Wipe Out Waste!
GUIDE BOOK
2011/2012
RECYCLING
Everything You Need To Know
What’s
Inside
Who Can I Call?
Contents
Visit Mecklenburg County’s Web site at
Who Can I Call?
2
Recycle It (City of Charlotte)
3
Re-think (Mecklenburg County Towns)
5
www.wipeoutwaste.com, or call one of these
numbers for assistance:
Recycle Drop-Off Centers
704.432.3200
Recycling Drop-off Centers/Yard Waste:
311
or 704.336.7600
Apartments, Townhouses & Condominiums
(Multi-family Recycling)
Business Recycling Infoline:
8
9
Household Hazardous Waste
12
Tips
13
Business / Commercial Recycling
14
School Recycling
Construction/Demolition:
704.432.0399
School/Recycling Program:
704.336.3777
Litter Prevention Program:
704.432.1772
Event Recycling:
704.432.1772
Recycling and Garbage Pickup Numbers
City of Charlotte:
311
or 704.336.7600
Town of Cornelius:
704.892.6031
Town of Davidson:
704.393.6900
15
Town of Matthews:
704.847.3640
Town of Mint Hill:
704.545.9726
Composting
16
Town of Huntersville:
704.875.6541
Grasscycling
18
Town of Pineville:
704.714.9400
Construction & Event Recycling
19
Waste Reduction Information
20
Litter Prevention
22
Citizen Involvement
26
A Word of Thanks
28
Pg. 2
Unincorporated Areas of Mecklenburg County
If you live in an unincorporated area of Mecklenburg
County, you can take your garbage and recyclables
to one of the Full Service Recycling Drop-off Centers
(see map on page 9) or you can contract with a
private garbage/recycling hauler.
Recycle•it!
Residential Recycling Collection (City of Charlotte)
Recycle It! and Curb It!
City of Charlotte Recycling Collection
The City of Charlotte Solid Waste Services provides
residential recycling collection for residents on the
same day as garbage and yard waste, but on an
every-other-week schedule. To find your collection
day, visit http://recycleit.charlottenc.gov or call
311 (704.336.7600).
How to Recycle It!
1. Prepare recyclables for collection:
• Rinse or wipe out food/liquid residue from
containers.
• Remove lids/caps from bottles.
• Cut (not fold) cardboard into 3-feet by 3-feet
sections or smaller.
• Place all recyclables in your recycling rollout
cart.
2. Place the rollout cart within 2 feet of the curb
and at least 3 feet away from other collection
items (garbage rollout cart, yard waste and bulky
items) and obstacles such as mailboxes, vehicles,
telephone poles, etc. Do not block the sidewalk.
3. Place the rollout cart at the curb no later than
6:30 am on your scheduled collection day and
remove it no later than midnight that same day.
Please Note: Residents who recycle using the red
recycling bin instead of the recycling cart are allowed
a maximum of two bins at the curb for collection.
Solid Waste Services no longer provides additional/
replacement red bins.
What Can Be Recycled
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Aerosol cans
Aluminum cans
Cardboard (ﬂattened)
Glass bottles & jars
Juice boxes
Milk and juice cartons
Paper, junk mail & newspaper
Plastics # 1-5 & 7
Plastic bottles & jugs
Wide mouth plastic containers
Rigid plastics
Spiral paper cans
Metal food cans
Cereal & food boxes
Magazines & phonebooks
Paperback books
What Can NOT Be Recycled
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Appliances*
Automobile Parts
Batteries
Bottle caps/lids
Ceramics
Clothing**
Garbage
Household Hazardous Waste*
Lightbulbs
Paper plates/napkins
Pizza boxes
Plastics # 6
Plastic bags
Plastic food trays/cups
Pots/pans
Shredded paper
Styrofoam
Takeout food containers
Water hoses
Wire hangers
*Items are accepted at the Mecklenburg County’s full service
recycling drop-off centers (see page 9).
**Items accepted by non-profit organizations (Goodwill, Kidney
Foundation, etc.).
More Information
To learn more about the Recycle It! program, visit http://recycleit.charlottenc.gov or call 311 (704.336.7600).
Pg. 3
Prep• it!
Yard Waste Collection (City of Charlotte)
Prep It! and Curb It!
City of Charlotte Yard Waste Collection
The City of Charlotte Solid Waste Services provides
yard waste collection every week on the same day
as garbage and recycling collection.
Yard Waste Accepted for Collection
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Grass
Leaves
Plants
Pruning
Shrubbery
Tree trimmings
Weeds
Other similar materials generated in the
maintenance of residential yards and gardens
Yard Waste NOT Accepted for Collection
•
•
•
Dirt and rocks
Treated lumber and wood
Tree stumps
How to Prep It!
1. Prepare yard waste for collection:
• Trim limbs to no more than 5 feet in length.
• Cut limbs and logs to no more than 4
inches in diameter.
• Place leaves and grass clippings in untied
plastic bags or uncovered trash cans (not
City-issued rollout carts).
2. Place yard waste within 2 feet of the curb and
at least 3 feet away from other collection items
(rollout carts and bulky items) and obstacles
such as mailboxes, vehicles, telephone poles,
etc. Do not block the sidewalk.
3. Place yard waste at the curb no later than 6:30
am on your scheduled collection day.
More Information
To learn more about how to Prep It!, visit http://curbit.charlottenc.gov or call 311 (704.336.7600).
Pg. 4
re• think
Residential Recycling Collection
Town of Davidson
Town of Cornelius
The Town of Cornelius contracts with Republic
Services to provide solid waste collection services to
its residents. Currently, over eight thousand (8,000)
households in the Town of Cornelius receive curbside
recycling services. Republic Services will provide one
recycling collection bin and one trash collection bin per
single family household. Trash is collected weekly, but
recycling is collected bi-weekly on the day of your trash
pick-up. If residents prefer to have more than this, they
must incur the charges themselves and this is the only
time they would ever be billed directly.
Recycle Collection Policy
Recycling must be curbside by 6:00 am on your
collection day items must be in the collection bin. Items
that can be recycled included:
•
Metal cans (aluminum or steel) including soft drink,
beer & food cans. Please rinse cans out to prevent
bugs and bees.
•
Plastics 1-7 Except 6 (Styrofoam) including soda
bottles, dish soap bottles, milk jugs, detergent
bottles, rigid plastic tubs, toys, buckets and similar
items.
•
Paper including newspaper and inserts, magazines,
junk mail, telephone books, brown paper grocery
bags, copy paper and similar items.
•
Cardboard includes corrugated containers, cereal
boxes, shoes boxes, and other similar items.
Items that are not accepted include:
•
Plastic grocery bags, shredded paper, containers
for motor oil, anti-freeze, and paint, cardboard with
food directly on the box (pizza box).
Recycling in the Town of Davidson is available to many
Davidson single family households through a contract
between the Town and Allied Waste. In addition to recycling,
the contractor provides garbage, yard waste and bulk waste
collection.
The collection schedule is as follows:
All garbage, recycling and yard debris is collected on
Wednesday, with the exception of River Run, which has
all collection on Friday.
Items that can be recycled include:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
ALL plastic containers – except #6 - styrofoam/
clamshells.
Rigid plastics (toys, litter boxes and buckets).
Empty aerosol cans.
Milk cartons and juice boxes.
Aluminum cans.
Metal food cans.
Glass bottles & jars.
Cardboard (cut & ﬂattened into no larger than 3’ x 3’
sections).
Paper (books, magazines, phone books, brown paper
bags, newspapers, junk mail & mixed paper, but not
shredded paper).
