Recycling A-Z

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

A

Aerosol Cans

Aerosol cans must be completely empty of contents, and have the plastic cap removed. Please place in your recycling container.

Aluminum Cans

Please place aluminum cans in your recycling bin or drop them off at the Stone Avenue Recycling Center or the Rutherford Road Recycling Center.

Architectural Salvage

Please take any architectural salvage to Habitat for Humanity. If you have any questions, please contact Habitat for Humanity at 864-298-0099.

Appliances

The City of Greenville collects appliances at the curb for City garbage customers. If you wish to have this service at your home, please call 864-467-4345. Other organizations that collect appliances are:

Goodwill Industries: 864-351-0100
Habitat for Humanity: 864-298-0099
Miracle Hill Ministries: 864-242-6931
Salvation Army: 864-235-4803

Asphalt

If you require assistance with the collection of asphalt, please call on of the following:

Ashmore Brothers: 864-879-4298
King Asphalt, Inc.: 864-855-0338

B

Baby Gear Recycling

If you wish to recycle your old baby gear, rather than just throw it away, BabyEarth can be of help to you.

Batteries

It is now safe for City of Greenville solid waste customers to dispose of household batteries (AA, AAA, etc.) in their garbage carts. All others should check with their garbage collection provider before doing so.

Car batteries, rechargeable batteries and cell phone batteries must be taken to an approved collection site. Visit earth911.com for locations.

For household battery, cell phone and rechargeable recycling options, visit www.Call2recycle.org.

Books

Please deposit books into the mixed paper container at the Stone Avenue Recycling Center. Please remove the binding and cover, and any other material such as (plastic dust jackets or bookmarks) that are not paper before putting in the recycling bin.
The following organizations also accept books:

· Goodwill Industries: 864-351-0100

· Greenville Literacy Association 864-467-3456

· Habitat for Humanity: 864-298-0099

· Miracle Hill Ministries: 864-242-6931

· Salvation Army: 864-235-4803

C

Cameras & Disposable Cameras

Drop off 1-time use cameras at a photo-finishing specialist near you - this type of camera is 100% recyclable!

Carpet / Carpet Pad

For carpet that is in good condition:

Habitat for Humanity: 864-298-0099
Miracle Hill Ministries: 864-242-6931

For carpet that is old and / or in bad shape:

Lafarge North America: 843-462-7141
Southeastern Plastics Recovery: 843-308-5800

Cartridges

If you have copier, fax, laser or toner cartridges, please recycle them at these retail locations:

Office Depot
Office Max
Staples

Cell Phones

Verizon Wireless accepts old phones and will pay for the postage to return them. You have the option of getting a Verizon credit, gift card or making a donation to HopeLine.

Chemicals Hazardous Waste Management Companies

Carolina Environmental Assoc Inc.: 800-848-2324
Hazpro: 864-848-1312

For additional information on chemical disposal, contact the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control office at 864-241-1090.

Clothing & Accessories

Clothes can be donated to charitable organizations such as:

Dress for Success: donate dresses for out-of-work mothers
Goodwill Industries: 864-351-0100
Green Karat: recycle your old jewelry
Greenville Rescue Mission: 864-242-6933
Habitat for Humanity: 864-298-0099
Junior League Nearly New Shop: 864-232-1051
Miracle Hill Ministries: 864-242-6931
Safe Harbor: 864-467-1177
Salvation Army: 864-235-4803
Palmetto State Thrift Company: 864-962-3133

Coat Hangers

Dry cleaners may accept wire coat hangers for recycling. Check the yellow pages for listings.

Computer Equipment

See Electronics

Concrete & Construction Waste

ACE Environmental: 864-947-8100
Concrete Recycling: 864-579-3734
Pavement Products and Services: 864-233-1990

Construction Waste

DHEC Center for Waste Minimization

The Department of Health and Environmental Control helps facilities improve their environmental performance through sustainable environmental initiatives.

Corrugated Cardboard

Flattened cardboard with all debris removed can be placed at the curb for pick-up, or can be delivered to the Stone Avenue Recycling Center.

Corks

Whole Foods is partnering with the Cork Forest Conservation Alliance to recycle corks.

