Where to Take Items City Can't Pick Up

Electronics are any household item with a plug. Common e-waste includes computer equipment, monitors, TVs, telephones, stereos, video players, game consoles, and small appliances. Customers can contact Customer Support at 919-996-3245 to see if their item(s) qualifies for a Bulky Load or Special Garbage Collection collection, then schedule the next collection date. 

Customers can also take electronics to a Wake Multi-Materials Facility that accepts electronic (e-waste) items.

• Aluminum, Copper, Brass is accepted at Wise Recycling, Raleigh Metals Processors, and TT&E.
• Aluminum Siding and Steel is accepted at the Wake Multi-Materials Facility and Raleigh Metals Processors. Steel is also accepted at TT&E.

• Junk Cars are accepted at Kars4kids, Raleigh Metals Processors, and TT&E.
• Cars (running or fixable) are accepted at the National Kidney Foundation and Wheels4Hope.
• Tires are accepted at the Wake Multi-Materials Facility.

Wake County operates collection centers on a year-round basis for all Wake County residents to drop off hazardous materials like acids, batteries, fluorescent light bulbs, household cleaners, etc. More about Wake's Centers (locations, times, acceptable items)

• Rechargeable (NiCad) batteries can be dropped off at Wake County's Household Hazardous Waste Facilities. You may also call 1-800-8BATTERY for other drop-off locations.
• Compact Fluorescent Bulbs can be dropped off at Home Depot and Lowe's Home Improvement stores.

Telephone books and other directories can be included in your curbside recycling container to be recycled. When recycling the books, please remember to remove them from any bags. Deposit only the books themselves into the recycling container. Wake County Convenience Centers have collections boxes available year round for Wake County residences.

Visit the Eco Yellow Pages or Yellow Pages Opt Out web sites and learn how to opt out of your current scheduled delivery of paper phone books while still maintaining your ability to find local businesses, services, and individuals.

Make sure to keep important documents. Since shredded paper is not acceptable in curbside recycling, the City hosts shredding events twice a year. Other events across the area posted by North Carolina's Attorney General's Office. You may also send an email request directly to outreach@ncdoj.gov and ask to be put on their list. Do not shred phone books, file folders, and binders. If you use a paper shredder at home, consider composting the shredded paper in your backyard. When added to your food waste, the shredded paper is the perfect carbon source!

Find out more about Books, CDs, DVDs, VHS Tapes, and Printer Ink

Please recycle your white paper direct mail in our recycling programs. Make sure to open any junk mail and remove any colored paper, stamps or product samples before placing in the recycling bin. To reduce the amount of unsolicited mail you receive, including catalogs, credit card offers and more, try one or more of online services listed below.

• OptOutPrescreen.com
• DMAChoice.org
• CatalogChoice.org

• Car Seats, Toys and Strollers (all in good condition) are accepted at the Wake Multi-Materials Facility.
• Sneakers only, no other shoes, are accepted at select Nike stores.
• Clothing and Shoes are accepted at the Wake County Convenience Centers as well as most charity organizations and thrift shops will accept for resale/reuse.
• Plastic hangers are accepted at the City of Raleigh Yard Waste Recycling Drop Off Center. Look for the roll-off container labeled "Rigid Plastics." Many dry cleaners will accept clothes hangers for reuse. Metal hangers may be recycled in the scrap-metal bins at all Wake County Convenience Centers

• Grocery bags are accepted at most grocery stores (along with paper bags).
• Plastic bags including grocery bags, wrap from paper products and dry cleaning bags, may be recycled at most grocery stores. Visit WRAP to find drop-off locations and examples of acceptable products.
• Packaging Peanuts may be dropped off at some shipping stores for reuse. Call stores for details. 
• Polystyrene blocks may be recycled at select businesses. Visit EPS Industry Alliance for drop-off locations or mail-back information.
• Find out more about CDs, DVDs, VHS Tapes, and Printer Ink 

Medicine take-back programs are the best way to dispose of expired, unwanted, or unused medicines. The Community Engagement Division and the Raleigh Police Department periodically coordinate with the Drug Enforcement Administration to hold special collection days for these drugs. Some pharmacies also have take back programs, ask your pharmacist.

If no take-back program is available and there are no collection events coming up and you can follow these simple steps to dispose of most medicines in the household trash:

• Do not flush prescription drugs down the toilet as trace amounts may eventually end up in our water supply;
• Take medicines out of their original containers and mix them with an undesirable substance, such as used coffee grounds or kitty litter. The medication will be less appealing to children and pets, and unrecognizable to people who may intentionally go through your trash;
• Place the mixture in a sealed plastic bag, empty can or other container to prevent the medication from leaking or breaking out of a garbage bag; and,
• Before throwing out a medicine container, scratch out all identifying information on prescription labels to make it unreadable. This will help protect your identity and the privacy of your personal health information.

• Ceiling Tiles are accepted at Armstrong Ceiling Tiles.
• Construction waste is accepted at Material Reclamation, LLC or Habitat for Humanity.
• Eyeglasses are accepted at most eye vision stores for the Give the Gift of Sight organization.
• Furniture is accepted by The Green Chair Project, charity organizations and thrift shops.
• Makeup packaging is accepted at the Wilders Grove Solid Waste Services Facility at 630 Beacon Lake Drive. 
• Mercury thermometers and thermostats are accepted at Wake Household Hazardous Waste Facilities.

Wake County operates collection centers on a year-round basis for all Wake County residents to drop off hazardous materials like acids, batteries, fluorescent light bulbs, household cleaners, etc. More about Wake's Centers (locations, times, acceptable items)

• Rechargeable (NiCad) batteries can be dropped off at the Solid Waste Services Office at 630 Beacon Lake Drive in Raleigh. You may call 1-800-8BATTERY for other drop-off locations.
• Compact Fluorescent Bulbs can be dropped off at Home Depot and Lowe's Home Improvement stores.