For a roll-out garbage cart or recycling bin or to report
Service problems, call Allied Waste at 704-393-6900.
For more information on the Town of Davidson’s
collection schedule and policies, visit
www.ci.davidson.nc.us.
As of July 1, 2007, bulky waste pick up is no longer
available to the citizens of the citizens of the Town of
Cornelius. Residents can drop off bulk recyclables
at the North Mecklenburg Recycling Center located
at 12300 N. Statesville Road. If you need additional
information call 311 or 704.892.6031 or visit
www.cornelius.org.
Pg. 5
re• think
Residential Recycling Collection
Town of Huntersville
Town of Matthews
Please remember the following when placing your
recyclables curbside:
Trash and recycling containers must be curbside by 6:30 am
on your collection day. Recycling bins should be placed away
from the garbage carts as they are picked up by separate
trucks. Remember garbage carts should be placed with the
handle facing your residence, so that the mechanical arm can
pick up the cart easily using the bar facing the street.
Citizens of the Town of Huntersville that live in a single
family house are provided with curbside solid waste
services. The Town contracts its garbage collection
and recycling services to a private contractor, Advanced
Disposal. Residents are given a Green Can for Yard
Waste collection, a Grey Can for Garbage collection and
a Blue Can for Recyclables. Yard Waste and Garbage are
collected weekly and Recycling is collected bi-weekly. All
three containers are provided by the hauler.
Since recycling is collected bi-weekly, recyclables are
collected on designated pickup days during Recycling
Week 1 or Week 2. Recycling must be curbside by 7:00
am on your collection day.
Items that can be recycled include:
•
Plastic containers, including soft drink, liquor
bottles, milk jugs and detergent bottles (all plastics
acceptable except #6).
•
Rigid plastics (toys, litter boxes & buckets).
•
Empty aerosol cans.
•
Milk cartons & juice boxes.
•
Cardboard (ﬂattened).
•
Glass bottles & jars: Clear, green and brown glass is
acceptable. Remove caps & lids and rinse out.
•
Metal cans (aluminum or steel), including soft drink,
beer & food cans. Rinse out cans.
•
Paper (newspaper, brown paper bags, magazines,
corrugated containers, junk mail, high-grade).
Recycling that does not meet the above criteria will be
tagged as non-compliant. If brought into compliance, it
will be collected at the next regularly scheduled pick-up
date.
Residents can also drop off recyclables at the North
Mecklenburg Recycling Center located at 12300 N.
Statesville Road. Contact 311 for more information on
the Center. If you need additional information please visit
www.huntersville.org or call 704.875.6541.
Pg. 6
The Town of Matthews encourages all citizens and
businesses to recycle. In addition to weekly garbage pick up
and yard waste collection, curbside recycling is provided free
of charge. Call us if you need our twenty-two gallon recycle
bins. Small businesses (that are enrolled in the voluntary
recycling program) and residents, have their recyclables
collected once a week on the same day as their trash pickup.
Overﬂow items may be placed in clear plastic or paper bags
and put next to or on top of the bins.
Items that can be recycled include:
•
ALL plastic containers - except #6 - styrofoam/clamshells.
•
Rigid plastics (toys, litter boxes and buckets).
•
Empty aerosol cans.
•
Milk cartons and juice boxes.
•
Aluminum cans.
•
Metal food cans.
•
Glass bottles & jars.
•
Cardboard (cut & ﬂattened into no larger than 3’ x 3’
sections).
•
Paper (books, magazines, phone books, brown paper
bags, newspapers, junk mail & mixed paper, but not
shredded paper).
Note: Lids should be removed and all food and other residue
should be washed out.
Non-acceptable items at this time are:
#6 plastic containers, pizza boxes, bottle caps or lids, plastic
bags, shredded paper, plastic food trays and cups, ceramics,
pots & pans, glassware, paper plates, napkins, batteries, light
bulbs, wire hangers, clamshells and Styrofoam. No hazardous
or commercial medical waste may be put in the recycling
containers.
re• think
Residential Recycling Collection
Matthews (cont’d)
The town has launched a voluntary recycle program for small
businesses that are eligible to receive garbage collection in
Matthews. It is provided at no cost to participating businesses.
For more information about recycling in Matthews or if your
container needs to be replaced due to damage or if you need
free additional recycling bins (limit of 2), call us at
704-847-3640, visit www.matthewsnc.com, or email the Public
Works Department at: [email protected].
Town of Mint Hill
Citizens in the Town of Mint Hill contract directly with the solid
waste service provider for collection of garbage and recyclables.
Once contracted, the citizen receives a ninety-six (96) gallon
roll-out cart for garbage from the service provider along with a
sheet that informs the citizens of all the solid waste services that
will be provided. Upon request, the Town of Mint Hill will provide
citizens with one recycle bin per single family home. Collection is
provided once a week for garbage and recycling.
Please follow these rules when recycling in the Town of Mint Hill:
Bins should be placed at the curb by 7:00 a.m. the morning
of your pickup.
Items that can be recycled include:
•
ALL plastic containers – except #6 - styrofoam/ clamshells.
•
Rigid plastics (toys, litter boxes and buckets).
•
Empty aerosol cans.
•
Milk cartons and juice boxes.
•
Aluminum cans.
•
Metal food cans.
•
Glass bottles & jars.
•
Cardboard (cut & ﬂattened into no larger than 3’ x 3’
sections).
•
Paper (books, magazines, phone books, brown paper bags,
newspapers, junk mail & mixed paper, but not shredded
paper).
Town of Pineville
Trash and recycling collection in the Town of
Pineville has recently changed. Large rollout
containers are now used and recycling is collected
every other week on Thursdays (except on holiday
schedule). Household trash and yard waste are still
collected weekly on Wednesdays (except on holiday
schedule). Rollout containers should be placed at
the curb no sooner than the night before pickup and
removed from the curb by the evening of the pickup. A
schedule of pickup dates for 2011 has been posted on
the town’s website at: www.pinevillenc.net.
Items that can be recycled include:
•
ALL plastic containers - except #6 - styrofoam/
clamshells.
•
Rigid plastics (toys, litter boxes and buckets).
•
Empty aerosol cans.
•
Milk cartons and juice boxes.
•
Aluminum cans.
•
Metal food cans.
•
Glass bottles & jars.
•
Cardboard (cut & ﬂattened into no larger than 3’ x
3’ sections).
•
Paper (books, magazines, phone books, brown
paper bags, newspapers, junk mail & mixed paper,
but not shredded paper).
Pick-up of large, bulky items such as furniture or old
appliances must be scheduled directly with Signature
Waste. New residents wishing to establish service and
current residents with service issues should also call
Signature Waste directly at 704-714-9400. Tree limbs
should be bundled and no longer than 3 feet. Leaves
and other yard debris can be bagged in clear or colored
bags. If using a colored bag, leave it loosely tied so
the contents can be veriﬁed. Household hazardous
waste items such as tires, oil, paint cans, batteries,
and propane tanks will not be picked up, nor will
construction materials, which must be removed by the
contractor.
If you need additional information please visit:
www.minthill.com or call 704.545.9726 or 704.376.9359.
Pg. 7
re• think
Multi-family Household Recycling
Apartments, Townhouses and
Condominiums
Many apartment and condo complexes offer
recycling and provide large bins for you to
deposit your recyclables. When you are ready to
drop them off at the designated recycling station
at your complex, simply place the materials into
the container labeled recycling.
Important note: To accommodate the needs
of multi-family recycling, guidelines have been
modified slightly from curbside customers.
