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NEW! Chipboard, telephone books, junk mail and mixed paper (no shredded) can be added to your curbside recycling once the Town begins every other week recycling collection in your neighborhood.

Simply place these items and the ones found on the list below into your recycling cart for pick up every other week on the same day as your solid waste collection day. Place recycling carts at the curb by 7 a.m. on your collection day for recycling. If collection does not occur, call the Department of Public Works and Utilities at (919) 469-4090.

The Cary Recycles curbside program will accept the following items:

  • Newspaper, including inserts (Use a bungee cord to securely fasten any loose items.)
  • Glossy magazines/catalogs
  • Glass bottles & jars (clear, brown & green)
  • Plastic bottles and tubs #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. Plastic lids, take out (clam shell) containers and frozen entree trays are not accepted for recycling in your curbside bin or at the Citizen's Convenience Center.
  • Aluminum cans, foil, and pie pans (no food residue)
  • Tin/Steel food cans
  • Cartons with a gable top (including juice, milk, dairy creamers, and fabric softener refills)
  • Drink boxes
  • Corrugated cardboard - Flatten and/or cut to ensure that it fits in the cart. Customers using an 18 gallon recycling bin must flatten and/or cut into pieces no larger than 2’X3’ in size and place inside the bin. Remove and properly dispose of all packing material. If you have more corrugated cardboard than can fit in your cart/bin – a stack of moving boxes for example – call (919) 469-4090 to schedule a free pickup. Please remove and properly dispose of all packing material and flatten the boxes. No pizza boxes.

Proper Preparation of Recyclable Materials

Remember to discard all lids and rinse containers. It's not necessary to remove labels. All recycling must fit inside the cart. Do not place recycling next to or on top of your cart.

Recyclable materials that are mixed with items not on the list or otherwise improperly prepared may may require disposal at the landfill.

Appliance Recycling
If the appliance is still in working condition, please consider donating it to a thrift store or charitable organization. Check the yellow pages for locations near you. Solid waste customers may recycle them by:

  1. Taking the appliance to a Wake County Multi-Material Drop-Off Facility
  2. Contacting the Town at (919) 469-4090 to schedule a collection
  3. Bringing the appliance to the Cary Citizen’s Convenience Center at 313 N. Dixon Ave. for disposal
Appliance collection & disposal fees

Computer Recycling
The Town of Cary has developed a first-in-the-state initiative - curbside pickup of discarded computers for recycling. For more information on this program, please visit the Town of Cary's Computer Recycling Page.

Junk Mail
The N.C. Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance has compiled information to help you to get off mailing lists and to stop unwanted telemarketing calls and e-mail "spam." This will help you Just Say No to junk mail.

Used Motor Oil Disposal
The Town of Cary collects and recycles used motor oil free of charge. Call the Town of Cary Public Works and Utilities Department at (919) 469-4090 to schedule a pickup. Used oil must be placed in a closed container labeled "Used Motor Oil" The Town recommends a container with a screw-cap lid.

Clothing/Post Consumer Textile Recycling
The Town of Cary does not collect clothing, shoes or other textiles for recycling. The GCF Donation Centers and Stores operated by Goodwill Industries welcome donations of gently used clothing. They can also accept and recycle shoes, clothing and other textiles that may not be in saleable condition. This includes items that are torn and excessively worn. Goodwill Industries is unable to accept bedding. Goodwill Industries has two Cary locations:

220 Kilmayne Drive
Phone: (919) 467-7048

1011 Langston Pond Drive
Phone: (919) 589-0000

For a list of other post consumer textile re-sale or recycling sites in Wake county, visit the Trash & Recyclables Directory.

Public Works & Utilities Department Homepage

Town of Cary Homepage