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Cornelius Public Works Department
18520 Starcreek Drive
P.O. Box 399
Cornelius, NC  28031
704-895-5212
704-895-5588 (fax)
e-mail Public Works

The Public Works Department has ten full time employees under the direction of Ricky Overcash. Ricky has been with the Department since 1991 and is an essential part of our Town.
 
Public Works Primary Responsibilities:
Garbage Collection
Recycle Collection
Yard Waste
Street Light Outages
Street Maintenance & Pothole Patching

Some "traditional" services provided by some cities or towns are handled by other local government agencies or private contractors for Cornelius residents. 

There is a similar arrangement with regard to electricity. The Town's electricity is divided into three power companies ElectriCities, Duke Energy and Energy United. 

 

Garbage Collection Policy
As a service to its residents, the Town provides one day per week garbage collection service through a private contractor, Waste Management.  Waste Management utilizes fully automated curbside waste collection, so please follow the guidelines outlined below when curbing your rollout containers:

  • Bag your trash.  Trash in that is not bagged can and will end up on the ground and in yards.  Bagging all of your trash keeps your neighborhood clean.
  • Curb your rollout container the night before your collection day or by 6:45 a.m. on collection day. 
  • Please leave 3 feet of space between the containers.  Cans need to face the road, handles toward the home (the lid hinge should be placed away from the road). Place your rollout within 4 feet of the road. 
  • Do not place the rollout container next to your mailbox. 
  • Make sure placement of the container is clear of trees and overhanging limbs. If you have any material outside the rollout container, it must be bagged and placed beside the rollout container.  Three extra bags are allowed.  No more than 3 kitchen size bags (25 Gal) will be serviced per household.  A full trashcan is one that has the ability to be closed.  Overfilled cans are considered can plus 3 bags.
  • Waste Management will not pick up boxes larger than 2' L x 3' W x 2'H in size.  Boxes must be broken down/flattened.

Household garbage that does not meet the above criteria will be tagged as non-compliant.  If the resident makes household garbage conform, it will be collected at the next regular scheduled pick-up.  However, you may not leave your container at the curb until pick-up the following week.

Waste Management is not responsible for missed pick-ups if the container is not curbside.  Rollout containers are the property of Waste Management and must not be removed from the premises.  If you have any questions or would like to arrange for service, call Waste Management at (800) 927-8362.  The Town only provides one container per household unless additional payment received, extra containers will not be serviced and removed from property.

Holidays Observed

    • Thanksgiving Day - no pick-up; will operate a day behind on Friday and Saturday
    • Christmas Day - no pick-up; will operate a day behind for rest of week
    • All other Holidays - operate on a normal schedule
 

Recycle Collection Policy
Recycle Collection is handled by Waste Management and will be collected once a week.  Recycling must be curbside by 6:45 a.m. on your collection day.  Items that can be recycled include: 

  • Metal Cans (aluminum or steel), including soft drink, beer & food cans.  Due to bees and bugs please rinse out cans. 
  • #1 & #2 Plastic Containers, including soft drink, liquor bottles, milk jugs and detergent bottles. 
  • Oil or grease containers can have #2, but are NOT ALLOWED.  Please take to a recycle center. 
  • Glass Bottles & Jars: Clear, green and brown glass is acceptable.  Discard caps & lids and rinse out containers. 
  • Newspapers, Magazines, Catalogs, Phone Books, Junk Mail & White Paper:  When recycling these items, please separate them from other recyclables by placing them in a paper bag and stacking them beneath or beside your recycle bin.  Pizza Boxes are not recyclable.
  • Cardboard Boxes:  Must be broken down into 2’L x 3’W x 2’H flat bundles.  Folded over isn’t considered flat.  Failure to do so can bind up trucks as well as machines in the recycle facility resulting in service issues.

Recycling that does not meet the above criteria will be tagged as non-compliant.  If the resident makes recycle items conform, it will be collected at the next regularly scheduled pick-up.  If you use other bags or bins for recycle IT MUST BE SEPERATED.  Paper bags for paper or open top containers for bottles needed for identification, all others will be left or thrown in the trash.  Commingled bags are considered trash, not recycle.

Residents can also drop off bulk recyclables at the North Mecklenburg Recycling Center and Yard Waste located at 12300 N. Statesville Road. You can contact the Center for more information at 704-875-1563.

 

Yard Waste Collection
Please review the following guidelines to ensure compliance with the Collection Policy. 

Yard waste consists of excess leaves, grass, tree and shrubbery trimmings, and other organic material removed in general maintenance of property by the homeowner.  Yard waste does not consist of construction debris, demolition debris, dirt, brick, block, sod, mud, pavement, or any other material that could be defined as household waste or non-compost material.

Yard waste must be placed on the curb by 6:45 a.m. of the specified pick-up day.  Do not place yard debris on the sidewalk.  Yard waste should only be placed on the curb of the house that generated the yard waste.  Please leave three feet of space between yard waste and carts or bins.  WASTE GENERATED BY PRIVATE LANDSCAPING CONTRACTORS WILL NOT BE COLLECTED.  YARD WASTE NOT IN FRONT OF HOME OR ON VACANT LOTS WILL NOT BE COLLECTED.