In Charlotte, if you have any questions about
apartment and condominium recycling or
about containers, please call the CharlotteMecklenburg Information Center at 311. If you
live in one of the surrounding Mecklenburg
County Towns, please contact your local
municipality for recycling options in your area.
The contact information can be found on page 2.
What Can Be Recycled
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Aerosol cans
Aluminum cans
Cardboard (ﬂattened)
Glass bottles & jars
Juice boxes
Milk and juice cartons
Paper, junk mail & newspaper
Plastics # 1-5 & 7
Plastic bottles & jugs
Wide mouth plastic containers
Rigid plastics
Spiral paper cans
Metal food cans
Cereal & food boxes
Magazines & phonebooks
Paperback books
What Can NOT Be Recycled
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Appliances*
Automobile Parts
Batteries
Bottle caps/lids
Ceramics
Clothing**
Garbage
Household Hazardous Waste*
Lightbulbs
Paper plates/napkins
Pizza boxes
Plastics # 6
Plastic bags
Plastic food trays/cups
Pots/pans
Shredded paper
Styrofoam
Takeout food containers
Water hoses
Wire hangers
*Items are accepted at the Mecklenburg County’s full service
recycling drop-off centers (see page 9).
**Items accepted by non-profit organizations (Goodwill, Kidney
Foundation, etc.).
Pg. 8
re• think
FULL SERVICE
Recycling Drop-off Centers
1. N. Mecklenburg Recycling/Yard Waste Ctr.
12300 N. Statesville Rd.
(Call 311 or 704-336-7600)
2. West Mecklenburg Recycling Ctr.
8440 Byrum Drive (Call 311)
YARD WASTE ONLY
3. Hickory Grove Recycling/Yard Waste Ctr.
8007 Pence Road (Call 311)
4. Foxhole Recycling/Yard Waste Ctr.
17131 Lancaster Highway (Call 311)
SELF SERVICE
5. Compost Central
5631 West Blvd. (Call 704-588-9092)
6. Park Road Park Recycling Ctr.
5300 Closeburn Rd.
7. Uptown Recycling Ctr.
11th St. Between Tryon and College St.
8. McAlpine Creek Park Recycling Ctr.
8711 Monroe Rd.
9. Rozzelles Ferry Road Recycling Ctr.
5800 Rozzelles Ferry Road
10. Renaissance Park Recycling Ctr.
1536 Tyvola Road
11. William R. Davie Park
4635 Pineville Matthews Rd
12. Davidson Recycle Ctr.
Jackson Street, Davidson, NC
13. Blythe Landing
15901 Highway 73, Huntersville, NC
14. Reedy Creek Park Recycling Ctr.
2900 Rocky River Rd.
Pg. 9
re• think
Recycling Drop-off Centers
Items Banned from
Disposal in Landﬁlls
NEW
NEW
NEW
NEW
NEW
Plastic Bottles & Jugs
except #6
Wide-Mouth Plastic
Containers
Rigid Plastics
Empty Aerosol Cans
Milk & Juice Cartons
Juice Boxes
Aluminum Cans
Glass Bottles & Jars
Cereal & Food Boxes
Cardboard Boxes
Magazines &
Phone Books
flattened
Did you know that you
can’t throw these items in
your trash? It’s the law. As
provided in General Statues,
the following materials are
banned from being disposed
of in landfills:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Paperback Books
Metal Food Cans
Junk Mail, Mixed
Paper & Newspaper
RECYCLING
used oil
yard trash
white goods
antifreeze
aluminum cans
whole scrap tires
lead-acid batteries
motor vehicle oil filters
oyster shells
wooden pallets (except in
construction & demolition)
recyclables rigid plastic
containers that have
neck smaller than the
body of the container
and that accept a screw
top, snap cap, or other
closure. (The prohibition
on disposal of recyclable
rigid plastic containers in
landfills does not apply
to rigid plastic containers
that are intended for use
in the sale or distribution
of motor oil.)
Effective April 1, 2011:
computer equipment.
Pg. 10
re• think
Recycling Drop-off Centers
Recycling Drop-off Centers are conveniently located throughout Mecklenburg County. There are three types
of Recycling Drop-off Centers: Full-Service (focus to service the residential sector and businesses with limited
quantities), Self-Service and Commercial (focus to accept residential and business recyclables). The Drop-off
Centers and what they accept and who may use them is described below.
Full Service Drop-off Centers
Full Service Drop-off Centers are funded
through the residential solid waste fee.
Mecklenburg County residents can bring
the following materials to these Drop-off
Centers. There are limitations on what
businesses are allowed to drop-off (see
below). These Drop-off Centers have
full-time staff available to assist you
Monday-Saturday 7am to 4 pm.
Items accepted:
•
Household garbage.
•
Appliances (limit 4). *Please contact
Metals & Tire Recovery Center,
704.336.7759.
•
Tires (4 limit per visit -- fee for tires
on rims). *Please contact Metals &
Tire Recovery Center, 704.336.7759.
•
Scrap aluminum & metal (bed
frames, swing sets, etc.).
•
Foam rubber (carpet padding).
•
Electronics - computers & TV.
•
Paper: Newspapers, magazines,
catalogs, junk mail, telephone
books, white & colored ofﬁce paper
and ﬂattened cardboard.
•
Plastic containers 1-5 & 7, glass jars
& bottles and metal cans.
•
Cooking grease in containers.
•
Mecklenburg County offers free
Household Hazardous Waste
(chemical) disposal to residents
living in Charlotte, Cornelius,
Davidson, Huntersville, Matthews,
Mint Hill and Pineville.
•
Chemicals brought in are collected
and evaluated for recycling,
treatment, or proper disposal by
a licensed county contractor. By
disposing of household hazardous
waste properly, citizens help to
protect our water supply and our
natural resources.
Items accepted (cont’d):
•
Motor oil, antifreeze/transmission
ﬂuid & oil ﬁlters (5 gallon limit per
visit).
•
Batteries – lead acid (car),
household, Ni-Cad, rechargeable.
•
Paint and oil cans.
•
Fire extinguishers.
Self Service Drop-off Centers
Self Service Drop-off Centers are not
staffed but offer ﬂexibility as to when you
can drop off your recyclable materials.
These Drop-off Centers will accept all
items listed under Residential Recycling.
Please reference page 3 for a list of
items that Can and Cannot be recycled.
Commercial Recycling Drop-off
Centers
Commercial Recycling Drop-off
Centers, there are over 80 locations
throughout Mecklenburg County.
These recycling Drop-off Centers are
available to any Mecklenburg County
business or resident at no cost. These
Drop-off Centers will accept all items
listed under Residential Recycling, see
page 3. To locate the closest Drop-off
Center: Telephone 311 or visit www.
WipeOutWaste.com (look in left-hand
corner and click on Recycling Drop-off
Centers, at the top of this page, click on
“Locate A Recycling Drop-off Center in
Your Area”.) Interested in sponsoring a
Commercial Recycling Drop-off Center?
Call (704) 432-3200 or (704) 432-0400.
Yard Waste
Compost Central, North Mecklenburg,
Hickory Grove and the Foxhole
Recycling Centers accept yard waste
from residents and businesses. Visit our
website or call 311 for fees and vehicle
restrictions.
Items Accepted:
• Unbagged leaves, brush, grass
clippings
• Limbs less thank 5 ft. in length
• Pallets unpainted and untreated
Construction & Demolition
Debris
North Mecklenburg, Hickory Grove, and
West Mecklenburg Recycling Centers, as
well as the Foxhole Landﬁll accept C&D
waste from household projects. Visit our
website www.wipeoutwaste.com or call
311 for fees and vehicle restrictions.
