Recycling

The City’s recycling program is a voluntary curbside collection program. Recycling is provided as part of your trash collection, at no additional charge.

  • Recycling is collected on the same day as trash pick up, but on a bi-weekly collection schedule.
  • Once you have signed up, place your recycling bin in the right-of-way by 6 a.m. and remove it as soon as possible once it is emptied.
  • Do not put anything in your recycling bin that is not recyclable.
  • Do not put plastic bags in the recycling bin.
  • Extra recycling that will not fit inside the bin can be put in a personal container or a cardboard box. Extra recycling does not require extra trash stickers.
  • Rinse out the items before placing them in your recycling bin.
  • Lids and caps are acceptable recycling items.
  • Please flatten any cardboard boxes.

The City of Wilmington Recycling & Trash Services Division is proud to promote UNCW's Recycling Program, which is available for free public drop-off. Foam plastic, and plastic film and bags are accepted and recycled by UNCW. These items are not permitted in the city's commingled curbside collection. UNCW also accepts everyday recyclables such as paper, plastic, cardboard, and metal cans.

The recycling Depot at UNCW is located at: 5195 Lionfish Drive in Wilmington, NC 28403-5648.

Residents who are not city trash customers may use the recycling drop-off centers located throughout the county. Call 910.798.4400 for more information.

 

 

Which Week Is My Recycling Collected?

Recycling is free for City of Wilmington Recycling & Trash Services customers and is collected every other week on the customer's regular trash collection day. The recycling schedule map below displays the general areas where recycling is collected. The green or blue color references the week your area’s recycling is collected. To see whether you are a green or blue week, click the interactive recycling schedule map.

Residents can also download the city's Recycling & Trash Services recycling collection calendar for 2024(PDF, 539KB) (the 2025 calendar can be found here(PDF, 538KB)) or request one through customer service. Recycling through the city’s services is only available to City of Wilmington Recycling & Trash Services customers. Typically, multi-family, institutional, and commercial entities, as well as single-family residences on private streets contract with private haulers for both trash and recycling service.
If you have any questions, call City of Wilmington Recycling & Trash Services customer service at 910.341.7875.

What Can I Recycle?

Items that can be recycled include:

  • Aluminum cans
  • Glass bottles and jars
  • Paper cups or cartons
  • Tin and steel cans
  • Newspaper, including all inserts
  • Plastic bottles, tubs, jugs, and jars
  • Rigid plastic (ex: laundry baskets and plastic tubs)
  • Mixed paper, including magazines and junk mail
  • Catalogs (under 2 inches thick)
  • Cardboard boxes (flatten first)
  • Spiral wound containers (e.g. Pringles cans)
  • Cereal and food boxes
  • File folders and computer paper

Special Items

Education and Outreach

Sign Up for Recycling

Call 910.341.7875

 

Resources

2025 Recycling and Trash Calendar.PNG(PDF, 538KB)

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