New Recycling Rules In Mecklenburg: What Goes In The Bin

Mecklenburg County recently updated its list of acceptable recycling items, and will no longer accept certain types of plastics, such as yogurt containers or pill bottles, according to the Town of Davidson.

The changes stem from a lack of viable markets for open top plastic containers, the town said. In addition to yogurt style containers and pill bottles, the county recycling will no longer accept margarine tubs, plastic toys or plastic paint containers. They will, however, accept plastic bottles with necks, such as water bottles, detergent bottles and milk jugs.

Rigid plastics will still be accepted at Mecklenburg County Full Service Centers, the town said.

Here’s a list of items that ARE acceptable to place in curbside recycling bins in Mecklenburg County:

• Plastic containers with necks
• Cartons and juice boxes
• Empty aerosol cans
• Aluminum cans
• Cereal boxes
• Cardboard boxes, flatened
• Magazines
• Glass bottles and jars
• Tin, steel cans
• Paper, such as brown bags and high-grade paper
• Junk mail
• Newspapers

Here’s a list of items to NOT put in the recycling bins, according to county officials:

• No Plastic Bags, No Plastic Wrap, or Plastic Film please resist the urge... (take to stores such as Harris Teeter or Walmart)
• Do not put your recycled items in a plastic bag, we simply cannot recycle the bagged items.
• No Ceramics or glassware such as Pyrex, flower vases, picture frames etc - (if in good condition, donate. if broken, trash can)
• No Pots & Pans
• No Glassware (same as ceramics)
• No Paper Plates, Diapers, Cat Litter, Aluminum Cooking Pans, Napkins (trash can)
• Do not put Batteries in a recycling cart (take to a full service recycling center)
• No Light Bulbs (fluorescents and CFL go to Full Service Recycling Center. All other go to trash can.)
• No Wire or Plastic Hangers (back to the cleaners or donate to a recycling clothing store, such as Goodwill)
• No Clamshells or Styrofoam products (trash can)
• No Plastic Food Trays or Paper/Styrofoam/Plastic Cups (trash can)
• No Shredded paper (trash can) - The shredded paper falls through the screening equipment and contaminates the glass we collect - some stores may accept shredded paper
• No Hardback books. Even if you remove the hard cover, the spine of the book does not allow the separation equipment to accommodate the paper. Our Compost Central location at 140 Valleydale Drive has a specific bins where we collect books for recycling.
• No hoses
• No car parts
• No Cords
• No sharps or syringes
• No ropes
• No scrap metal
• No diapers