Items Accepted:
•
•
•
•
Wood waste (framing timbers,
pallets, crates, spools, sheathing,
treated lumber/decking).
Inert material (concrete, brick,
asphalt pavement, mortar,
sheetrock, rock, gravel).
Plastic (pipes, buckets, wrap).
Other (shingles, fiberglass bath
fixtures, tile, ceramic, carpet,
padding.
Note: The following items can be
recycled at the Foxhole Landfill:
untreated and unpainted wood, (solid
wood, not any kind of chipboard
or particle board which contain
adhesives), unpainted drywall and
dried concrete may also be recycled.
See page 19 for more information.
Pg. 11
household hazards
Is Your Home A Hazardous House?
Simple Steps to Make
Your Home EnvironmentFriendly
Did You Know?
Many products found in the kitchen,
bath, utility and garage shelves contain
hazardous or toxic chemicals. Misuse or
improper disposal of these products
can pose a threat to your health. Long
term or cumulative problems, such as
contamination of drain fields, septic
systems, and surface and groundwater
can also occur. Products containing
hazardous substances must include a
warning and description of the hazard.
A substance is considered
hazardous if it is:
* Toxic - can cause injury or death if
swallowed, absorbed, or inhaled. Toxic
products such as rat poison, weed
killers, antifreeze, mercury and insect
killers are poisonous, either immediately
or over a long period of time.
* Flammable - can be ignited by a
ﬂame, spark, ignition source or hot
surface under almost all temperature
conditions. Flammable products such
as lighter ﬂuids, turpentine, paint, paint
thinner, kerosene, propane and gas
cylinders, adhesives, and old gasoline
are capable of burning or causing a fire.
* Corrosive - a chemical or its vapors
that can burn or destroy living tissues at
the site of contact, and deteriorate or
wear away the surface of a material.
Corrosive products such as bleach, pool
chemicals, strong chemicals, acids and
caustics are capable of eating away
materials and destroying living tissue
when contact occurs.
Pg. 12
* Explosive - violently bursting when
exposed to pressure or heat or other
substances. Reactive products such as
pool chlorine, cyanides and strong
fertilizers can explode or release
poisonous fumes when exposed to air,
water or other chemicals.
What You Can Do?
Read Labels
Consumer products containing
hazardous substances must be labeled
with a warning and description of the
hazards. It is your responsibility to
know what is toxic, its proper use and
disposal.
Use Alternatives
The best way to get a “less-toxic”
product is to make it yourself. For
example, Consumers Union found
homemade recipes for glass cleaners
to be equal to or better than many
commercial aerosols, sprays, and premoistened towels.
Buy Smart
In most cases, an all-purpose cleaner is
designed to perform many different
jobs. Always choose products that
contain the least harmful ingredients.
Select water-based instead of solventbased products and products that
require less toxic materials for clean-up.
Give It Away
Avoid purchasing more product than you
can use within a reasonable period of
time. Hazardous products usually have
a long shelf life and work well years after
purchase. Check with friends, neighbors,
and community groups to see if they
have a need for items like paint or
fertilizers.
Most Household
Hazardous Waste (HHW)
may be taken to the full
service Drop-off Centers
(see list below) where it
is collected by a licensed
HHW transfer, storage
and disposal facility.
North Mecklenburg
Recycling Center
12300 N. Statesville Rd.
Phone: 311
West Mecklenburg
Recycling Center
8440 Byrum Drive
Phone: 311
Hickory Grove Recycling
Center
8007 Pence Road
Phone: 311
Foxhole Recycling Center
17131 Lancaster Highway
Phone: 311
A list of household
hazardous waste and
non-toxic cleaning
solution recipes is
available at
www.wipeoutwaste.com.
re• think
Tips
COOKING GREASE DISPOSAL
TIP:
Even though it’s tempting, don’t pour
grease down the drain or your kitchen
sink.
It may get in the water system, as well
as clog up your drain. You can recycle
cooking oils and grease at one of the
four Mecklenburg County Full Service
Recycling Centers. You may also
freeze animal fats in a can or mix liquid
vegetable fats with an absorbent material,
such as cat litter or coffee grounds, and
place in a lidded container and dispose of
in your regular household garbage.
PHARMACEUTICAL
(MEDICINE) DISPOSAL TIP:
Take unused, unneeded, or expired
prescription drugs out of their original
containers and mix the prescription
drugs with a substance such as coffee
grounds or kitty litter. Then place them
in impermeable, non-descript containers
such as empty cans or sealable bags and
throw the containers in the trash.
Where available, return unused,
unneeded, or expired prescription drugs
to pharmaceutical takeback programs
(Call your local pharmacy) that allow
the public to bring pharmaceuticals to a
central location for safe disposal.
Pg. 13
re• think
Business / Commercial Recycling
Business Recycling In
Mecklenburg County
Mecklenburg Business Recycling
Ambassador Program
Mecklenburg County has a Business Recycling
Ordinance. The Ordinance applies only to ofﬁce
paper and corrugated cardboard — businesses
must separate these items for recycling. You may
contract with a vendor to pick up the paper and
cardboard, or you may take these materials to
one of the County’s recycling drop-off centers.
The NEW “Mecklenburg Business Recycling
Ambassador Program”: It is important to publicly
recognize businesses that make an effort to reduce
their waste. Studies show that consumers would
like to patronize businesses that recycle or offer
recycled products. The Mecklenburg Business
Recycling Ambassador Program has two goals.
First, it is the County’s initiative to identify, reward
and publicly recognize these businesses. Second,
it is an opportunity for business to share their ideas
and programs with other businesses by becoming a
mentor. For additional information, visit
www.WipeOutWaste.com, Business Recycling or
call 704-432-0400.
Does it affect my business? Any business that
contracts for 16 cubic yards or greater (a typical
commercial garbage bin or “Dumpster” has a
capacity of 8 cubic yards) must participate.
What happens if I don’t comply? The County will
give the business a notice of violation. The notice
will be accompanied by an offer of technical
assistance. A civil penalty will be assessed if
a business fails to comply with the Ordinance
within 30 days of receiving a third notice of
violation.
Questions? Call the Business Recycling Infoline
at 704-432-3200.
Pg. 14
re• think
CMS School Recycling
School Recycling
The Charlotte Mecklenburg School System
(CMSS) is the second largest school system
in North Carolina. In the years prior to 2010,
CMSS has aligned with Mecklenburg County
Solid Waste to establish and maintain only a
Paper & Cardboard Recycling Program. With
the implementation of the County’s new re-think
Recycling program all of CMSS can recycle
many new items. This program is available to all
students, teachers, and staff members within the
county-wide school system.
The re-think Recycling program has created
many new opportunities to recycle and divert
large quantities of waste from our landﬁlls. In
the school cafeterias new items can be recycled
such as tin food cans, empty milk/juice cartons,
water bottles, clean yogurt containers, and
aluminum cans. Some of these items amount to
outstanding volumes of materials. In the 20092010 school year, over 18,000,000 milk/juice
cartons were distributed throughout CMSS. Now
that these cartons can be recycled, we must
encourage all students, teachers, parents, and
staff members to recycle these containers to help
save the environment and keep them out of the
landfill.
We must all do our part to promote and educate
our youth of the do’s and don’ts of the new
re-think Recycling program. For a recycling
and/or solid waste presentation to your school,
classroom, or staff please call 704-336-3777 for
more information.
For other information regarding this program,
other youth oriented resources and a complete list
of recyclable items go to www.wipeoutwaste.com
or www.cms.k12.nc.us.
