More Items Now Accepted in Residential Recycling Carts

The City of Concord is now accepting more items in residential recycling carts for curbside collection, giving customers additional ways to reduce household waste and keep common items out of the landfill. City of Concord Solid Waste Services customers may now recycle clean and dry plastic cups, yogurt and fruit containers, takeout containers, and paper cups in their black recycling carts.

The additional recycling items are now accepted thanks to new technology and increased processing capacity at the Mecklenburg County Amble Drive Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) where the City's recycling materials are taken for processing. The upgrades at the MRF include 16 optical sorters with advanced technology to better identify and separate materials as they move through the facility, enabling more items to be accepted.

New Items Now Accepted in Residential Recycling Carts:

• Plastic cups and lids (no straws)
• Plastic fruit containers/clamshells, including berry/produce, cold deli and salad, baker trays, microwaveable meal containers, meal prep containers, and other similar items
• Plastic takeout containers
• Plastic yogurt cups, dairy tubs, and similar food containers and lids
• Paper cups, including coffee and fast-food beverage cups

These additions join the materials already accepted from residential customers: plastic bottles, jugs, and jars; flattened cardboard, paper, and cartons; metal cans; and glass bottles and jars.

All recycled items must be clean, dry, and placed loose inside the cart - customers should not bag their recycling.

As a reminder, the following items cannot be recycled:

• Plastic bags, plastic film, plastic wrap, and plastic straws
• Cords, rope, hoses, and other "tanglers"
• Batteries, including lithium ion and rechargeable batteries
• Shredded paper
• StyrofoamTextiles
• Garbage

Recycling works best when neighbors unite to recycle right. Customers are reminded that when in doubt, throw it out!

To learn more about recycling, search if specific items can be recycled, and to sign up for alerts to never miss a collection day, customers are encouraged to visit concordnc.gov/whatsmyday and download the free CARTology app.