Recycling in Wilmington, NC

Where this information comes from

Checked October 26, 2026

• Locations (opens in new tab) · Goodwill Industries of Eastern North Carolina
  • Donation center and store hours at all locations are Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.-8:30 p.m. and Sunday noon-6 p.m. (Elizabeth City differs). Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Goodwill lists its South Kerr Avenue (Wilmington) store at 709 South Kerr Avenue, Wilmington, NC 28403. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Goodwill lists its Sir Tyler Drive (Wilmington) store at 1745 Sir Tyler Dr, Wilmington, NC 28405. Checked October 26, 2026.
• Bulky Item Collection (opens in new tab) · City of Wilmington Solid Waste Services
  • Oversized wood, plastic, metal, furniture and electronic items that do not fit in a trash cart are bulky items and are picked up at no additional charge. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Bulky pickup is by appointment only, booked by 4:30 p.m. on the business day before trash day (910-341-7875 or online form). Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Bulky items, metal bulky items, and electronic items (TVs, computers and printers) go in separate piles on the right-of-way. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • City crews collect TVs and computers/monitors by appointment. Checked October 26, 2026.
• Frequently Asked Questions (Solid Waste Services) (opens in new tab) · City of Wilmington Solid Waste Services
  • The city will pick up large items such as furniture or a mattress for households that receive city curbside trash service. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Households without city trash service cannot get city bulky pickup, whether or not they are inside city limits. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • The city lists white goods (large appliances), computers and televisions as landfill-banned items that its crews pick up by appointment. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Flattened cardboard and chipboard go in the city recycling cart. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Recycling carts and curbside collection are provided to city trash customers at no additional charge. Checked October 26, 2026.
• 2026 Recycling Schedule (rack card) (opens in new tab) · City of Wilmington Solid Waste Services
  • The 2026 recycling card says bulky items, appliances, TVs and computers are collected by appointment. Checked October 26, 2026.
• Household Hazardous Waste (opens in new tab) · New Hanover County Recycling & Solid Waste
  • Residents can bring HHW and electronics to the permanent facility at no cost; businesses and out-of-county residents cannot drop off hazardous chemicals. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Bring ID; materials from out-of-county residents are not accepted. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Batteries of all kinds are accepted, including alkaline, lithium, sealed lead-acid and rechargeable; EV lithium batteries are not. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Anything with a cord or batteries is accepted except large appliances; call ahead for more than ten TVs, monitors or CPUs; stripped TVs or computers are refused. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Latex and oil-based paint are accepted; solidified paint goes in the trash; commercial painters may bring latex only. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Large appliances such as refrigerators, stoves, dishwashers and air conditioners are not taken at the HHW facility; they go to the landfill at no charge. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • The mobile HazWagon runs 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Mondays at Ogden Park, Wednesdays at Wrightsville Beach, Fridays at Carolina Beach and the first Saturday at Kure Beach Town Hall; no more than two TVs per visit. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • The county HHW page says to take white goods such as refrigerators, washing machines and freezers to the county landfill for recycling. Checked October 26, 2026.
• Landfill (opens in new tab) · New Hanover County Recycling & Solid Waste
  • The landfill is at 5210 Highway 421 North, Wilmington, NC 28401; open Monday-Friday 6:30 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday 6:30 a.m.-noon. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • The landfill accepts scrap metals, car/truck batteries, cardboard, white goods (appliances) and tires (off the rim) for recycling. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • The first 5 tires are free; after 5 tires the cost is $100 per ton. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Bulky items such as mattresses and furniture are accepted for disposal. Checked October 26, 2026.
• Alternatives to Disposal (opens in new tab) · New Hanover County Recycling & Solid Waste
  • Appliances are accepted at no charge at the county landfill; refrigerants are removed and the appliances go to scrap metal recycling. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Usable couches, chairs and furniture can be donated (e.g. Habitat ReStore); unusable bulky items can go to the county landfill. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Residents can dispose of up to five tires per day free of charge at the county landfill. Checked October 26, 2026.
• Fees (Landfill) (opens in new tab) · New Hanover County Recycling & Solid Waste
  • Mattresses and box springs are $61.00 per ton plus a $10.00 surcharge each. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Recycling flattened cardboard is free of charge. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Landfill fees are per ton with a $5.00 minimum charge (effective July 1, 2023); MSW is $61 per ton. Checked October 26, 2026.
• ReStore Shop (opens in new tab) · Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity
  • Drop-off donations are accepted at all locations Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Checked October 26, 2026.
• ReStore Donate (opens in new tab) · Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity
  • Working appliances accepted include dryers, microwaves, refrigerators and washing machines. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Furniture accepted includes chairs, tables, dressers, bookshelves and sofas (no sleepers), if clean and undamaged. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Sofas are accepted, but not sleeper sofas. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Home goods accepted include flatscreen TVs and sports and exercise equipment in good working condition. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • New paint, stain and thinner are accepted. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Not accepted: mattresses, futon mattresses, sleeper sofas, box springs, water beds and tires, among others. Checked October 26, 2026.