Pg. 15
compost• it
Home Composting
Home Composting
Mecklenburg County’s Waste
Reduction program teaches the
benefits of organic recycling and
waste reduction. Through home
composting, proper soil preparation
and management, the use of
mulching and grasscycling, and
toxicity reduction, people are
empowered with knowledge and
inspiration to make a difference in
themselves and their communities.
There are many methods to
composting. In our classes, the more
popular is the hot batch pile. This
method, when done correctly, can
produce good quality compost in
about 12 weeks.
The information listed here is
intended as a quick start guide. For a
more detailed explanation of this and
other methods, visit:
www.WipeOutWaste.com to sign
up for a compost class.
MAKE YOUR OWN COMPOST
Keep these five rules to keep in mind
when making compost:
1) There are two types of materials
that make up a compost pile.
Carbon or “browns”. Dead
leaves, shredded cardboard and
newspapers, dead house and garden
plants all provide this nutrient.
Nitrogen or “greens”. Raw
vegetable kitchen scraps, coffee
grounds, blood meal, rinsed
eggshells, manure from grass-fed
animals, okara, and tofu fall in this
Pg. 16
category. When making a hot batch
pile, alternate 2 inches of green
materials with 2 inches of brown
materials. Use quality materials to
make quality compost.
2) A good active pile needs lots of
quality materials.
Plan on using about 15-20 bags of
leaves to get your first pile started.
3) Keep it convenient to reach and
keep it moist.
Put the bin where it is convenient for
loading and can be reached with a
water hose. Keep the pile moist to
the consistency of a damp, wrung
out sponge.
4) Provide good air circulation.
A wire bin is an inexpensive way to
keep the pile neat and makes it easy
to turn.
5) Don’t buy materials for your
compost pile.
After all, it is about waste reduction.
Once you mix all the materials
together, cover the bin to keep
moisture in and vermin out!
The right mix
Add one foot of leaves (about ﬁve
bags) to the bin, then pack down
with rake. Add a foot of nitrogen rich
product, add water to “squeezed out
sponge” consistency; repeat process
until all leaves are used (about 20
bags for a full bin); mix materials well
with a pitchfork.
Maintaining your pile
You know your pile is working when it
heats up in the middle and then
cools down after about a week.
Turning the pile helps aerate and
break up materials and is a good
time to add water, if needed. We
recommend turning after one week,
then every 3 weeks, for a total of 4
turns. Your compost is ready when
materials are dark, crumbly and soillike. Usually the pile shrinks to 1/2
its original size.
NOTE: While there are many things
that can safely work in a compost
bin, there are a few items to keep
out. These include dog, cat and
human waste; meat, dairy products,
and grease. These items smell bad,
will attract animals and vermin and
could carry disease pathogens!
USING COMPOST
Now that you’ve made it, what can
you do with it? Spread 2-3 inches
of finished compost around garden
plants to maintain moisture in the
soil. Compost can also be screened
for use in potting mixes and with
houseplants.
Boost your garden soil every year
by adding 2-4 inches of compost at
planting time.
Apply 1-2 inches to established
lawns and ﬂower beds as a super
feeding top dress.
BUYING COMPOST
High quality compost and mulch
products are available from
Mecklenburg County. For more
information, call 704-588-9092 or
visit our website at
www.wipeoutwaste.com under
Compost-Yard waste.
compost• it
Composting Classes
COMPOST WORKSHOPS
The basic Home Composting
Workshop is a two hour hands-on
workshop. Topics include home
composting, residential recycling,
soil preparation and management,
toxicity reduction, grasscycling and
mulching. This class is suitable for
beginners.
The class is limited to 20 people
per class and is required for anyone
wishing to participate in the Master
Composter program. Classes are
held from 10:00am to 12 noon
(unless otherwise noted) at a cost of
$10 each. They are held outdoors
so please dress appropriately.
Closed toe shoes are required for
safety reasons.
Pre-registration is required and may
be done by calling 704.336.4304 or
visiting: www.wipeoutwaste.com.
Mecklenburg Organic
Recycling Ambassadors:
A Master Composters training
program.
Our mission is to educate the
public about Mecklenburg County’s
efforts to reduce residential and
commercial waste.
This free 40 hour training program is
open to all residents of Mecklenburg
County. Applicants must have
completed the County’s Basic Home
Composting workshop and/or have
a working knowledge of composting.
In return for the training, students
are required to give back volunteer
time to the Organic Waste
Reduction program and its projects.
Examples of past projects include:
developing a school compost
garden, and providing under-served
neighborhoods with residential
recycling and composting training.
Participants in the Master
Composter program get hands-on in
depth training in topics such as:
•
•
•
•
Various methods of composting.
Starting and maintaining an ecofriendly food share garden.
Starting and maintaining a
school recycling program.
Starting and maintain a recycling
program at work and home.
Pre-registration is required and may
be done by calling 704.336.4304 or
visiting: www.wipeoutwaste.com.
The classes are held at the Hal
Marshall Service Center and in
the Little Sugar Creek Greenway
Community Garden.
For more information, please visit
www.wipeoutwaste.com, and click
“Master Composter” or call 704432-1970.
Mecklenburg County Mulch and
Compost
High quality compost and mulch
products are available from
Mecklenburg County. For more
information, call 704-588-9092
or visit our website at
www.wipeoutwaste.com under
Compost-Yard Waste.
Compost, nugget mulch and red
mulch are available for sale at
Compost Central. For deliveries and
price information call 704-588-9092.
Hardwood Mulch
Nugget Mulch
Pallet Mulch
Red Mulch
Compost
Fill Dirt
Mecklenburg County Mulch and
Composting Facilities offer a
delivery service within Mecklenburg
County. The cost is a delivery fee
plus the amount of compost or
mulch purchased. Please allow a
week to ten days for delivery.
Compost Bin Sales
Mecklenburg County Organic Waste
Reduction partners with many
businesses to offer County residents
compost bins for a 30% to 50%
discount.
For more information, upcoming
events and a list of compost bin
vendors, give us a call at
704-432-1970 or visit
www.wipeoutwaste.com.
Pg. 17
grasscycling
It’s Good For Your Lawn
Why Grasscycle?
When you mow regularly, clippings
quickly decompose and release
nutrients to fertilize the lawn. There
are many beneﬁts– both ﬁnancial
and ecological – to grasscycling.
You can:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Reduce yard waste by 20% 40% or more (North Carolina
legislation prohibits yard
waste from being discarded in
landfills).
Save time, trouble and expense
of bagging or putting yard waste
in cans.
Save gas and energy required
to transport and process grass
clippings.
Reduce the need for fertilizer by
one-third.
Reduce the demand for water.
Reduce negative impact on
water quality from erosion and
pesticide application.
Provide moisture and nutrients
to the soil and cushioning layers
to reduce wear.
Using grass clippings as a source
of fertilizer for your lawn can save
time and money and help protect
the environment.
Leaving grass clippings on your
lawn can generate up to 25% of
the lawn’s yearly fertilizer needs
and reduce the amount of time and
money you spend fertilizing and
bagging. Lawns stay greener and
healthier when clippings are left on
them.
Pg. 18
Mowing
Any mower that is in good working
condition and has a sharp blade
can be used to grasscycle.
Mulching mowers may be better
than traditional mowers for those
who can not mow on a regular
basis. These mowers tend to cut
grass into finer pieces, allowing it
to filter down among the standing
plants. With either mower, best
results can be expected if the lawn
is dry.
Mowing Heights
•
•
•
•
Cut as often as necessary to
insure that only 1/3 of the grass
blade needs to be removed.
During times of rapid growth,
you may need to mow every 5-6
days.