E

Egg Cartons

Paper cartons can be placed in your curbside bin or taken to the Rutherford Road or Stone Avenue Recycling Center. Styrofoam cartons can be taken to Publix Grocery Stores, where recycling bins are set up outside the front doors. Another option is to donate them to schools or churches for reuse.

Electronic Equipment & Scrap

Special Notice: Electronics Ban in Effect Beginning July 1, 2011:

It is against the law to dispose of computers, computer monitors, televisions and printers (as well as parts of any of these items) in a recycling or trash container

For more information about this law, view the S.C. Code of Law, 48-60-90, and ways to lawfully recycle the electronics listed online.

The City of Greenville holds two electronics recycling days each year to collect these items. Or, you may drop off electronics anytime at the following Greenville County recycling centers 7:00 a.m-6:00 p.m. Tuesday- Saturday:

Eastside Area and South of Greer
Enoree Residential Waste and Recycling Center
1311 Anderson Ridge Rd., Greer 29651

Greer and Blue Ridge Area
O’Neal Residential Waste and Recycling Center
3769 Camp Rd., Greer 29651

Simpsonville, Mauldin, and Fountain Inn
Simpsonville Residential Waste and Recycling Center
517 Hipps Rd., Simpsonville 29680

South Greenville
Piedmont Residential Waste and Recycling Center
200 Owens Rd., Piedmont 29673

Travelers Rest and Slater-Marietta
Echo Valley Residential Waste and Recycling Center
3705 Geer Highway, Marietta 29690

West Greenville and the Downtown Area
Blackberry Valley Residential Waste and Recycling Center
409 Blackberry Valley Rd. Greenville, 29617

Countywide
Twin Chimneys Landfill
HOURS OF OPERATION:
Monday - Friday: 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Saturday: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
11075 Augusta Rd., Honea Path 29654

There are special events and programs in Greenville to help you recycle electronic equipment:

If you have any questions, please contact local companies such as:

Clean Lites: 864-503-9900
Earth Protection Services Inc. (EPSI): 864-847-7700
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Contact the Goodwill Computer Store in Simpsonville for refurbishing and recycling options. Goodwill computer drop-off locations can also be found at the Blackberry Valley, O'Neal, Piedmont and Enoree County-run convenience centers.

Donations: Some public schools, churches, and non-profit organizations accept some used computer equipment for reuse. You will need to call to confirm prior to delivery. For more information on electronics recycling:

Cleanlites Recycling, Inc.
County Solid Waste Division: 864-297-8558.
Electronics Recycling to Benefit the Humane Society
EPA

Eyeglasses

Donate used eyeglasses:

Haywood Mall: 864-234-7200
LensCrafters
101 Verdae Boulevard
Greenville, SC 29607
Phone: 864-676-1122

Check the Yellow Pages under "Opticians" for additional listings.

F

FedEx Envelopes

Tyvek or FedEx envelopes can be recycled free by calling Tyvek at 866-338-9835 or visiting their website. They will send a recycling pouch with a pre-addressed label so you can easily mail it back in.

Fleece / Polartec

To easily recycle your fleece clothing, visit Patagonia's website.

Fluorescent Bulbs

Fluorescent light bulbs should be recycled with household hazardous waste recyclables due to the mercury content in these lights. For more information, contact a local fluorescent bulb recycler such as:

Clean Lite Recycling South, Inc. (CRI): 864-503-9900
Easy Pak Lamp Recycling
EPSI: 864-847-7700
Hughes Supply Inc. Greenville: 864-233-0580

Information on advantages of fluorescent bulb disposal:

Foam Packaging

EPS National Mail-Back Option: If there is no EPS recycling in your community please send it via U.S. Postal Service or other carrier to Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers (AFPR). Average shipping fees range from $1.50 - $9 based on the total packaging weight. To maximize your EPS recycling efforts via the mail-back option we recommend the following:

Make sure the EPS is clean and free of any plastic film, loose parts or glued-on cardboard.
To increase the amount of EPS in each shipping container, it can be easily broken or cut into smaller pieces so that more foam can fit in individual boxes. AFPR will also recycle the corrugated boxes used to ship the EPS.
When shipping EPS biomedical coolers simply tape the top and bottom pieces together with shipping tape and apply the label and postage directly to the EPS. An outer, corrugated box is not necessary.
AFPR does not accept extruded polystyrene (XPS) foam including meat trays, cups, egg cartons or other disposable food service items for recycling.
Prepare shipping label and affix postage for delivery to:
Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers
1298 Cronson Boulevard
Suite 201
Crofton, MD 21114
To facilitate shipping from home, the United States Postal Service (USPS) provides numerous options for printing labels and / or postage using online resources. This convenience also allows you to have the shipment picked up by your local USPS carrier as outbound mail.