Yard waste pick up service from the curb occurs once a week.  In order for yard waste to be collected it must be prepared as follows:

  • Loose piles consisting of leaves, grass (of any kind), or organic matter will not be serviced. 
  • Clear plastic bags of no more than 25 gallons must be used for any material other than tree limbs.  Bags too heavy to lift will be left at curbside. 
  • Manageable piles of limbs or brush will be collected.  This doesn’t include Pampas Grass type material; this material must be bagged for retrieval.  Tree limbs will be collected ONLY IF they meet the following specifications:
    • No larger than 6” in diameter
    • No longer than 5’ in length
    • Stacked in piles that do not exceed 2’ High X 5’ Long X 4’ Wide.
During heavy leaf generating months (November 1 – January 15) Waste Management will make every effort to collect bagged leaves up to a maximum of 20 bags.  Bags must be clear or transparent and no larger than 25 gallon and open.  Please do not close bags by tying or twisting, this helps in the collection as well as the cleanliness of this process. 

During the holidays, the contractor will collect Christmas trees, garland, and wreaths.  These items must be stripped of all wires, lights, ornaments, or any other inorganic materials and placed at the curb.

Yard waste that does not meet the above criteria will be tagged as non-compliant.  If the resident makes the pile conform, it will be collected at the next regularly scheduled pick-up.
 

Bulk Item Collection
Due to an increase in the cost of providing waste services, the Town of Cornelius no longer provides Bulk Item pick up service.  Bulk Item waste includes large items such as furniture, household appliances, electronics, and new-move bulk cardboard.  The town will continue to provide solid waste, recycling and yard waste services.  The Town sincerely regrets not being able to provide Bulk Item pick-up service, but feels this was a prudent step to maintain other Town services at a cost-effective rate.

Bulk items include, but are not limited to: 

  • Household appliances such as dishwashers, dryers, refrigerators, etc.
  • Mattresses, upholstered furniture, lawn furniture, and other types of furniture. 
  • Over-sized toys, exercise equipment, water heaters, bicycles, and any other non household material
  • Cardboard larger than 2'L x 3'W x 2'H

You may take your Bulk Items to a local landfill or contact one of these private service providers:
 

RID-O-VIT
18808 W. Catawba Avenue
Cornelius, NC 28031
704-895-6902 
 
You Call We Haul
1901 Gemway Drive
Charlotte, NC 28216
704-506-6368  

Absolute Rubbish Removal
Wade Brookover
Indian Trail, NC
704-309-6552
www.trashguru.com
1 800 GOT JUNK
704-509-2608  

Dhs Services
Steve Molzon
Main Number: 704-787-2830
Steve's Cell: 704-787-4474
Victor's Hauling & Services
PO Box 5014
Charlotte, NC
704-377-1224  

Other recycling and landfill centers:

Name Address Other Information
North Mecklenburg Recycle Center

 
12300 N. Statesville Rd.
Huntersville, NC  

Hours:
Tues - Sat: 7:00 am - 3:00 pm
Directions   
North Mecklenburg Landfill 





15300 Holbrooks Rd.
Huntersville, NC



 
Phone: 704-875-3367
Hours:
M-F: 7:00 am - 6:00 pm
Sat. 7:00 am - Noon
Directions
 
Hwy. 49 C&D
Landfill & Recycling Center

  
2105 Speedrail Court
Harrisburg, NC 28025

 
Phone: 704-455-1561
Hours:
M-F: 7:00 am - 6:00 pm
Sat. 7:00 am - Noon  

For additional information on hazardous materials, solid waste and recycling visit the County Land Use and Environmental Services Agency website.

 

Compost Bins & Rain Barrels
Cornelius, in partnership with Mecklenburg County, offers rain barrels and compost bins for sale to homeowners.


Groundwater & Wastewater
Water and sewage services for the Town of Cornelius are provided by Mecklenburg County.  For more information on these services contact the County information help line at 311 (or if calling from cell phone 704-336-7600) or visit the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Groundwater & Wastewater website.


Stormwater
Stormwater drainage issues should be directed to Steve Pace with Mecklenburg County Storm Water Services.  Mr. Pace may be reached at 704-336-6181.

 

Streetlights
Streetlight outages should be reported to the Town via email or call the Public Works Department 704-895-5212.  Please be sure to indicate the closest address to the streetlight and if at all possible tie something around the pole of the streetlight needing repair.  Since most of the repairs are done during the day, this helps identify which light is not working.


Pothole Patching 
The patching or filling of pavement is an essential function of the Public Works Department.  Pothole repair preserves the safety of the town streets and improves the riding quality for motorists.  North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) maintains the following roads in Cornelius: I-77 ramps, Highways 21, 73, & 115, W. Catawba Ave., Nantz Rd., Jetton Rd., Bethel Church Rd., Torrence Chapel Rd., Washam Potts Rd., Westmoreland Rd., and Bailey Rd.

All other roads and streets within the Town limits (except those within new developments not yet turned over to the Town), are maintained by the Public Works Department.  You may request a pothole repair via e-mail or call the Public Works Department.

 

Loose leaf pick up usually begins in November and continues to the last week of February. Please make sure that there are no small branches mixed in with the leaves.  Also make sure that the leaves are not blocking or in the path of storm drains, storm drain ditches or sidewalks.  If you have any questions concerning this service please contact us by email or phone.

You may also bag your leaves in 25 gallon clear plastic bags for Waste Management to pick up on your regular trash service day.