Cut when the grass is dry in
order to avoid a wet, sticky mess
on your lawn and inside the
mower deck.
Be Safe. Wear eye and ear
protection. Keep children at a
safe distance.
Mow regularly. A basic rule is
not to remove more than 1/3 of
the growth at one time.
Mow at the appropriate height.
Refer
to table below for guidelines for
mowing heights.
Basic Watering Tips
LAWNGRASS HEIGHT after mowing (inches)
Bermudagrass – warm season
3/4
to 1
Centipedegrass – warm season
1
St. Augustinegrass – warm season
3
to 4
Bahiagrass – warm season
3
to 4
Zoysiagrass – warm season
3/4 to
1½
Tall Fescue – cool season
3
to 4
Kentucky Bluegrass- cool season
1 ½ to
2½
Fine Fescue – cool season
1 ½ to
2½
Perennial Ryegrass – cool season
1 ½ to
2½
•
(Warm season grasses will go dormant in
the winter. Cool season grasses will go
dormant in the summer if not watered.)
•
•
Keep the blade sharp.
Keep the deck clean. Wash the
underside of the mower after
each use. A clogged deck won’t
mulch or discharge well.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Don’t water fescue, bluegrass,
or ryegrass lawns in the summer
unless you plan to do so all
season.
Water your lawn, if needed at
night.
Give lawns grown on heavy clay
soils a total of 1 inch of water
per week.
Don’t water until you see the ﬁrst
signs of wilt.
Don’t over-water. This promotes
disease and excessive growth.
Consider installing a drip
irrigation system to apply water
more slowly and directly to the
roots of plants and trees. It is
more effective and uses less
than half as much water as a
sprinkler.
Use grass clippings in the yard.
If it’s necessary to collect grass
clippings, recycle them in your
yard. Spread clippings over
a layer of newspaper in the
vegetable or flower garden.
Use clippings as mulch under
bushes.
re• think
Construction & Event Recycling
Recycle Your Construction and
Demolition Waste, Too!
Are you thinking of building a home or perhaps
considering remodeling? Did you know that
many construction and demolition wastes can
be recycled? Land clearing debris is ground into
mulch and used for landscaping. Concrete and
asphalt are ground and reused. Clean wood,
metals and gypsum (drywall) are recyclable, too.
Recycling at construction/demolition job sites may
save you and your contractor money in addition to
being good for our environment, but pre-planning
is needed for success. For a discounted fee,
the Foxhole Landﬁll accepts clean wood waste,
unpainted drywall, asphalt shingles and concrete
for recycling (about half the fee charged for
disposal).
For more information or assistance in reducing or
recycling construction/demolition waste, please
call 704.432.0399 or visit www.wipeoutwaste.com.
Mecklenburg County’s Full Service Drop-off
Centers (North Meck, Hickory Grove, West Meck
and the Foxhole Recycling Center), accept
construction/demolition wastes from residents
for disposal. No commercial waste is accepted
at these centers. Disposal fees for residents do
apply for a standard pickup or 12 ft. trailer load. If
you have any questions about disposal of wastes
or recycling at Drop-off Centers, please call 311 or
visit: www.wipeoutwaste.com.
Secure Your Load!
Roadside litter isn’t just unsightly; it’s expensive
to remove. Be sure you don’t lose any of your
valuable recyclables and reusables, and dispose
of trash properly to help keep waste management
costs and your taxes low. Require that all loads
coming into and leaving your construction site
be properly covered, secured and contained to
prevent spillage or blowout. Not just dump trucks,
but pickup trucks, also.
Event Recycling.
‘Keeping it clean and taking it green!’
Street fairs, concerts, sporting events, and other
special events are important occasions. One element of
these events that is often overlooked is the amount of
recyclables generated in the days leading up to, during,
and at the close of the event. Fortunately, there are
many ways event organizers can dramatically reduce
the amount of recyclables that ends up as trash in the
landfill.
One major way is through resource recovery, or
recycling. Mecklenburg County has developed a
program to collect and recover cardboard, plastic
bottles, glass bottles, and aluminum cans from the
waste stream during special events.
The Event Recycling program provides website
information, educational materials, presentations,
and hands-on training in an effort to be a resource for
organizers who want to increase the recycle rate and
sustainability at their event. The program also offers the
Event Recycling Toolkit. This is a refundable deposit
program that provides a predetermined number of
Clear Stream recycling containers and collections bags,
signs that direct and educate the public on the proper
separation of recyclables and trash, and tongs to help
volunteers sort and collect recyclables out of the trash
and/or remove trash from collected recyclables.
For more information on event recycling and to reserve
an Event Recycling Toolkit, call 704-432-1772 or visit
www.wipeoutwaste.com.
Pg. 19
re• think
Waste Reduction Information
Shop S.M.A.R.T.
JUNK MAIL & PHONE CALL OPT OUT
CHOSE PRODUCTS WISELY
The best place to start is the Direct Marketing
Association; their members are some of the direct
mailers who send out junk mail. Here’s their mailing
address:
Shop with the environment in mind and chose
products that:
• make the best use of energy resources
• don’t pollute air and water
• are reusable or recyclable
• are made from recycled material
• use a minimum of materials in design and
packaging
PRACTICE THE FIVE ‘R’S IN SELECTING
PACKAGING
More than 30% of household waste is packaging.
Most everything we buy has been wrapped in a
package -- or several layers of packaging -- at
some time on its way from producer to consumer.
While packaging provides many essential functions,
it can be excessive. As an enviroshopper, you can
chose products in packages that have the least
amount of negative environmental impact.
• Reduce the amount of packaging you buy and
throw away.
• Reuse packaging.
• Recycle packaging whenever possible.
• Reject packaging that’s unsatisfactory.
• Respond to producers and retailers to let them
know their packaging is unsatisfactory.
REDUCE PACKAGING
Here are some strategies to help you reduce your
packaging/garbage before you even produce it:
• Take your grocery bags back to the store to
keep from getting new ones every time.
• Take your own shopping bag for small
purchases.
• Choose packaging that uses the least amount
of material.
• Buy products in the largest quantity possible in
one package or buy reﬁlls and add liquid.
Pg. 20
Direct Marketing Association
1120 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 70036-6700
Call 212-768-7277 ext. 1500
You can also contact the major credit bureaus
to request that your personal information not
be shared with others or used for promotional
purposes. They are Experian, Equifax, Inc., Innovis,
and Trans Union Corporation. By calling 888-5678688 you can opt out of the companies.
Also, try:
www.optoutprescreen.com
www.catalogchoice.org
www.ecologicalmail.org or call (800/620-3975)
To Opt Out of Junk Phone Calls Telephone:
1-888-382-1222 or Email: donotcall.gov
Buy Recycled
“Buying recycled” means purchasing products
that contain recycled content materials. Today,
more and more products are made from recycled
materials. “Buying recycled” helps to “close the
recycling loop” by putting recycled materials to
good use as products in the marketplace. When
we incorporate “buy recycled” into our everyday
shopping habits, we communicate our desire
to play an active role in the preservation of out
environment.
donate• it
Waste Reduction Information
Wrap Up Your Holidays By
Recycling
The holidays may be the most wonderful
time of the year, but a not-too-wonderful
byproduct of all that celebrating and giftgiving is a mountain of wrapping paper,
cardboard, and tissue paper. Here are a few
tips to help you get it all under control and
maybe help save a tree or two while you’re
at it! See www. wipeoutwaste.com for more
useful holiday waste reduction tips and
recycling information.
•
•
•
•
•
•
Have children make their own wrapping
paper by designing and coloring on paper
grocery bags.