EPS can be identified by the number 6 plastic resin identification code. Many types of foam plastic are not clearly marked, if you have questions please contact AFPR at 410-451-8340 for clarification.

To obtain information about other recycling opportunities, including food service, rigid durable goods and other plastics, please check the U.S. and Canadian Recycled Plastic Markets Database. For loose fill, peanut recycling please call the Peanut Hotline at 800-828-2214.

The information contained herein is subject to change and is provided without any express or implied warranty as to its truthfulness or accuracy. The Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers does not endorse the products or processes of any individual manufacturer or recycler.

Freon

Freon should be recycled with Household Hazardous Waste. Please contact the Greenville County Department of Health and Environmental Control at 864-241-1090.

Furniture

Goodwill Industries: 864-351-0100
Habitat for Humanity: 864-298-0099
Miracle Hill Ministries: 864-242-6931
Salvation Army: 864-235-4803

J

Junk Mail

Stop junk mail and unwanted catalogs by writing "Return to Sender" and placing back in the mail or contact the sender and ask them to remove you from their list.

You may also write directly to:

ADVO - System, Inc.
Director of List Maintenance
239 West Service Road
Hartford, CT 06120-1280
Customer Service Department
National Demographics and Lifestyles
Denver, CO 80202
Mail Preference Service/Telephone Preference Service
Direct Marketing Association
PO Box 90008
Farmington, NY 11735-9008

M

Magazines

You may recycle magazines at the curb or at Stone Avenue Recycling Center or you may take your slightly worn magazines to any of the following:

Churches
Doctor's offices
Elementary schools
Health clubs
Hospitals

Medication Disposal

A permanent drug disposal container is now available in the Greenville County Law Enforcement Center located at 4 McGee St. in Greenville. This option is available to you 24/7.

Mercury Containing Materials

& Hazardous Waste

Also, see Fluorescent Bulbs.

Metals

See Scrap Metal.

Mixed Paper

A mixture of papers including:

Cardboard
Cereal and cracker boxes
Envelopes
File folders
Magazines
Newspapers
Office paper
Phone books

Mixed paper is accepted at the curb or at the Stone Avenue Recycling Center.

O

Cooking Oil

Collect the oil and allow it to solidify, then place it in trash. Please do not pour the oil down a drain.

Motor Oil

People who would like to take care of motor oil themselves can take used oil to any of the County Convenience Centers or to a local automotive retailer such as:

Advance Auto
Auto Zone
Jiffy Lube
O'Reilly Auto Parts
Pep Boys
Tractor Supply Company
Wal-Mart Supercenter

Remember, never pour used oil on the ground, into sewer drains, or into surface water or ground water. Improper disposal of used oil is against the law in South Carolina.

For more information on proper disposal of used oil, contact the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control at 800-768-7348.

Oil Filters

Oil Filters can be recycled at one of the County Convenience Centers.

P

Packaging

Packing peanuts are reusable at your local UPS Store. They may also take large foam blocks and bubble wrap.

Styrofoam Packaging

"Peanuts" and smaller foam pieces are accepted at shipping / mailing stores.
Be sure your packing peanuts aren't the biodegradable type which you can put in flower beds and vegetable gardens or in your compost pile as they are cornstarch-based.
Publix supermarkets accepts clean foam meat trays and egg cartons for recycling. Look for the green bins outside the stores. Please consider buying eggs in fiber-based containers as they are much easier to recycle.
Post-industrial expanded polystyrene isn't economically or environmentally feasible to recycle due to the cost and storage time to gather a truckload quantity in addition to driving the load across the country to a market.
For a nominal fee, you can ship your expanded polystyrene to the Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers.

Paint

Please do not leave paint at the Stone Avenue Recycling Center.

Many charitable organizations will take good used paint. Check with you local schools, churches and theaters prior to disposal.

