Newly upgraded Circular Services MRF improves infrastructure in Charlotte

Circular Services has moved its Mecklenburg County residential recycling operations to the newly retrofitted Amble Drive materials recovery facility, following more than a year of processing the County's single-stream recyclables at the interim Pence Road facility. The transition marks the next phase of Circular Services' partnership with Mecklenburg County, first announced in June 2025.

Optical sorting systems will significantly increase throughput at the facility 

Mecklenburg County and sortation technology provider Van Dyk Recycling Solutions retrofitted the Amble Drive facility. The upgraded site is equipped with 16 advanced Van Dyk optical sorters. 

"Mecklenburg County invested in the technology and infrastructure that will maximize the value of its recycling program," said Ron Gonen, CEO of Circular Services. "Amble Drive is now one of the most advanced recycling facilities on the East Coast."

The upgrades also expand what County residents can recycle, including:

• Paper cups, such as coffee and fast-food cups
• Plastic cups
• Polypropylene (PP) containers, such as yogurt cups and plastic take-out containers
• Clear plastic polyethylene (PET) food containers, such as produce and prepared food containers

"The upgrades at Amble Drive allow us to process recyclables more efficiently and keep more everyday items out of the landfill," said Jeff Smithberger, director of Mecklenburg County Solid Waste, via the County's press release.

Circular Services was first selected to operate the interim facility as the County's recycling partner in 2025 while the Amble Drive facility was upgraded. With that project upgrade now complete, Circular Services will continue managing day-to-day operations, processing, and marketing of recovered materials at Amble Drive. The Pence Road facility will transition to its planned role supporting industrial and construction and demolition material recovery.