City of Charlotte Solid Waste Services will collect garbage, recycling, yard waste and bulky items on Friday, March 30, 2018.

How to Prepare For Collection ::

• Do not overfill carts or place outside of the cart. Items  outside the rollout carts will not be collected. 
• Please ensure that the lid on your garbage and recycling rollout carts are down. 
• Please place the cart within six feet of the curb and with the handle facing toward your property. Do not block the sidewalk. 
• Please allow three feet of space between collection items and other obstacles such as mailboxes, phone poles and vehicles.
• Place the cart at the curb no later than 6:00 am on your scheduled collection day. 
• Place the cart at the curb no sooner than than the day before collection. The cart must be removed from the curb by midnight on the day of collection. A minimum $150 citation may be issued if you place the cart at the curb sooner than the day before collection or leave it at the curb past midnight on your collection day. 
• All recyclables should be loose in the cart. Recyclables should not be bagged. 
• For recycling: no plastic bags. Plastic bags aren't accepted and should be recycled at local grocery stores. Styrofoam and plastic plates and cups should be thrown in the garbage. 
• For yard waste and bulky waste preparation tips visit our item preparation quick tips page. 

The Second Annual #REPURPOSEDCLT :: Fashion Show + Auction on March 10

The hottest fashion show in Charlotte is returning Saturday, March 10 at 5 p.m. at Warehouse 242!

Last year, more than 250 attendees joined Solid Waste  and Dupp & Swat at #REPURPOSEDCLT Fashion Show + Auction. Similar to the inaugural event, 15 local designers and their models will rip the runway in beautiful, unique garments made from items the designers found in GoodWill Industries of the Southern Piedmont.

The items will be auctioned off and all proceeds will benefitCrownKeepers, a nonprofit dedicated to the creation, mobilization and sustainability of artists in the Queen City. This event not only benefits the organizations, but also the community and environment. According to an article by Huffington Post, "in 2013 alone, Americans discarded 15.1 million tons of clothing and other textiles, and 85 percent of that wound up in landfills."

Trash at the landfill produces methane gas causing air, soil and water pollution. This pollution can be linked to chronic diseases, including cancer, heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and diabetes, proving there is a direct connection between your health and the environment.

Upcycling clothing and furniture is a great way to reduce the amount of items going to the landfill. 

Purchase a ticket to support a fun event that will improve the local environment and community! 

Register For the Food Too Good to Waste Challenge Beginning March 11

The Challenge

The Food Too Good To Waste Challenge is a six-week challenge that teaches participants how to improve their health by simply eating more fresh fruits and vegetables, shopping more efficiently and implementing waste diversion and reduction strategies into their daily routine. 

Why? 

The EPA estimates that food waste is the number one thing in garbage AND said food waste mixed with all the other things we throw away creates methane gas that is emitted from landfills. Methane gas has a negative impact on our health and the environment.

How do you participate? 

Participants are asked to : 

1. Separate their food waste from the rest of their garbage.
2. Weigh both their food waste and regular garbage each week.
3. Record their food and garbage weights and document their waste strategies in the Food Too Good To Waste app.
4. Share their experiences on Facebook.
5. Track their progress weekly, getting results on their waste and carbon footprint reductions and money saved through waste reduction. So far, two cycles of the challenge have been completed by numerous residents city-wide.  

Register today!

In previous challenges, participants reported losing weight, becoming aware and more dedicated to reducing waste and thoroughly enjoying the experience. The next challenge begins March 11. Register here to take the challenge.

Upcoming Mecklenburg County Solid Waste Events

Introducing Shredding Saturdays!  

Mecklenburg County’s Solid Waste Division is making it easy for residents to dispose of old tax documents and other sensitive papers in a safe and secure manner."Shredding Saturdays" will take place at Compost Central, 140 Valleydale Road, Charlotte. A shredding truck will be there from 9 a.m. to noon (or until the truck reaches capacity).

County residents will be able to drop off their documents free of charge. There is a limit of three banker's boxes per car. Metal binders, paper clips and plastic bags are prohibited. This event will continue until June 2018, with events occurring the third Saturday of each month. Future dates include ::

• March 17
• April 21
• May 19
• June 16