Recycling

Recycling helps reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills, conserving valuable space and lowering disposal costs. It preserves natural resources like trees, water, and minerals by reusing materials instead of extracting new ones. Recycling also saves energy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions associated with manufacturing new products. In addition, it supports local sustainability efforts, strengthens regional markets for recyclable materials, and helps protect the environment for future generations.

Paper Products

• Office and school paper (if your paper is stapled, staple can stay on)
• Junk mail (advertisements, flyers, credit card offers, and other promotional mail you receive)
• Magazines
• Newspapers
• Catalogs
• Brown paper bags

Cardboard & Paper Packaging

• Corrugated cardboard (shipping boxes with a wavy middle layer)
• Boxboard (cereal, cracker, tissue, and shoe boxes)
• Paperboard (paper packaging such as food boxes and paper tubes)

Metal Containers

• Clean steel cans
• Clean aluminum cans

Plastic Containers Only clean plastic bottles and containers labeled #1, #2, or #5 are accepted. Caps and lids can stay on or off the bottle/container. 

• #1: Narrow-neck bottles such as water bottles, soda bottles, and juice bottles.
• #2: Narrow-neck bottles such as milk jugs, detergent bottles, shampoo bottles, soap bottles, and bleach bottles.
• #5: Containers such as yogurt cups, sour cream containers, and butter tubs.

What is a "narrow-neck bottle"? A narrow-neck bottle has an opening that is smaller than the base of the container. Bottles typically pour liquids and have screw-on caps. Wide-mouth tubs, clamshell containers, and plastic trays are not considered narrow-neck bottles and should not be placed in your recycling cart unless they are #5 containers specifically accepted above.

For questions on whether an item is accepted or not accepted in curbside recycling, call the Public Works Department at (704) 638-5260.

Glass

• All glass including bottles, jars, and drinkware. 

Food & Organic Waste

• Food scraps
• Liquids
• Yard waste (grass clippings, leaves, branches, and other landscaping debris)

Paper Products

• Shredded paper
• Posted notes 
• Soiled paper products, including greasy pizza boxes and food-contaminated paper

Plastic Items

• Plastic items and containers labeled #3, #4, #6, or #7
• Plastic bags, grocery bags, loose plastic bags, and plastic wrap
• Take-out containers
• Toys
• Fruit containers, also known as clamshell containers
• Frozen food containers (such as frozen dinner trays, ice cream cartons, and other frozen food packaging)

Metal & Other Materials

• Scrap metal
• Ceramics (plates, mugs, dishes, and pottery)
• Cloth and clothing
• Clothing hangers
• Milk and juice cartons
• Hazardous materials, including chemicals, paint, automotive fluids, batteries, and propane cylinders

For questions on whether an item is accepted or not accepted in curbside recycling, call the Public Works Department at (704) 638-5260.

Glass is no longer accepted in your recycling bin due to how abrasive the material is on machinery, and current market trends. If you would like to recycle your glass, please visit https://www.rowancountync.gov/533/Recycling to find the nearest Rowan County recycling convenience center by you.

Placing non-recyclable or dirty items in the recycling cart can cause entire loads of otherwise recyclable materials to be sent to the landfill. It also slows down the sorting process, potentially increases processing costs, and can damage equipment at recycling facilities. By placing only accepted clean items in your cart, you help ensure materials can be properly recycled and turned into new products.