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Asked + Answered, your recycling FAQs

We’re answering our readers questions about recycling in the Upstate.

various beverage cans at the Stone Avenue Recycling Center

The average aluminum can contains more than 50% post-consumer recycled aluminum|Photo by GVLtoday

Table of Contents

Reader and Greenville newcomer Nicole S. reached out to ask about curbside recycling so we decided to answer some other recycling questions. Let’s clear the clutter + take a look at recycling in Greenville.

vibrant blue City of Greenville recycling cart sitting curbside in front of a home.

City of Greenville recycling carts hanging out curbside | Photo by GVLtoday

What happened to glass recycling?

The city of Greenville announced that they would stop accepting glass back in 2015. There are a few reasons why:

  • Glass contaminates the other recycled materials.
  • The cost to transport glass is high.
  • Glass tears up + is hard on processing equipment.
  • Currently, there is no market to purchase the glass.

The good news? We found a company that recycles glass in the Greenville area. Bricolage Dynamics offers curbside pickup where glass can get a new lease on life by being turned into sand.

What about curbside pickup?

For those that still want to do their part for the environment but maybe don’t have the time to find their local landfill, there’s still options:

various drinking containers waiting for recycling at the Stone Avenue Recycling Center

People who drink Mountain Dew recycle | Photo by GVLtoday team

Additional recycling tips

Now that we’ve covered some of your recycling FAQs, we wanted to pass along a few more recycling tips and tricks:

  • The city provides “carry-out” services if you’re unable to pull your recycling and garbage carts to the curb due to a temporary or permanent disability. Learn more about the requirements.
  • Recycling A-Z is a guide Greenville put together of all the things that can be recycled and how. Here’s a few we didn’t know: asphalt, pallets, and styrofoam packaging.
  • If you want to go a stepfurther than recycling, you can get involved with environmental groups in Greenville like Friends of the Reedy River + Keep Greenville County Beautiful.
  • Did you know composting yard waste + food scraps can reduce the amount of waste that goes into landfills by 30%? The city has a great guide for those learning to compost.
  • If you’re new to the recycling game (it’s never too late to start) you can find the city of Greenville’s current recycling policies here + Greenville County’s current recycling policies here.

We’ll be sure to keep you updated if there are updates to local recycling policies. In the meantime, thanks for keeping Greenville green, y’all.

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