Waste Diversion and Recycling

Only 10% of Wilmington’s residents currently recycle. KNHB, UNC-Wilmington Recycling Services, and the New Hanover County Department of Environmental Management are working together to bring recycling awareness to citizens all across the county.

Please find below everything you need to know about recycling in New Hanover County!

New Hanover County Recycling Facility

Hours:

Monday - Friday 7:30AM - 3:30PM

New Hanover County Dept. of Env. Management

3002 U.S. Highway 421 North

Wilmington, NC 28401

Accepted Materials

Aluminum Cans and Steel Food Cans - Any metal container used for soup, pet food, vegetables, condensed milk, etc. Rinse out cans before recycling.

Batteries – Alkaline and lithium batteries, rechargeable Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH), Lithium Ion (Li-Ion), and Nickel Cadmium (NiCad) batteries

Books – Softcover books can be recycled “as is”. For Hardcover books, remove and discard the spine and front and back covers.

Cardboard - Flatten cardboard boxes and do not place Styrofoam in the cardboard containers.

Cartons – Milk, juice, soup, broth, wine, cream, egg substitute cartons, etc.

Glass Bottles and Jars – Glass bottles & jars do not need to be color separated. Remove lid, and rinse clean before recycling.

Electronics – If it runs off of a battery or has a plug, it can be recycled!

Mixed Paper – Office paper, magazines, paper bags, cereal and food boxes, craft paper, wrapping paper, junk mail, brochures, catalogues, and phone books are accepted. Staples and paper clips do not have to be removed.

Newspaper – Newspaper inserts can be recycled as well.

Plastic Containers – Please no plastic bags, films, or styrofoam. No containers that contained motor oil or pesticides are accepted. Milk jugs, soda and water bottles, detergent bottles, (plastics #1 and #2 only). Rinse out container and caps/lids should be left on. Spray nozzles should be removed and discarded.

Spiral Containers – Tubular, fiberboard containers with metal or plastic end caps.

UNC-Wilmington Recycling Depot

Hours:

Monday - Sunday 24hrs

UNC-Wilmington Recycling Services

5179 Lionfish Drive

Wilmington, NC 28403

Accepted Materials