When disposing of your paint, the content must be dry. To properly dry the contents, add sand or kitty litter to the liquid and place into your garbage cart.

Pallets

Pallets are recyclable. Please check yellow pages for additional listings. Call 467-8300 for additional vendors.

Henson's Inc: 828-859-5836
Pallet Solutions: 864-895-2145

Paper

Use canvas bags when shopping to avoid those extra bags from the grocery store. Many grocery stores sell canvas and mesh bags at a reasonable price. A canvas bag will hold more items, will not break and scatter your groceries, and the handles make the bags much easier to manage.

Also see mixed paper or office paper.

Pesticides

Purchase less toxic products when available, and only the amount you need. Do not overuse the product - more is not better. Donate unused portions of pesticides to neighbors, churches, and community groups.

Phone Books

Recycle phone books in your recycling bin at the curb or at the Stone Avenue Recycling Center drop-off or convenience centers.

Photographic Chemicals

Don't contaminate our drinking water by pouring chemicals into your drain!

Plastic Bags

Please return your plastic bags to your local supermarket for recycling. This includes:

All clean, clear bags labeled with a Number 2 or Number 4
Plastic dry cleaning bags
Plastic newspaper bags
Retail bags (hard plastic and string handles removed)

Plastic Newspaper Bags and Grocery Bags are not accepted in curbside bins or at the drop-off centers. Please try to reuse grocery bags for storage or for trash can liners or return to the local supermarket.

Note: Please ensure that all plastic bags are clean and dry. Please remove receipts.

The following are considered film contaminants, please do not include:

No Film bags that have been painted or glued
No Film bags that have had direct contact with food or organic material
No Food Wrap (e.g., Saran Wrap®)

Plastic Containers

The city accepts all plastic bottles and jugs, and all plastic containers numbered 1-7.

Polystyrene & Polyethylene

Polystyrene and polyethylene can be recycled at:

The Bean Bag Boys, Inc: 803-356-0326
Plastics Reclaim: 864-421-0402
Polymer Recovery Group: 704-391-2470
Trademark Corporation: 879-1186

Propane Tanks

Please visit the Rhino Recycling website for more information.

S

Scrap Metal

City solid waste customers can put all scrap metal and appliances at the curb for recycling. Call 864-467-4345 to arrange a pickup. Non-City customers can call the following vendors or check the Yellow Pages for the most updated listings:

CRG 864-294-4608/800-225-2898
Dixie Iron & Metal 864-232-4490
Greer Metals 864-879-3936
M&M 864-363-5440
Norris Iron & Metal: 864-232-4490

Shoes

Nike's Reuse-A-Shoe Program: Athletic shoes can be recycled in to playgrounds, running tracks and basketball courts. Ship old and defective shoes of any brand to:
Nike Recycling Center
c/o Reuse A Shoe
26755 95th Street
Wilsonville , OR 97070

Also, shoes in wearable condition should be donated to any of the following:

Goodwill Industries: 864-351-0100
Greenville Rescue Mission : 864-242-6933
Habitat for Humanity: 864-298-0099
Miracle Hill Ministries: 864-242-6931
Safe Harbor : 864-467-1177
Salvation Army: 864-235-4803

Check out more recycled footwear donation programs at Recycled Runners.

Smoke Detectors

Photoelectric smoke detectors are not hazardous to the environment and can be disposed of in the trash. However, ionizing smoke detectors should be returned to the manufacturer. If you are unsure which type you have, return it to the manufacturer to be safe.

Sports Equipment

Good, used sporting equipment can be donated to local churches, schools, and civic organizations.

Play it Again Sports also takes used equipment. Please call them at 864-268-2407 for more information.

Steel Cans

Steel cans may be placed at the curb or at:
Stone Avenue Recycling Center
800 E Stone Avenue
Greenville, SC 29601

Styrofoam

See Packaging

Syringes

Presently, there is no program for recycling syringes. Please contact your health provider for disposal options or purchase Sharps containers to participate in the mail-back program.

Otherwise, please place your needles in a thick plastic container such as a detergent jug, tightly screw the cap back on and tape the top to the neck and body of the container. Throw this container into your garbage and place the bag into your cart, not your recycling bin. Please help keep City employees safe by using this practice.

For more information, please visit the Safe Needle Disposal website.