Recycling in Hickory, NC

Where this information comes from

Checked October 26, 2026

• Recycling & Waste Reduction (opens in new tab) · Catawba County Utilities & Engineering
  • A full range of electronics can be recycled year-round at the Blackburn Landfill, free of charge to citizens of Catawba County. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Televisions can be recycled year-round at the Blackburn Landfill electronics area. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Computers and computer-related equipment can be recycled year-round at the Blackburn Landfill. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Microwaves can be recycled year-round at the Blackburn Landfill electronics area. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Old appliances such as stoves, washing machines and clothes dryers are accepted only at the Blackburn Landfill and Rocky Ford Rd Convenience Center, at no charge; refrigerator doors must be removed. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Latex and oil-based paint can be recycled year-round at the Blackburn Landfill, free of charge to citizens of Catawba County. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Household batteries (lithium and dry cell) can be recycled free year-round at the Blackburn Landfill; not for car batteries. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • The county contracts to pick up scrap tires at the Blackburn Landfill; see the fee schedule for scrap tire fees. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • No business waste is accepted in the residential recycling areas. Checked October 26, 2026.
• Sanitation (opens in new tab) · City of Hickory Public Services
  • Bulky items such as furniture and mattresses should be placed by the curb with clearance around the rollouts. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Recyclables and bulky items are collected separately on the same day as garbage. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Flattened cardboard is on the accepted list for the blue recycling rollout. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Pizza boxes and frozen food boxes are prohibited in the recycling rollout. Checked October 26, 2026.
• City of Hickory: Residential Recycling (opens in new tab) · City of Hickory Public Services
  • Hickory offers residential curbside recycling every other week on the same day as garbage collection. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • The City runs two recycling drop-off centers; the Recycling Convenience Center on 9th Ave NE beside Fire Station #2 is open Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • The Recycling Convenience Center accepts aluminum cans, newspapers, cardboard, #1 and #2 plastics, mixed paper and glass. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • The Solid Waste Transfer Station at 1050 1st Ave SW (Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-3 p.m.) takes cardboard and other recyclables, motor oil and antifreeze. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Do not bring non-recyclable trash to either drop-off center. Checked October 26, 2026.
• N.C. General Statutes 130A-309.10: Prohibited acts; disposal of certain solid wastes in landfills or by incineration prohibited (opens in new tab) · North Carolina General Assembly
  • Discarded computer equipment may not knowingly be put in a landfill in North Carolina. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • From December 1, 2026, lithium-ion batteries may not knowingly be put in a landfill in North Carolina. Checked October 26, 2026.
• NC DEQ: Recycling Opportunities for North Carolina Households (electronics) (opens in new tab) · North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
  • Most North Carolina counties and some towns run public electronics drop-off sites; DEQ tells residents to contact their local solid waste and recycling office. Checked October 26, 2026.
• NC DEQ Division of Waste Management: Electronics Management (opens in new tab) · North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
  • Since March 16, 2015, keyboards, mice and other peripherals are no longer covered devices under the law. Checked October 26, 2026.
• N.C. General Statutes 130A-309.134: Requirements for computer equipment manufacturers (opens in new tab) · North Carolina General Assembly
  • Every computer equipment maker must run a free and reasonably convenient recycling program for computer equipment discarded by consumers. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • A computer maker may not charge a consumer or a local government a fee when discarded computer equipment is delivered for recycling. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • At minimum (a Level I plan) a maker takes back only computer equipment it made; Level II and III plans also take other makers' equipment. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Level II and Level III plans take computer equipment made by other manufacturers as well as the maker's own. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • A manufacturer's take-back may let consumers return discarded computer equipment by mail. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Take-back may also be at a manufacturer-run collection site open during normal business hours, or at a manufacturer collection event. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Take-back may be offered at a collection event hosted by the manufacturer or its designee. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Each manufacturer must run a toll-free phone line to answer consumer questions about computer recycling options. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Level II and III plans may also collect other electronics that are not covered computer equipment, and may charge a nominal fee for them. Checked October 26, 2026.
• NC DEQ: Manufacturer and Retail Take-Back and Recycling Programs (electronics) (opens in new tab) · North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
  • DEQ: all makers of desktops, laptops, monitors, printers and scanners must offer a no-cost recycling program to North Carolina households. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • DEQ keeps a list of computer equipment makers with websites and phone numbers for their take-back or recycling services. Checked October 26, 2026.
• N.C. General Statutes 130A-309.131: Definitions (discarded computer equipment and televisions) (opens in new tab) · North Carolina General Assembly
  • Covered computer equipment: computers, monitors, and printing devices such as printers, scanners and print-scan-fax machines; keyboards and mice are excluded. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Not covered: servers, mobile phones, calculators, PDAs, MP3 players and similar devices, TVs and household appliances. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • A consumer is a household occupant who used the device mainly for personal or home business use, or a nonprofit with fewer than 10 employees. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Nonprofits with fewer than 10 employees also count as consumers. Checked October 26, 2026.
• N.C. General Statutes 130A-309.70: Landfilling and incineration of lead-acid batteries prohibited; delivery for recycling (opens in new tab) · North Carolina General Assembly
  • Used lead-acid batteries may not be put in a landfill, incinerator or waste-to-energy facility. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Improper disposal of a lead-acid battery carries a civil penalty of up to $50 per battery. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Anyone may deliver a lead-acid battery to a battery retailer or wholesaler, a secondary lead smelter, or an authorized collection or recycling facility. Checked October 26, 2026.
• N.C. General Statutes 130A-309.71: Retailers required to accept lead-acid batteries for recycling (opens in new tab) · North Carolina General Assembly
  • Lead-acid battery retailers must accept, at the point of sale, used batteries of the same type and at least as many as the new batteries bought. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • Retailers must post a sign saying state law requires them to accept used vehicle and other lead-acid batteries in exchange for new batteries purchased. Checked October 26, 2026.
• NC DEQ Division of Waste Management: Lead Acid Batteries (opens in new tab) · North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
  • DEQ: retailers must accept lead-acid batteries for recycling if a battery is purchased. Checked October 26, 2026.
• NC DEQ: Lithium-Ion Batteries (battery drop-off) (opens in new tab) · North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
  • DEQ: never put rechargeable batteries in trash or recycling carts; lithium-ion batteries can start fires in trucks and facilities. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • DEQ directs residents to bring household rechargeable batteries to a participating store found with The Battery Network's locator map. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • The store drop-off option is for household rechargeable batteries. Checked October 26, 2026.
  • The other option DEQ gives is a local government drop-off: contact your city or county. Checked October 26, 2026.
• NC DEQ: Local Government Battery Collections (opens in new tab) · North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
  • DEQ tells residents to check with their city, town or county for battery drop-off sites, preparation rules and hours. Checked October 26, 2026.

“Checked” means we read the official page on that date. Things can change, so call before you go.