Every Wednesday, our neighborhood and the Town of Davidson awake to the bright red and blue curbside containers ready for recycle pick-up. If you already recycle, please continue and look for additional opportunities to reduce conventional waste products. If you do not currently recycle, please read this article carefully and give it a try.
At the Town Board Work Session on May 23, the Mecklenburg County Solid Waste Management Plan was presented to Davidson commissioners and officials and recommendations were made regarding reduction of solid waste by 30% in one to two decades. With an ever increasing population, this goal becomes a necessity to avoid larger landfill space and potential increases in taxes and fees. It was pointed out in the presentation that the biggest single component in reducing the volume of solid waste disposal over the next two decades will come from increased recycle volumes. However, there is one big problem to achieving this goal: Recycle has actually decreased in volume in this county over the last three years. This trend is obviously not in the right direction! As the law currently stands, in order for a landfill and disposal service to be awarded a pick-up contract in Mecklenburg County, the company must supply recycle service. On the flip side of the equation, residents are not required to take advantage of this service. As a result, many people do not take the time to recycle.
At the start of the year 2000, the following fun facts were noted in regard to recycling:
So why should we recycle? Hopefully the answer is obvious.
Davidson was one of the first communities in the North Mecklenburg area to arrange recycling. The following items may be recycled:
Glass containers – all colors [no tops]
Aluminum soft drink cans
Tin or steel cans
Newspapers and ad supplements
Magazines & catalogs
Plastic bottles (#1 and #2) [no tops]
Liquor bottles [no tops]
Spiral paper cans
Junk mail & white paper
Cardboard boxes (Note: Must be broken down into 2’L x 3’W x 2’H
bundles)
Note: At this time Styrofoam cups and products cannot be accepted in recycle bins.
Residents may also drop off some recyclables not covered above at the North Mecklenburg Recycling Center and Yard Waste located at 12300 North Statesville Road. For more information, please contact the center at 704.875.1563. Hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday (7am - 3pm). [Directions: From Davidson, take I-77 to Exit 18. Turn left onto Reames Road. Turn left at stop light (US 21) and travel north approximately 3 miles. The North Mecklenburg Recycling Center entrance is on the right.]
Examples of additional recycle items that are accepted at this center include:
Eyeglasses
Household batteries
Oil filters
Appliances
Lead acid (car) batteries
Scrap aluminum and ferrous metal (bed frames, swing sets)
Paint: oil and water based
Motor oil / antifreeze / transmission fluid
Foam rubber
Tires (no more than 4)
Empty propane tanks from gas grills
Computers and monitors
Goodwill Industries also operates a donation center at this location. County residents can drop off items in good condition, including furniture, tools, books, toys, sporting equipment, household items, and used clothing.
For more information about waste disposal and recycle in this area, please visit www.charmeck.org and click on “Garbage and Recycling.”
Please recycle – for economic growth and for the resources and future of our children and grandchildren.