RECYCLE PROGRAM

 Recycle Program in Rutherford County

 

With curbside pick-up in most of our towns and 10 Convenience Centers scattered outside of city limits, it is easy for all of Rutherford County's residents to recycle.  Sometimes, we just need a little know-how.

 

If you live in the city...

 The towns of Ellenboro, Forest City, Spindale, Ruth and Rutherfordton all have curbside pickup.  Businesses and residents are provided a recycling bin that can hold paper, glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles, aluminum & tin cans - there is no need to sort your recycling.  Cardboard boxes can be flattened and collected as well.

 

If you live in Ellenboro, Forest City, or Ruth, call GDS / Republic Services at 828.245.1642 to request a bin or learn when trash / recycle day is for you.

If you live in Rutherfordton, call the Public Works department at 828.287.5961 to request a bin or discover what day recycling is picked up in your neighborhood.

Spindale has curbside pick up and a collection point at First Baptist Church of Spindale on Wilson Street for ONLY loose (not bagged) clean paper, glass, plastic, aluminum and cardboard.  For information on curbside pickup and more information please call 828.286.2206. 

Residents of Lake Lure can receive more information on recycling procedures by calling Town Hall 828.625.9983.

Recycling pick up is provided for residents in Chimney Rock Village with curb-side service provided by Nelon Garbage Services (704.297.8014 or 828.779.0685). Recycling service for businesses can be contracted through Nelon Garbage Services or GDS / Republic Services 828.245.1641.

If you live outside city limits...

There are 10 Convenience Centers throughout Rutherford County.  These Convenience Centers are happy to accept newspaper, magazines, catalogs, soft cover books, phone books, glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles, aluminum & tin cans, flattened corrugated cardboard.  No need to sort them - it all goes into one container - We Sort It For You later! Just remember to not place plastic bags in the recycle, you can always empty your recycle in the bins.

Metals (including appliances), car batteries, motor oil and oil filters are accepted but must be placed in their proper locations at each Center.


Click to view our 2019 brochure edition on what is accepted as recycle in the bin!
Our goal is to send out clean recycle!!!!


 

 Did You Know?

Almost all plastic items will have a number stamped on them.  While #1 and #2 are the easiest to recycle and the most valuable Rutherford County accepts all kinds of plastic, #1-7, except #6 (Styrofoam.)  So don't be shy about throwing that plastic in the bin!
 
Learn More About Your Recycling
 
Knowledge is power, they say.  Read on to learn some fascinating tidbits about your recycling.  To learn even more, visit our helpful links page.
 
Aluminum
 
Rutherford County residents drink about 35 million beverages from aluminum cans each year. It is against the law in North Carolina to put an aluminum can in the landfill so recycle those cans. Every month, despite the law, Americans throw away as many aluminum cans as it would take to rebuild all of the existing commercial airplanes.

 

Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a TV for 3 hours. Recycling aluminum cuts related air pollution by 95%. It takes 95% less energy to make aluminum from recycled goods than from the raw bauxite ore.

 
A recycled aluminum can is typically back in the store as a new can within 6 weeks. 
 
Cardboard
 
Did you know that slick, glossy cardboard can't be recycled?  This is because cardboard is blended with water during the recycling process; the slick coating is usually waterproof, preventing the cardboard from being processed correctly.  Some of this coating, as well as tape and stickers left on boxes, can be filtered out in the process, but is ultimately thrown away. Plain corrugated cardboard boxes are 100% recyclable and tons of it are recycled weekly in Rutherford County by restaurants, grocery & department stores and residents.
 
Glass

Glass has no limit on the number of times it can be recycled, making it an extremely valuable commodity.  Most glass bottles contain some recycled content.
 
Recycling glass saves significant amounts of energy compared to making glass from sand, the raw material. Recycling 12 bottles is equivalent to running a TV for 3 hours. 
 
 
Paper
 
In the United States, it takes 500,000 trees to produce our Sunday newspapers. To produce newspaper from recycled newsprint rather than virgin pulp requires 50% less water and energy and causes 74% less air pollution.
 
Americans receive almost 4 million tons of junk mail a year and 44% of it is never opened.  If you receive junk mail, look closely and figure out how to unsubscribe.
 
Everyday US businesses generate enough paper to circle the earth 20 times.  Every ton of paper recycled saves approximately 17 trees.

Plastic

More than 2.4 billion pounds of plastic bottles were recycled in 2008. Although the amount of plastic bottles recycled in the U.S. has grown every year since 1990, the actual recycling rate remains steady at around 27 percent.  As of October, 2009, it is illegal in North Carolina to send plastic bottles to the landfill.
Think About Safety
During the summer, make sure to remove caps from energy drink and juice bottles. If there is any liquid left, high heat can cause it to ferment, producing a gas buildup that can cause the cap to explode off! It sounds crazy, but has been recorded numerous times, so unscrew those lids!
 



For more information on Recycling In Rutherford County contact

Rutherford County Solid Waste Department at (828-287-6125)
or
Donald Gowan (Public School pick-up and County Departments)
(828-287-6126 -can leave a message)