Pearl, MS Trash & Recycling: Recycling Requirements (2026)

Recycling in Rankin County operates under Mississippi's voluntary framework rather than a mandatory statewide program. MS Code Ann. §17-17-1 et seq. (Mississippi Nonhazardous Solid Waste Management Act) encourages but does not require residential recycling. MDEQ's Office of Pollution Control administers recycling grants and programs, and the state has set non-binding goals for waste diversion. At the local level, Brandon, Pearl, and Flowood typically offer curbside single-stream or dual-stream recycling as part of their contracted hauler services, collecting materials every other week or weekly. Accepted materials commonly include: clean paper and cardboard (flattened), aluminum and steel cans (rinsed), glass bottles and jars (where accepted; some programs exclude glass due to market conditions), and plastic bottles and containers marked #1 (PET) and #2 (HDPE). Plastics #3 through #7 are often not accepted due to limited end markets. Contamination is the major issue: plastic bags (recycle separately at grocery store drop-off), food waste, liquids, greasy pizza boxes, diapers, clothing, and tanglers (hoses, wires, cords) can cause entire loads to be rejected at the MRF (materials recovery facility). Contaminated curbside bins may be tagged and skipped by the hauler. Rankin County operates or supports drop-off recycling facilities at designated locations for residents not served by curbside collection. Special programs may exist for yard waste, Christmas trees, and bulk cardboard during specific seasons. Multi-family and commercial recycling is handled under separate commercial contracts. Mississippi's recycling participation has historically lagged national averages, and the recent collapse of the global plastics recycling markets has caused some programs to cut back on accepted materials.