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- Recycling Do’s & Don’ts
Thank you for recycling and preparing your waste properly!
Recycling Do’s
- Make sure your recyclables are clearly identifiable and lightweight - preferably plastic.
- Remove lids.
- Don’t recycle containers larger than 20 gallons.
- Recycle metal cans (aluminum and steel) including soft drink, beer and food cans.
- Rinse cans clean of food and debris.
- Recycle newspapers, office papers, paper grocery bags and cardboard, including daily papers, copy papers and form feed computer paper.
- Only small amounts of flattened corrugated cardboard (2 feet by 3 feet) can be recycled.
- Recycle junk mail, magazines, catalogs and phone books, including all junk mail and shiny paper inserts.
- Recycle plastic containers (Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE) Number 1 or High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Number 2), including soft drink bottles, liquor bottles, milk jugs and detergent bottles.
- To make sure a container is recyclable, check the bottom. The recycling symbol circling the number 1 through 7 indicates an item is recyclable. Rinse out, flatten and remove caps/lids.
- Recycle glass bottles and jars, including clear, green and brown glass. Remove caps and lids and rinse clean.
Recycling Don'ts
- No plastic grocery bags, egg cartons or Styrofoam
- No coat hangers, lids or other scrap metal, including hubcaps, pots and pans
- No books, including hardback books and textbooks
- No ceramics, mirrors, window frames
- No plate glass or light bulbs
- No glassware
- No large boxes
Other Items Not Allowed in the Landfill
- Yard Debris: Yard debris is accepted at the Mecklenburg County compost facilities or may be collected by the Town. Call Compost Central for details at 704-588-9070. Compost Central also offers information on how to recycle yard waste and start composting.
- Waste Oil: Most service stations have waste oil tanks and will usually accept waste oil at no charge. Waste oil is used in making asphalt and can also be purified for reuse.
- Paint: Remove lids to allow paint to harden. When the paint has hardened, it may be placed in a garbage cart for regular pick up.
- Batteries: Sellers will accept old batteries when purchasing a new battery. Most auto parts stores accept old batteries at any time.
- Tires: When new tires are purchased, the seller will accept old tires. Most tire dealers will accept used tires at any time for free or a small fee.
- Electronics: E-waste may contain toxic chemicals and has been banned from North Carolina landfills. Electronics can be taken to recycling centers. Local facilities accepting these items for free are:
- Cabarrus County Construction and Demolition Landfill, Phone: 704-920-2950
- Cabarrus County Household Hazardous Waste, Phone: 704-920-3278