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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:

  • White Rigid Foam
  • Hardback and Softcover Books
  • Shredded Paper
  • Textiles
  • Food Wastes
  • Clean Wood and Furniture
Enhanced Recycling, Foam Recycling

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.

See Our Foam Process

About 42 tons of white rigid foam were collected system-wide in Fiscal Year 2024!

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 things like Compact Disks. Just put the books into the special marked containers.

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About 66 tons of hardback books were collected system-wide in Fiscal Year 2024!

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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!

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.

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About 55 tons of textiles were collected system-wide in Fiscal Year 2024!

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.

Food Waste

We are now accepting food waste at our Hickory Grove Recycling Center (8007 Pence Rd. ) and Compost Central Recycling Center (140 Valleydale Rd.).  

If you do not have a collection container at home we will be doing free at home bin giveaways at one center every Wednesday (while supplies last).

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. 

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non-food items, like containers and wrappers must be put in the trash instead

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.