The suspension of the pink bins and #5 plastic collection
On November 1, Envision Charlotte will stop collecting #5 plastic (polypropylene) at the Innovation Barn. What began as a recycling lifeline for Charlotte during COVID has gone through several iterations in an effort to stay sustainable — but in the end, contamination won.
How It Started
At first, the goal was simple: collect takeout food containers only and turn them into plastic flake, then filament, and ultimately PPE for frontline workers. The signs were clear. The mission was clear. Easy win for all.
But the “wishful recyclers” came at us hard — people tossing in everything from Styrofoam cups to hospital bedpans. We even went viral for finding a Q-tip. Everything but takeout containers found its way into the bins. Still, we pressed on.
How It Shifted
After COVID, the need for PPE disappeared, so we expanded to all #5 plastics. With limited markets, a small team, and unrelenting contamination, we tried four versions of signage to control it. The clean plastic we could use turned into fun and innovative products. We sold some but it brought in less than $100 per truckload at $0.03/lb. The rest — dirty or wrong — had to go to the landfill, increasing costs and straining our volunteers.
Lessons Learned
Recycling only works when materials are clean and there’s a buyer ready to take them. When that link breaks, recycling stops. Contaminated or unsellable plastics don’t get a new life — they’re landfilled or incinerated for energy. The cycle ends there.
We all have work to do to get it right. The ability to “recycle right” is essential to keeping materials out of the landfill. Our current system is broken because we keep assuming “close enough” is good enough — but it’s not.
What You Can Do
REDUCE – Stop using single-use plastics. Think about one item you dropped in our beloved pink bins. Can you eliminate it from your routine? Do it. Then tell a friend.
REUSE – If you can’t reduce, reuse. Find creative second lives for the plastics you already have.
STOP CONTAMINATING COLLECTION BINS – This is the reason programs like ours shut down. The wrong materials — like #6 plastics or dirty containers — contaminate the good ones. When that happens, everything ends up in the landfill. The same goes for soiled clothing at donation centers: don’t pass the problem on to someone else. Do better. Pretty please!
We’ll keep innovating here at the Innovation Barn — we’re down but not out! Follow along, donate, and volunteer to get us there faster!
Material Dropoff
What You Can Bring to the Innovation Barn for Recycling & Reuse
At the Innovation Barn, we are committed to keeping valuable materials out of the landfill by recycling and repurposing them for a second life. Below is a detailed guide on what you can bring and where to drop it off:
Items Accepted for Recycling & Reuse at the Barn
Barn T-Shirts Collection
Donate gently used T-shirts that will be repurposed or upcycled for creative projects.
PakTech Carriers (Plastic Can Holders for Beverages)
We collect PakTech plastic can carriers used for holding 4-packs or 6-packs of cans.
Donations for The Bulb Market
The Bulb Market, a cherished partner at the Innovation Barn, collects specific reusable items for use in their pop-up mobile markets that provide fresh food to the community.
Accepted Items must be cleaned:
Clamshell berry and salad containers. Lids must be attached.
Egg cartons (any material) – 12 count egg size only
Plastic bags & reusable shopping bags
Drop-Off Instructions:
Place these items in The Bulb’s collection bins during open hours.
Important: Please ensure these items go in the correct bins to prevent contamination of other recycling streams.
Mecklenburg County Recycling Partnership
We also provide bins for standard curbside recycling items through our partnership with Mecklenburg County. Bins are located on the Seigle Ave. side of the building.
Specialty Recycling Bins:
Yellow Bin – Glass Recycling Only
Blue Bin – Mecklenburg County Curbside Recyclables (paper, cardboard, metal cans, cartons, glass, plastic bottles with necks)
Rigid Styrofoam Bin – For clean, rigid, hard, white styrofoam (NO packing peanuts or food-soiled foam)
❗ Important Reminders
🚫 No food residue on plastics or recyclables – Please rinse before donating.
🚫 Do not contaminate collection bins with non-approved items.
🚫 No plastic film, flexible plastic packaging, or items that are not listed above.
No Dumping materials on the property. If you don’t know where something goes, come during open hours and ask someone.
Thank you for helping us keep valuable materials in circulation!