• N.C. General Statutes 130A-309.10: Prohibited acts; disposal of certain solid wastes in landfills or by incineration prohibited (opens in new tab) · North Carolina General Assembly
  • Discarded computer equipment may not knowingly be put in a landfill in North Carolina. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • From December 1, 2026, lithium-ion batteries may not knowingly be put in a landfill in North Carolina. Checked October 26, 2026.
• NC DEQ: Recycling Opportunities for North Carolina Households (electronics) (opens in new tab) · North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
  • Most North Carolina counties and some towns run public electronics drop-off sites; DEQ tells residents to contact their local solid waste and recycling office. Checked October 26, 2026.
• NC DEQ Division of Waste Management: Electronics Management (opens in new tab) · North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
  • Since March 16, 2015, keyboards, mice and other peripherals are no longer covered devices under the law. Checked October 26, 2026.
• N.C. General Statutes 130A-309.134: Requirements for computer equipment manufacturers (opens in new tab) · North Carolina General Assembly
  • Every computer equipment maker must run a free and reasonably convenient recycling program for computer equipment discarded by consumers. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • A computer maker may not charge a consumer or a local government a fee when discarded computer equipment is delivered for recycling. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • At minimum (a Level I plan) a maker takes back only computer equipment it made; Level II and III plans also take other makers' equipment. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Level II and Level III plans take computer equipment made by other manufacturers as well as the maker's own. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • A manufacturer's take-back may let consumers return discarded computer equipment by mail. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Take-back may also be at a manufacturer-run collection site open during normal business hours, or at a manufacturer collection event. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Take-back may be offered at a collection event hosted by the manufacturer or its designee. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Each manufacturer must run a toll-free phone line to answer consumer questions about computer recycling options. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Level II and III plans may also collect other electronics that are not covered computer equipment, and may charge a nominal fee for them. Checked October 26, 2026.
• NC DEQ: Manufacturer and Retail Take-Back and Recycling Programs (electronics) (opens in new tab) · North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
  • DEQ: all makers of desktops, laptops, monitors, printers and scanners must offer a no-cost recycling program to North Carolina households. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • DEQ keeps a list of computer equipment makers with websites and phone numbers for their take-back or recycling services. Checked October 26, 2026.
• N.C. General Statutes 130A-309.131: Definitions (discarded computer equipment and televisions) (opens in new tab) · North Carolina General Assembly
  • Covered computer equipment: computers, monitors, and printing devices such as printers, scanners and print-scan-fax machines; keyboards and mice are excluded. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Not covered: servers, mobile phones, calculators, PDAs, MP3 players and similar devices, TVs and household appliances. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • A consumer is a household occupant who used the device mainly for personal or home business use, or a nonprofit with fewer than 10 employees. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Nonprofits with fewer than 10 employees also count as consumers. Checked October 26, 2026.
• N.C. General Statutes 130A-290: Definitions (solid waste management) (opens in new tab) · North Carolina General Assembly
  • North Carolina law defines white goods to include refrigerators and freezers, as well as ranges, water heaters, unit air conditioners and other large appliances. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Washing machines and clothes dryers are white goods under North Carolina law. Checked October 26, 2026.
• N.C. General Statutes 130A-309.70: Landfilling and incineration of lead-acid batteries prohibited; delivery for recycling (opens in new tab) · North Carolina General Assembly
  • Used lead-acid batteries may not be put in a landfill, incinerator or waste-to-energy facility. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Improper disposal of a lead-acid battery carries a civil penalty of up to $50 per battery. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Anyone may deliver a lead-acid battery to a battery retailer or wholesaler, a secondary lead smelter, or an authorized collection or recycling facility. Checked October 26, 2026.
• N.C. General Statutes 130A-309.71: Retailers required to accept lead-acid batteries for recycling (opens in new tab) · North Carolina General Assembly
  • Lead-acid battery retailers must accept, at the point of sale, used batteries of the same type and at least as many as the new batteries bought. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Retailers must post a sign saying state law requires them to accept used vehicle and other lead-acid batteries in exchange for new batteries purchased. Checked October 26, 2026.
• NC DEQ Division of Waste Management: Lead Acid Batteries (opens in new tab) · North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
  • DEQ: retailers must accept lead-acid batteries for recycling if a battery is purchased. Checked October 26, 2026.
• NC DEQ: Lithium-Ion Batteries (battery drop-off) (opens in new tab) · North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
  • DEQ: never put rechargeable batteries in trash or recycling carts; lithium-ion batteries can start fires in trucks and facilities. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • DEQ directs residents to bring household rechargeable batteries to a participating store found with The Battery Network's locator map. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • The store drop-off option is for household rechargeable batteries. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • The other option DEQ gives is a local government drop-off: contact your city or county. Checked October 26, 2026.
• NC DEQ: Local Government Battery Collections (opens in new tab) · North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
  • DEQ tells residents to check with their city, town or county for battery drop-off sites, preparation rules and hours. Checked October 26, 2026.

“Checked” means we read the official page on that date. Things can change, so call before you go.