
The city of Charlotte, North Carolina, provides garbage, recycling, and bulky waste collection services to multifamily properties. Mecklenburg County does not collect curbside materials, and the collection at your home is the responsibility of the municipality in which you live. Plastic items labelled #1 - #5 can be recycled, and these include plastic bottles, shampoo and conditioner bottles, beverage bottles, detergent and cleaning supply jugs, and food bottles and jars. Plastic bags, plastic wrap, and plastic film cannot be recycled and should be taken to retail stores such as Walmart.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic Recycling in Charlotte, NC | Valet Living provides a list of items that can be recycled in Charlotte, NC, including plastic, paper, metal, and glass |
| Plastic Types | PET or PETE, HDPE, PVC, LDPE, PP, PS |
| Plastic Resin Codes | Numbers 1-7 inside a small triangle of arrows |
| Recyclable Plastics | Types 1 and 2 plastics can be recycled in standard bins; other types may depend on local guidelines |
| Non-Recyclable Plastics | PVC, Styrofoam, plastic bags, plastic film, plastic wrap |
| Plastic Recycling Centers | Mecklenburg County has Full-Service and Self-Service drop-off centers; Greif Recycling Charlotte is a significant contributor to plastic recycling |
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What You'll Learn

Plastic bottles and jugs are accepted
Mecklenburg County, which includes Charlotte, North Carolina, operates five self-service recycling centers that accept the same items that can be recycled with curbside cart recycling. These include plastic bottles and jugs.
Plastic bottles and jugs are also accepted at the four full-service drop-off centers in Mecklenburg 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 through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Metrolina Recycling Center, also known as a Materials Recovery Facility or MRF, is the County's processing facility that sorts all of the single-stream recyclable materials collected from residential curbside programs, schools, and drop-off programs throughout Mecklenburg County and several neighboring jurisdictions.
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Plastic bags, wrap, and film are not accepted
Mecklenburg County, which includes Charlotte, North Carolina, provides garbage, recycling, and bulky waste collection services to multifamily properties. The county operates five self-service recycling centers that accept the same items that can be recycled with curbside cart recycling. These include aluminum and metal cans, cardboard, milk and juice cartons, glass bottles, paper, and plastic bottles and jugs.
It's important to note that the recycling guidelines may vary depending on your specific location within Charlotte, as the city contracts with multiple waste management companies. Therefore, it is recommended to check with your municipality or local recycling agency for the most up-to-date and accurate information regarding plastic recycling in your area.
Additionally, while some types of plastic can technically be recycled, they may not be accepted by your local municipality for recycling. This is because certain plastics, such as Styrofoam, shrink wrap and manufacturing scrap, require specialized handling, and it may not be viable for some recycling companies to process them.
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Plastic food trays are accepted at full-service recycling centres
Mecklenburg County, Charlotte, North Carolina, offers a range of waste management services to its residents. The county has two types of drop-off centers: Full-Service and Self-Service. The Full-Service Recycling Centers accept a wider range of materials than the Self-Service centers.
Plastic food trays are accepted at full-service recycling centers in Mecklenburg County. These centers also accept other plastics, such as rigid plastics (e.g., buckets, crates, lawn furniture, carts, and garbage cans), white rigid foam cups (clean and empty, with no straws or lids), plastic bags, plastic wrap, and plastic film.
It is important to note that not all plastics are recyclable. PVC, for example, is a soft, flexible plastic often used for household products like tubing, kids' toys, and furniture, but it cannot be recycled. Other hard-to-recycle plastics include Styrofoam, shrink wrap, and manufacturing scrap, which require specialized handling.
In addition to plastic, the full-service centers also accept recyclable materials, yard waste, bulky waste, electronic waste, and household hazardous waste. Mecklenburg County residents can take their waste to any of the four full-service drop-off centers, open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. When using the full-service drop-off centers, residents are asked to display a blue entry sticker, which can be obtained at the fee booths at the centers.
The Self-Service Recycling Centers in Mecklenburg County accept the same items that can be recycled through curbside cart recycling. These include aluminum and metal cans, cardboard, milk and juice cartons, glass bottles, paper, and plastic bottles and jugs.
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Rigid plastics are accepted
Mecklenburg County, which includes Charlotte, North Carolina, offers a range of recycling services for its residents. While the county does not collect curbside materials, it does provide several options for residents to recycle their waste.
In addition to rigid plastics, Mecklenburg County accepts a variety of other materials for recycling. This includes cardboard, which must be torn into pieces no larger than 13 by 18 inches before being placed in curbside bins. The county also accepts aluminum and metal cans, milk and juice cartons, glass bottles, paper, and plastic bottles and jugs.
For those seeking to recycle more challenging items, Mecklenburg County offers four full-service drop-off centers that are open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. At these centers, residents can recycle items such as yard waste, bulky waste, electronic waste, and household hazardous waste. It's important to note that yard waste may not be disposed of in dumpsters or compactors, and special instructions apply for items like batteries and plastic bags.
When in doubt about what can be recycled and how, residents can refer to resources like the county's website or contact their local recycling agency for clarification.
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PS products can sometimes be recycled
Polystyrene, or PS plastic, has a reputation for being hard to recycle. It is not accepted for recycling in many municipal programs, and the process of recycling it is complicated and expensive. However, some companies specialize in recycling PS products and turning them into new items, such as casings for electronics.
PS is one of the most widely used plastics in the world, known for its excellent insulation properties, rigidity, and high melting point. It is often used in applications that require thermal insulation, such as packaging materials and disposable cups and plates in the food service industry. Due to its lightweight and brittle nature, it is prone to landing in wild spaces and oceans, posing threats to wildlife and ecosystems.
Despite the challenges of recycling PS, there are some options available. Some communities have PS plastic drop-off programs where you can take your foam waste for recycling. Additionally, some companies offer mail-in programs, allowing you to send your PS waste for recycling. These options are worth exploring to reduce the amount of PS waste that ends up in landfills.
When it comes to Charlotte, North Carolina, the city provides garbage, recycling, and bulky waste collection services to multifamily properties. However, it is unclear whether they specifically recycle PS products. It is recommended to check with your municipality or local recycling agency for the latest guidelines and to find out if there are any PS-specific recycling programs or facilities in your area.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Charlotte, NC recycles plastics. The city provides garbage, recycling, and bulky waste collection services to multifamily properties.
Types 1 and 2 plastics may be recycled in Charlotte, NC. These include PET or PETE, which is used for soda, water, and other drink bottles, as well as HDPE plastics, which are used for milk jugs, shampoo bottles, and detergent bottles.
There are several options for recycling plastic in Charlotte, NC. Residents can take their recyclable materials to any of the four full-service drop-off centers or two self-service drop-off centers in Mecklenburg County. Additionally, the city of Charlotte provides recycling collection services for multifamily properties.











































