Enhanced Recycling Program Now Includes Textiles

​The list of what can be recycled and dropped off at Mecklenburg County’s full-service recycling centers is much longer. Mecklenburg County’s enhanced recycling program now allows residents to drop off white rigid foam, shredded paper, hard and soft back books, and textiles at each of the four staffed full-service centers.   

“We understand our customers and residents want to avoid placing items in the landfill. Now, we have expanded our recycling services to meet that demand,” said Jeff Smithberger, director of the Solid Waste Management Program. “Our textile recycling donation bins are new this month.” 

Blue donation bins for clothes, shoes and accessories are located at each of the County’s four full-service recycling centers. The textile recycling items will be sorted and repurposed.  

The enhanced recycling program has expanded beyond large appliances, batteries and electronics. Please note all recycled materials you drop off at the full-service recycling centers need to be separated and placed in specific containers for that item. White rigid foam, shredded paper, hard and soft back books, and textiles can only be recycled at staffed drop-off sites. Do not place these items in your curbside recycling bins.  

White rigid foam or expanded polystyrene is used as a packing material and as take-out food containers. Before dropping it off, the white rigid foam must be clean and free of food residue. Once you drop it off, the foam will be melted in a densification machine allowing it to be shipped to market. 

Books can also be recycled at our full-service recycling centers. Bring hard back and soft back books that can’t be donated for reading because they are damaged or out of date. Make sure there are no plastic inserts inside the books. 

Shredded paper can also be taken to our full-service recycling centers. Shredded paper can be recycled in paper bags. If you have brought the shredded paper in a plastic bag, remove the loose shredded paper from the plastic bag and place the shredded paper in the bin. Plastic bags cannot be recycled in our centers. Shredded paper should be clean, loose and dry. 

The full-service recycling centers are: 

Foxhole Recycling Center 

17131 Lancaster Highway 

Charlotte, NC 28277 

North Mecklenburg Recycling Center 

12300 N. Statesville Road 

Huntersville, NC 28078 

Hickory Grove Recycling Center 
8007 Pence Road 

Charlotte, NC 28215 
 

Compost Central and Recycling Center 

140 Valleydale Road 

Charlotte, NC 28214