Enhanced Recycling Program Now Includes Wood

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 wood waste at three of our staffed full-service centers. (see list below)  

“We’ve seen our customers embrace foam, clothing, shredded paper and other enhanced recycling efforts,” said Jeff Smithberger, director of the Solid Waste Management Program. “I’m excited to see how they keep wood pallets, furniture and other wood waste out of the landfill.”

There is a list of acceptable clean wood waste items:  

  • 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

It is acceptable if the above wooden items are painted or varnished.  These types of wood will be ground and used in furniture construction. Magnets will collect the drawer pulls and nails. Unprocessed wood (think trees) are still accepted as they always have but are ground for mulch products.

Things you cannot drop off for recycling – these 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

For residential customers, the first item is free. Flat fees start at $8 for multiple items. Larger loads will be weighed and charged $38 a ton. It would cost $60 a ton for the landfill. 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. Do not place these items in your curbside recycling bins.  

The full-service recycling centers that will recycle furniture type wood wastes are:

Foxhole Recycling Center 
17131 Lancaster Highway, Charlotte, NC 28277

Hickory Grove Recycling Center 
8007 Pence Road, Charlotte, NC 28215 

Compost Central and Recycling Center
140 Valleydale Road, Charlotte, NC 28214