Solid Waste Division Operations

The Utilities Division is responsible for providing Winston-Salem and Forsyth County residents, businesses, industry, and contractors and developers access to facilities for the safe disposal of solid waste. Our Mission is to provide, as an enterprise, environmentally and economically acceptable means of solid waste disposal (excluding hazardous, infectious and radioactive wastes) for current and future wastes generated in Forsyth County.

Residential and Commercial Solid Waste Landfills
The Division operates a state permitted, active, sanitary landfill at Hanes Mill Road. Additionally, the Division supervises closed out landfill operations on Ebert Street, Airport Road, Overdale and Link Road.

There is sufficient land at the Hanes Mill Road Landfill to meet sanitary waste disposal needs (non-construction) until at least 2021, and possibly until 2029, depending on the “waste stream” into the Landfill. A contract was negotiated with Stokes County in 1995 to provide for disposal of its sanitary waste at the Hanes Mill Road Landfill. For other information, please call (336)727-8000.

Construction and Demolition Waste Disposal
The Division operates a state-permitted, active, construction and demolition landfill for construction and demolition materials at Old Salisbury Road. There is sufficient land at the Old Salisbury Road Landfill to meet construction and demolition waste disposal needs until approximately the year 2013. In addition, the Division maintains one closed-out facility - the Overdale Landfill. For other information, please call (336)727-8000.

Solid Waste Rates and Fees 
  See the current Solid Waste rates and fees [pdf/10.22 KB/1page] 
 

Landfill Operating Hours

Landfill Permit Application, valid for 2 trips per year from date of issue

*Closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
Other holidays hours are 7:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

**Closed all Holidays.

Leaf Composting and Yard Waste Disposal
N.C. State Law (130A-309.10(F) 3) prohibits the disposal of yard wastes (e.g., leaves, grass clippings, tree limbs, etc.) in sanitary landfills. Therefore, the Division operates (2) permanent leaf drop-off sites, Reynolds Park Road which only accept leaves from City Sanitation crews during the leaf season, Overdale Yard Waste Facility and Forum 52 Yard Waste Facility which accepts leaves from the general public as well as the City Sanitation crews throughout the year. Leaves that are taken to the Overdale Yard Waste Facility and Forum 52 Yard Waste Facility are mixed with grass clippings from the City’s Yard Cart collection and is then distributed to the general public for compost at certain times of the year.

The City has (1) Transfer Station, which is located at Shorefair Drive behind the Fairgrounds. This transfer station only accepts leaves from the City Sanitation crews during the leaf season. The Shorefair site is used as a temporary holding site for the collection of leaves on the northern side of the city. These leaves are transferred to the Reynolds Park site where they are recycled through a natural organic process into leaf mulch that is made available to the City of Winston-Salem and citizens at no charge.

Both the Overdale Yard Waste Processing Facility and Forum 52 Yard Waste Facility are operated through a contract with Wrico, Inc. to recycle all wood waste into mulch. For more information, visit us at 1001 Old Milwaukee Lane (Overdale)/180 Northstar Drive, Rural Hall (Forum 52), or call (336)727-8000.  See the current rates[pdf]

Yardwaste Facility Operating Hours

**Closed Sundays and all Holidays.

Note:  The Reynolds Park Road Site is NOT open to the public except for leaf mulch distribution which occurs semiannually.

Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)Disposal
The Division provides Forsyth County residents an opportunity to dispose of paints, pesticides, herbicides, oxidizers, used oil, and solvents. (Businesses may use this service for a fee.)

Currently, the household hazardous waste disposal program is available to Forsyth County property owners 4 and 1/2 days per week by Resource Recovery, and Reduction Company (3RC) located on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. For complete information on the 3RC EnviroStation Facility and what to do with your Household Hazardous Wastes, see the 3RC EnviroStation Information

HHW Operating Hours

White Goods and Other Wastes
The Division recycles "white goods" (refrigerators, stoves, etc.) through contracts with private vendors. Tires are also recycled through a contract with Central Carolina Tire Disposal, Inc. Forsyth County residents can dispose of 5 tires per year. “White goods” and tire recycling is processed at the Hanes Mill Landfill, located on Hanes Mill Road in Winston-Salem.  See the current rates [pdf]

Recycling Program
Curbside Recycling provides curbside recycling bin collection to all single-family residences and to multifamily units utilizing carts.

Materials that are collected through this program include: newspaper; magazines; telephone books; junk mail; chipboard; corrugated cardboard; aluminum and steel cans; #1 and #2 clear and colored plastics and glass (clear, brown and green).

The program was designed and is administered by the City of Winston-Salem, but it is performed by Waste Management, a private contractor. The contract includes collection, processing and marketing of recyclables.

Additionally, this program includes nine drop-off sites for cardboard recycling which are placed throughout the city at some fire stations. Cardboard is collected and transported to a recycling facility by employees in the Bulk Container program.

The Solid Waste Division is also responsible for the Schools Recycling Program.

Students, teachers and staff of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school system are all able to participate in a comprehensive recycling program sponsored by the City/County Utility Commission. The Commission has funded this program since 2002 at which time it was implemented throughout the entire school district. The program includes cardboard, office paper and beverage container recycling. It is estimated that 2,000 tons of materials are recycled through this program each year. The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Recycling Program is one of only two like it in the state. The other program, which is in Wake County, was modeled on the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school system program. If you or anyone in your family attends any of the schools in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School System, please remember to participate in this convenient and successful recycling program.

For more information about how to participate: RecycleToday

Administration
Meeting our area’s solid waste disposal needs is accomplished by an effort known as an integrated waste management plan. A fully integrated waste management plan is made up of different approaches available to manage solid waste. The elements are designed to be complimentary. They can be used in combination as necessary to meet a community’s individual solid waste disposal needs.

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County’s integrated waste management plan includes three waste management technologies: source reduction, recycling, and landfilling. These three approaches form a safe and effective system for the proper disposal of our municipal waste. Alternative technologies such as waste combustion are not currently used to dispose of municipal waste, and there are no existing plans to use this approach. Waste combustion with energy recovery does, however, remain an alternative disposal option in the future.

Operating responsibility for the system is a function of the City of Winston-Salem Utilities Division, with governance provided by the City/County Utility Commission, whose members are appointed by the Winston-Salem City Council and the Forsyth County Board of County Commissioners.
 Read more about the history, organization, members, and work of the City/County Utility Commission.

Solid Waste Division
Administrative Contacts

Jan McHargue
Solid Waste Administrator
JanM@cityofws.org

Stevie Dulin
Assistant Solid Waste Administrator
SteveD@cityofws.org

Wayne Turner
Assistant Solid Waste Administrator/Source Reduction
WayneT@cityofws.org

Edward Gibson
Solid Waste Engineer
EdwardG@cityofws.org