Decorate your home and tree with holly,
cedar, berries, fruits, and nuts. Compost
these things after the holidays.
Decorate your table by making a
centerpiece of colorful fruits, vegetables,
and nuts. Compost these things after the
holidays.
When inviting guests to your holiday feast,
ask them to bring reusable containers to
take leftovers home.
Save gift boxes, bags, bows, and ribbon to
use next year.
Keep the fronts of old Christmas cards to
use as nametags, bookmarks, or postcards
or donate to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
Remember, you may recycle your holiday
gift wrap (no bows and ribbons) and boxes
in your curbside recycling program or at
the County’s Recycling Drop-off Centers.
Christmas trees are also collected curbside
and at Recycling Drop-off Centers.
Donate it!
Visit our website at www.wipeoutwaste.
com under residential waste reduction
and learn where to donate items that are
just too good to throw away.
We want to encourage you to consider
donating good, reusable items to
charitable organizations in the CharlotteMecklenburg metro area.
Yard Sales
Yard sales are a great way of disposing of
your unwanted items, as well as getting
some extra cash. Give the items you’ve
discarded a longer life.
The only cost to you is your time and a
$5.00/day Yard Sale permit if you live in
the City of Charlotte.
Permits can be obtained at 700 N. Tryon
Street, Hal Marshall Bldg. 1st Floor,
Charlotte, NC 28202 or 700 E. Stonewall
Street, Bob Walton Plaza, 1st Floor,
Charlotte, NC 28202.
Additional information regarding the
permit can be found at http://tax.
charmeck.org.
Tips on how to have a successful yard
sale are at http://www.wipeoutwaste.com
under residential waste reduction.
Visit www.wipeoutwaste.com for useful holiday
waste reduction tips and recycling information.
Pg. 21
re• think
Swat A Litterbug.com
Litter Prevention
Litter was once described as
“one of the most neglected and
obvious forms of environmental
degradation.” (Anonymous)
You start by NOT being a litterbug
and volunteer to help pickup litter.
Whether it’s an effort spearheaded
by one person or a large group
effort, the impact will be significant
you CAN make a difference.
Below are the seven major
reasons for litter:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Pedestrians or cyclists who do
not use receptacles.
Motorists who do not use car
ashtrays or litter bags.
Business dumpsters that are
improperly covered.
Loading docks and
commercial or recreational
marinas with inadequate waste
receptacles.
Construction and demolition
sites without receptacles to
contain debris and waste.
Trucks with uncovered loads
on local roads and highways.
Household trash scattered
before or during collection.
A Top Priority
In Mecklenburg County, we
are trying to create a cleaner
safer community by embracing
strategies designed to achieve a
cleaner environment. Our focus is
on cleanup, prevention, promotion
and awareness, enforcement, and
legislation. Success is dependent
upon partnerships involving
government agencies and the
public/private sectors of our
community. In truth, each of us is
empowered to make a difference.
Pg. 22
Keep Mecklenburg Beautiful
(KMB).
KMB is a resource to achieving these
goals by addressing litter prevention,
beautification and community
improvement as well as recycling and
waste reduction. An afﬁliate of Keep
America Beautiful, it is a non-proﬁt
volunteer based entity operated under
the guidance of a 20 member board
of directors representing all sectors
of the community. KMB concentrates
its energies on programs and projects
throughout Mecklenburg County,
such as the annual Great American
Cleanup (GAC, March 1st through May
31st) which includes but is not limited
to neighborhood groups, schools,
churches, scouts and businesses.
KMB will provide the tools for
neighborhood and community clean
ups from bags, gloves, vests and litter
sticks to educational material for all
age groups.
To become a volunteer and request
additional information call
704-432-1772.
THINGS YOU CAN DO TO HELP
www.Swat A Litterbug.com
Wish you could do something
when you see someone toss litter
or cigarette butts out of their car
or trash blowing from an open bed
truck? Well, you CAN! The Keep
Mecklenburg Beautiful Swat-ALitterbug program is a way for you
to take positive action. Simply
report the tag number, date, time,
location and a brief description
of the incident. The owner of the
vehicle will receive a warning letter
explaining the legal ramifications
of littering and a litter bag or
pocket ashtray for their vehicle.
You can either call 704-432-1772
or visit www.swatalitterbug.com to
enter the information online.
litter prevention
Swat A Litterbug.com
Adopt-A-Highway
Secure your Load - Tarp It!
In North Carolina, a substantial amount
of all litter is “blown not thrown”. Items
ﬂying out of uncovered trucks not
only litter our highways, they create
dangerous driving conditions. Most
roadside litter comes from small
pickups or attached trailers. It takes
very little time, effort, or money to make
sure your load is properly secured.
Tarps can be purchased for less than
$20 and are stocked items at most
home improvement or automotive
stores.
Keep Mecklenburg Beautiful now
participates in an annual Tarp Day in
October sponsored by Keep America
Beautiful; several hundred tarps are
distributed by volunteers from the
various recycling centers located in
Mecklenburg County.
Administered by the NC DOT, this
volunteer based program results in
a significant tax savings benefit for
North Carolina tax payers. In 2009,
that savings was valued at $6.4 million.
All one hundred counties have a local
Adopt-A-Highway Coordinator that
facilitates the adoption of two-mile
sections of highway. They provide
trash bags, safety vests and gloves.
In addition, an Adopt-a-Highway
sign is placed at the two-mile section
recognizing the volunteer(s) taking
responsibility for litter removal on a
quarterly basis. Call 1-800-331-5864 or
visit www.ncdot.org/~beautification for
more information.
Adopt-A-City Street
Adopt-A-City Street is administered
by Keep Charlotte Beautiful. It
allows businesses and individuals
to make a difference in Charlotte by
signing up to adopt a city roadside
area and commit to clean it at least
four times a year. To sign up for this
program, contact [email protected].
nc.us or call 704-336-4211. Once
accepted, two signs with your
company or individual name will be
installed on the city roadside that
you have selected.
Purchase a Litter Prevention
License Plate
The General Assembly approved the
generation of a Litter Prevention license
plate in 2002. Shortly thereafter, the
plates became available for purchase
through the DMV tag agencies. Ten
dollars of each plate sold is diverted to
a litter Prevention Fund on a quarterly
basis. The money is used to help
support other statewide anti-litter
efforts.
Use a Portable Pocket
Ashtray
YES - Cigarette Butts are Litter!
Smoking and littering do not have to
be synonymous, as many responsible
smokers prove by properly disposing of
their cigarette butts. Unfortunately, an
estimated 1.2 billion smokers worldwide typically toss two cigarette butts
out on a daily basis. A close look at any
intersection proves the point. Contrary
to popular belief, cigarette butts are not
biodegradable. The filters are composed
of thousands of plastic-like cellulose
acetate fibers that can take up to fifteen
years to decay, releasing toxins in the
process. Eventually they are either
washed into waterways or become
trapped in areas where children, pets
and wildlife ingest them causing injury
or death in some cases. To help fight
cigarette litter, Keep Mecklenburg
Beautiful will give you a free pocket
ashtray. They are small enough to fit
into a pocket, purse or briefcase. They
can hold and extinguish cigarette butts.
Call 704-432-1772 to get yours.
Pg. 23
litter prevention
Swat A Litterbug.com
North Carolina Big-Sweep
Big Sweep, celebrating 25 years
of environmental stewardship in
2011, is held every fall to remove
trash from waterways. The fall 2010
cleanup removed 16,670 pounds of
trash from Charlotte-Mecklenburg
creeks and lakes. That’s eight tons!
