Recycling Center

Household Items Recycling Center


Wrightsville Beach recycling site is operated and maintained by New Hanover County Environmental Management.  It is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for your convenience at the Wrightsville Beach Municipal Complex, 321 Causeway Drive. 

Acceptable Materials:
  • Aluminum Cans and Steel Food Cans – any metal container used for soup, pet food, vegetables, condensed milk, etc.  Please rinse the container to prevent attracting insects.
  • Batteries – We accept alkaline and lithium batteries, rechargeable Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH), Lithium Ion (Li-Ion), and Nickel Cadmium (NiCad) batteries for recycling – just look for the light blue “igloo”.
  • Cardboard – Please flatten cardboard boxes. Please do not place Styrofoam in the cardboard containers. Cartons – milk, juice, soup, broth, wine, cream, egg substitutes, etc.
  • Glass Bottles and Jars – Please remove the lids and rinse out any food residue to avoid attracting insects.
  • Mixed Paper – We accept office paper, magazines, paper bags, cereal and food boxes, craft paper, wrapping paper, junk mail, brochures, catalogues, and phone books.
  • Newspaper – All the newspaper inserts can be recycled, too.
  • Plastic Containers – Please no plastic bags, films, or styrofoam.  We accept milk jugs, soda and water bottles, detergent bottles, yogurt containers, microwaveable food trays, etc.  (please rinse out food residue to avoid attracting insects).  Leave the lids on the containers.
*All materials except for cardboard and glass can go into the “MIXED RECYCLING” containers
*No plastic bags please!  Return them to a grocery store that offers plastic bag recycling

New Hanover County Haz-Wagon
Every Wednesday (except holidays) from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., the New Hanover County Haz-Wagon will be at the Wrightsville Beach Municipal Complex to collect household hazardous waste items such as batteries, electronics, and fertilizers. Click here for a complete list of items accepted.
oyster shell recyling logo_

North Carolina Coastal Federation Oyster Shell Recycling

Save Those Shells! Rather than tossing oyster shells in the trash, which is illegal, there are several shell recycling drop-off sites across the coast. The North Carolina Coastal Federation Recycling for Reefs Program offers recycling sites including one at the Wrightsville Beach Municipal Complex, 321 Causeway Drive, see map below.

After the recycled shells are collected and cured, the Coastal Federation works with partners to return them to the water where they provide new habitat for fish and shellfish. For a complete list of coast wide recycling sites, visit nccoast.org/shellrecycling. 
Oyster Recycling Location Map