CHARLOTTE — Mecklenburg County has unveiled a new recycling center on Pence Road in East Charlotte, set to process recyclables from multiple counties.
The facility, known as a Material Recovery Facility, aims to increase the county’s capacity to handle recyclables and reduce landfill waste as the region continues to grow.
“We’re really running out of empty space where people will accept a landfill,” said Mecklenburg County Commissioner Susan Rodriguez-McDowell.
Ebenezer Gujjarlapudi, Director of Mecklenburg County Land Use and Environmental Services, stated, “Mecklenburg County processes over 100 thousand tons of recyclables every year.”
The new recycling center is a state-of-the-art facility that will serve as the county’s primary recycling hub while the original center on North Graham Street undergoes retrofitting starting in July.
The facility uses advanced technology to sort recyclables efficiently, including magnets, air, and optical sorters to separate glass, plastics, and metals.
Gujjarlapudi highlighted the facility’s capability to recycle items beyond traditional materials, such as fabric, concrete, and mattresses, which is uncommon in other parts of the country.
Rodriguez-McDowell emphasized the environmental benefits, stating, “The idea is that we are taking care of our future; we’re saving our environment.”
The new recycling center represents a significant step forward in Mecklenburg County’s efforts to manage waste sustainably and accommodate the area’s rapid growth.
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