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.

Recycling Right at Schools and Preventing Rechargeable Battery Fires 

The 2025-2026 school year is here, and Mecklenburg County Solid Waste encourages kids to Recycle Right in school and at home. 

We collect all recyclables and trash from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS). Just like at home, kids and teachers can only recycle the same six items you recycle curbside:

-Paper (newspapers, cards, mail, magazines)

-Plastic bottles and jugs (with necks)

-Milk and juice cartons

-Cardboard and clean pizza boxes

-Cans

-Glass bottles and jars

Throughout the school year, our team visits various schools to teach kids about recycling, composting, and other important environmental actions they can take. 

CMS pays for trash and recycling pickup. Mecklenburg County or contracted vendors provide all services. Private schools are responsible for providing their own recycling services but can contract with Solid Waste if they choose.

Beyond the six curbside and school recyclables, some other items are recyclable, but only at one of the Solid Waste full-service or staffed recycling centers. Rechargeable batteries, for example, do not belong in curbside recycling bins or trash. They can cause fires at homes, on trash and recycling trucks, and at the recycling facilities. These fires can injure you and our workers as well as cause significant damage to machines. 

Rechargeable batteries, also known as lithium-ion batteries, are commonly found in phones, power tools, laptops, vapes, and more. On average, Solid Waste sees one to two fires per week from rechargeable batteries. Visit WipeOutWaste.com to find the closest Solid Waste center to you. 

Full-service centers: Hickory Grove-8007 Pence Rd., Charlotte; Compost Central-140 Valleydale Rd, Charlotte; Foxhole-17131 Lancaster Hwy, Charlotte and North Mecklenburg-12300 Statesville Rd., Huntersville. Staffed center: William R Davie-4635 Pineville-Matthews Rd., Charlotte. 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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