Ask A Meck County Expert 

Mecklenburg Solid Waste experts receive hundreds of residential waste disposal and recycling questions weekly. To educate and empower Natural Awakenings readers, their experts provide updates and answer some of the most frequently asked questions in a bi-monthly column. 

The Wonderful World of Mulch and Compost

Mecklenburg County makes compost and mulch products from local yard debris like grass, leaves and tree materials. It is produced locally within the county, providing jobs, and furthering a sustainable community. 

We take great pride in producing top quality products. Our processes are certified by several oversight groups such as U.S. Composting Council and the Organic Materials Review Institute. 

Compost is the organic soil amendment that looks and feels like soil. Our compost starts as “mulch”, the ground wood, grass and leaves, mixed in specific proportions, like baking a cake and following a recipe, it takes our team 9 months start to finish. It is further Trade Marked ™ as Queen City Compost ™, to separate our quality product from others.

Mulch takes less time to make and comes in several varieties:

·      Wood mulch is comprised of wood that is ground in large commercial grinders. 

·      Brush mulch (free through June 2024) generally contains a mix of hard and soft woods and can contain limbs and leaves.

·      Hardwood mulch consists of just tree trunks and does not contain any leaves. 

Residents may purchase Queen City Compost and Meck Mulch and pick-up in bags or bulk or have a private delivery company place at your home. Visit MeckMulchMadness.com for details.  

If you have program questions about recycling, waste diversion or anything else related to waste, please visit WipeOutWaste.com. To submit a waste disposal and recycling question, email [email protected]. Jeff Smithberger, Director of Solid Waste, answers the top seven residential recycling questions at https://tinyurl.com/MeckRecyleRightFAQs.

Mecklenburg Solid Waste - 2145 Suttle Ave, Charlotte, NC

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