Removing trash from lakes and
creeks helps local wildlife. When
wildlife mistake litter for food, it can
suffocate them or clog their digestive
tracts. Many will slowly starve to
death because real food can’t get
past the debris they ate. Wildlife
often become entangled in litter.
Once entangled, they are rarely able
to free themselves, and they often
attract other wildlife to the same
hazard. Find out more at http://
stormwater.charmeck.org and click
volunteer or call 704-336-5595.
North Carolina Annual Spring
and Fall Litter Sweep
Litter Sweep is a statewide roadside
litter cleanup campaign sponsored by
the NC DOT. The events are generally
scheduled for the last two weeks of
April and September. The campaign
follows a proclamation from the
Governor encouraging citizens,
businesses, local governments, civic
groups and Adopt-A-Highway (AAH)
volunteers to participate in making
our state clean, green and beautiful.
To volunteer, call 1-800-331-5864 or
visit www.ncdot.org/~beautification
for information.
Pg. 24
Division of Parks and
Recreation 2009 Litter
Cleanup Summary
The Division of Parks and Recreation
hosts litter cleanup events and
educational programs to
demonstrate the importance of litter
abatement and recycling. Park staff
partnered with civic groups,
youth groups and environmental
organizations to engage 755
participants in removing 67,800
pounds of litter from the environment
in 2009. Four division staff members
served as NC Big Sweep county
coordinators and eight state parks
held Big Sweep community events.
Division staff also provided
educational programs specifically
designed to prevent litter and
encourage the reduction of solid
waste. These programs reached an
additional 3,345 school students and
park visitors in 2009.
The ”Litter Critter”
Keep Mecklenburg Beautiful sports
a great mascot ‘Lenny the Litterbug’.
It’s a VW Beetle customized to
promote litter prevention and
to motivate people to NOT be
“Litterbugs”. The “Litter Critter”
name was chosen from entries
submitted during a public contest
to name the car. It debuted in the
2005 Carrousel Parade. The mascot
visits schools, and is often displayed
at special events such as Earth
Day. Call 704-432-1772 or www.
swatalitterbug.com for details.
Keep Charlotte Beautiful
(KCB)
KCB is comprised of 20 member
appointed by the Mayor & City
Council. They maintain programs
to help Charlotte be a clean
and attractive place in which to
work, live and play. They act as
a liaison between neighborhood
representatives, and others interested
in environmental issues. Members
develop, organize and participate
in environmental cleanup and
beautiﬁcation projects in partnership
with groups such as Hands on
Charlotte and Charlotte Green. Call
704-336-6399 or [email protected].
nc.us for more information.
litter prevention
Swat A Litterbug.com
FACT FILE:
Littering is Illegal
North Carolina G.S. 14-399(c) in part reads:
Unintentionally littering in the amount of 15 pounds or
less is subject to an infraction punishable by a ﬁne of up
to $100 and possible community service work up to 12
hours. Intentionally littering in the amount of 15 pounds
or less is subject to a Class 3 misdemeanor punishable
by a ﬁne of $250 to $1000 and possible community
service work up to 24 hours. In 2009, North Carolina law
enforcement agencies issued 4,572 charges for littering
and unsecured load violations.
The High Cost of Cleanup
The North Carolina Department of Transportation’s
total state highway system was comprised of 79,438
road miles in 2009 versus 79,261 miles in 2008. During
2009, the NCDOT spent $19,009,117 removing 446,964
bags of litter from 68,055 shoulder miles. Litter removal
efforts were down from the previous year. This is due
to the reduction of temporary employees utilized by the
Department of Transportation, and the closing of prison
facilities by the Department of Correction.
Due to the state’s budget restraints for fiscal 2009-2010,
the Community Work Program was eliminated. Prior to
the program cut, the CWP crews worked approximately
11,010 man days removing roadside litter.
The amount of litter picked up by the NCDOC inmates
during the 2009 spring and fall Litter Sweeps was
1,679,018 pounds versus 1,875,624 pounds in 2008.
During the 2009 spring and fall Litter Sweeps, the
NCDOT picked up 968,756 pounds of litter versus
847,500 pounds in 2008. There were approximately
10,043 Department of Transportation employees and
3,307 minimum custody road squad inmates that
removed litter from 20,102 miles of highway. There were
176,518 bags of litter removed.
NCDOT and NCDOC Inmate Litter Sweep Roadside
Litter Removal Results By Year:
Year Pounds Collected
2009
2,647,774
2008
2,723,124
2007
2,702,042
In previous years, the Department of Transportation
transferred $11.3 million to the Department of Correction
for costs associated with medium and minimum custody
inmates. In the 2010 fiscal year, this amount was
reduced to $9.04 million in accordance with the required
budget cuts across the department.
North Carolina Departments of Transportation
and Correction
The NCDOT’s arrangement with the NCDOC is one
component of keeping roadside litter removed from
many heavily traveled routes throughout the state.
During the work week, approximately 1,318 inmates
participate in roadside litter cleanup on a daily basis
(weather permitting). Overall, the budget reduced
funding for NCDOC inmate labor by 20% for 2009-2011.
Pg. 25
re• think
Citizen Involvement
America Recycles Day
America Recycles Day is November
15th every year. America Recycles Day
is comprised of thousands of events
designed to promote the benefits
of recycling. America Recycles Day
reminds people that recycling is only
the first step. People should also buy
products made from recycled materials.
You can learn how to participate at
www.americarecyclesday.org.
Earth Day
Earth day is April 22nd of every year. Earth
day is intended to inspire awareness of and
appreciation for the Earth’s environment.
Find out how you can participate in local
earth day events and activities by visiting
www.wipeoutwaste.com or
www.charmeck.org.
Pg. 26
re• think
Citizen Involvement
Need a Speaker?
Live in the City of Charlotte?
Well you have double the opportunity for receiving
information. The City of Charlotte Solid Waste
Services will make presentations to neighborhood
associations, civic organizations, churches and
schools. For a list of presentations visit
curbit.charmeck.org. Presentations can be
customized for the group or organization. To
schedule a presentation or get more information
about the Speakers Bureau, call 311.
Recycling Center
Tours
Curious about where all of the recyclables that
are picked up at the curb and schools go?
The Metrolina Recycling Center is the County’s
processing facility for recyclable materials.
Recyclables are sorted and prepared for market at
the Center by the Center’s operators, FCR.
Free tours of the Center are available and tailored
to any age group. To schedule a tour, call
704-598-8595.
Live in Mecklenburg County?
Mecklenburg County Solid Waste Reduction has useful information to share. Topics include: residential, school,
business/commercial, construction/demolition recycling, litter prevention, composting and yard waste programs,
household hazardous waste, and other topics.
In addition, Mecklenburg County offers an educational program detailing the Necessity, the Beneﬁts, the Laws &
Regulations, and How To reduce waste within your business.
Visit our website at www.WipeOutWaste.com or call 704.432-3200 or 704.432-1970.
Pg. 27
PRSRT STD
ECRWSS
US POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT NO. 3758
Charlotte, NC
Waste Reduction in Mecklenburg County
Mecklenburg County
Solid Waste Division
700 N. Tryon Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
Residential Recycling
2011/2012
www.wipeoutwaste.com
Waste Reduction in Mecklenburg County
A Word of Thanks
Mecklenburg County Solid Waste Management would like to thank its partners for supporting our programs:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Towns of Cornelius
Town of Davison
Town of Huntersville
Town of Matthews
Town of Mint Hill
Town of Pineville
City of Charlotte
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation
Coca Cola Consolidated
Harris Teeter
FCR
Keep America Beautiful
Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools