About 55 tons of textiles were collected system-wide in Fiscal Year 2024!
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White Rigid Foam
Bring us your Rigid Foam! Feed our Foam-a-Saurus Rex! We are accepting rigid polystyrene foam that comes as part of packaging. Usually white in color, and found in packaging with TVs, and appliances. It needs to be clean. No food packaging at this time. Food packaging is unfortunately not clean enough for recycling unless you have thoroughly washed it. All clean foam goes into the specially marked containers. Look for “Rex” the dinosaur. We will grind and melt the foam into dense ingots then ship to market.