Recycling Frequently Asked Questions

Call the Customer Support Center at 919-996-6890. Note that recycling containers will not be delivered to vacant houses so please do not make your request until after you have moved in.

The straps are to be used to secure the materials inside the bin. Stretch one of the straps over to the other and "hook" it to the other strap. If your straps are broken call 919-996-6890 and we will mail a new set to you. You may also submit your request using the online request form.

You may only get a roll cart when your neighborhood is phased into the automated program. Raleigh Recycling is in the process of phasing the entire city over to the roll cart system. When a neighborhood is converted over to the roll cart system residents will receive a roll cart and change from weekly collection to bi-weekly collection. Roll carts are serviced by fully automated trucks.

There are some exceptions to the #1-#5 and #7 plastics that we can recycle. The unacceptable items include: plastics bags and film, lids, pumps, trays, clam shells, thin cups and #7 PLA cups or containers. See our web page on Unacceptable Items for full explanations on why they can not be recycled.

Local programs are set up to accept the items they have markets for. If there is no market for the material, adding unacceptable items at best causes additional labor costs of someone having to pull them all out (and pay to dispose of them) and at worse, if missed, contaminates a load of good materials and sends it all to the landfill. Know the details and only include the items listed! If in doubt, call 919-996-6890.

The canister itself can be recycled but the plastic lid must be thrown away. Also, the covering that seals the product inside (the one you peel back) is sometimes not aluminum. If you crumple it and it begins to resume its original shape it probably has plastic added to it - throw it away. If it stays crumpled, it is aluminum and can be recycled. It is not necessary to separate the metal bottom from the fiber canister.

Recycle them! Just be sure to put them in the recycle bin separately from the glass jar. The plastic will melt (actually burn) away long before the metal begins to melt in the manufacturing process causing no harm at all.

Plastic bottle caps that are screwed back on will get recycled in the Raleigh Recycling program. Loose caps fall through the screens and end up being thrown out with the other trash that sifts through. You can also drop them off at an Aveda store to be recycled.

Materials not accepted by the City of Raleigh Recycling Program can be found on the Other Recycling Resources page.

If the straps on the bin are broken the bin does not need to be replaced, simply call Raleigh Recycling at 919-996-6890 and ask for replacement straps. If the container is actually split (not simply cracked) it will also be replaced at no charge, again, call 919-996-6890 and explain the situation and arrangements will be made for the replacement bin/cart.

If your recycling bin or cart was stolen, call Customer Services at 919-996-6890 for instructions. Each cart has an RFID tag embbed in it.

Depending on the severity of the weather, collection may be delayed. Please refer to the local television and radio stations, the News and Observer, the Raleigh Television Network cable channel RTN22, our web site www.raleighnc.gov, or call the Solid Waste Services Hotline 919-996-6194 for the latest schedule changes.

Yes, broken glass FOOD and BEVERAGE CONTAINERS are acceptable for recycling. Be careful handling them when placing them in the recycling container. Please remember only glass FOOD CONTAINERS are acceptable for recycling in the Raleigh Recycling program. Other glass items such as vases, glass dishes, mugs, plate window glass, mirrors and such all melt at different temperatures. If mixed with food grade glass containers they will contaminate and potentially cause the entire load to be send to the landfill. When in doubt, throw it out!

Yes, they can and computers and TV are banned from disposal in NC landfills. Computers contain harmful materials. Each computer monitor may contain as much as eight pounds of lead. Circuit boards contain heavy metals such as cadmium, mercury and chromium. Plastic housings contain PCBs. Raleigh residents can call Solid Waste Services at 919-996-6890 to arrange for computer collection. A maximum of four items will be picked up in one collection. Once an appointment is made the computer is placed curbside.

Accepted are:

• computer monitors
• cords
• processing units
• computer speakers
• scanners
• parts
• keyboards
• mice
• fax machines
• copiers

If you have other broken items with a cord you may place them out along with your computer (still maximum of four items). You may not call for a collection of corded items only that do not include a TV or computer.

Residents may also take computers equipment and ANY other item with a CORD, including TVs 36" or less in size, directly to the SWS Administrative Office at 400 W. Peace Street, M-F from 7a-4p, or to one of Wake County's Multi-Materials Facilities (all size TVs accepted), at no charge. Call Wake County Solid Waste Management at 919-856-6186 for complete information about their Multi-Materials Facilities. Residents are reminded they may also make a tax-deductible donation of usable equipment to a number of charitable organizations. The City of Raleigh promotes reuse of good equipment before recycling.

Regular household (non-rechargeable) batteries are rarely considered to be hazardous since only very small amounts, if any, manufactured today (since 1994) contain mercury. Alkaline batteries are composed primarily of common metals - steel, zinc and manganese - and do not pose a health or environmental risk during normal use or disposal. Proven cost-effective and environmentally safe recycling processes are not yet universally available for alkaline batteries. Implementing a collection and disposal program using the household hazardous waste vendors would be very costly.

If you are making a trip taking other items to the Household Hazardous Waste Facility, take them along; otherwise, it is not worth the gas to make the trip there and they can safely be disposed of in the garbage.

All households are charged a monthly fee for recycling that is established each year with the annual budget. The fee is for the entire recycling program: collection, electronics, recycling in the parks, dropping off spent rechargeable batteries at neighborhood fire stations, the Swap Shop, events, presentations and many other components. All households pay the fee whether they elect to participate in the collection component of the recycling program or not.