Recycling
Recycling Services are operating on normal schedule.
If you are an EXISTING garbage and recycling customer of the Town of Southern Pines: Subscribe Here.If you are a new resident and/or setting up NEW SERVICES, use the Application for Residential Service Connection form or contact our Utilities Billing Department at 910-692-2206 or email them at UB@southernpines.net. |
How does the subscription service work?
Recycling subscribers are provided with a 95-gallon recycling cart. This cart is collected at the curb every-other-week on Fridays (see Recycling Schedule calendar and map below). The subscription fee is added to the monthly utility fees.
| Service | Fee |
| Residential subscribers | $10 per month |
| Commercial subscribers | $10/month per cart (max of 2 carts) |
| One-time charge for 2nd recycling cart | $75 |
| All subscribers are limited to a maximum of 2 carts. If you're a business that produces a larger volume, you'll need to contract with a private waste management firm. Recycling subscription is available for garbage customers only. Recycling services are a flat rate per month. The billing rate is not pro-rated, regardless of when services begin or end within the month. | |
If you are an EXISTING garbage customer of the Town of Southern Pines: Subscribe Here. If you are a new resident and/or setting up NEW SERVICES, use the Application for Residential Service Connection form or contact our Utilities Billing Department at 910-692-2206 or email them at UB@southernpines.net. |
What can I recycle in Southern Pines?
- GLASS RECYCLING: Includes all CLEANED clear, green or brown glass bottles and jars. No lightbulbs, mirrors, or window glass.
- PLASTIC RECYCLING: Includes all CLEANED #1 and #2 plastic bottles and jars
- METAL RECYCLING: Includes CLEANED aluminum cans, pie and baking pans, tin cans, steel food containers, and lids. Metal beverage cans, baking tins, foil, and food containers are also included in this material category. All items must be CLEAN OF FOOD.
- CARDBOARD RECYCLING: Includes corrugated cardboard, shipping boxes, cereal and dry food boxes, shoe boxes, tissue boxes, moving boxes, detergent boxes, soda/beer cartons, clean milk cartons, clean soup cartons, clean juice boxes, and paper towel/toilet tissue rolls. All boxes MUST BE FLATTENED and measure 2'x3' or less for proper disposal.
- PAPER RECYCLING: Includes newspapers, inserts, labels, magazines, catalogs, paperback books, manila folders, letterhead, notebook paper (no backings), computer paper, envelopes (with windows), coupon books, index cards, calendars, and brown paper bags.
A-Route - shown in GREEN on the map at right. This is all areas WEST OF HWY 1, EXCEPT West Southern Pines and the Mid-South neighborhood (which are part of the B- route).
B-Route - shown in BLUE on the map at right. This is all areas EAST OF HWY 1,
plus West Southern Pines and the Mid-South neighborhood.
For missed trash or recycling please contact Meridian Waste at:
- Call: 910-725-6600
- Email: CustomerCareSouthernPinesNC@MeridianWaste.com
What is NOT ACCEPTED for recycling in Southern Pines?
- Styrofoam
- Used pizza boxes no matter how "clean"
- Mirrors, window glass, light bulbs
- Containers that held hazardous materials or chemicals
- Aerosol cans
- Shredded paper
- Plastic bags of any kind
- Rubber
- Plastic "clam shell" containers
- Ceramics or dishes
- Scrap metal
- Electronics, including TVs, computers, monitors, and similar
Note, for the safety of our haulers, recycling will only be collected in the 95-gallon cart provided by the Town. Subscribers may not use their own carts or cans.
Why does the Town use a subscription model? The disposal costs for recycling keep increasing at a far greater rate than garbage or yard waste. Based on tonnage data, the Town Council recognized that not every citizen uses recycling. The Council held a public hearing in August 2023, where citizens urged the Town not to eliminate recycling and consider other choices to ensure its future availability. The Council implemented an opt-in subscription on January 1, 2025. Citizens who don’t want to subscribe may take their recyclables to a Moore County collection site (no charge) or throw them in the garbage.
Questions?
For questions about the program or concerns with service, contact the Environmental Services Division at 910-693-4183 or email at environmentalservicesdivision@southernpines.net.
For questions on billing or enrolling in the program, contact Utilities Billing at 910-692-2206 or email at ub@southernpines.net.