The McIntire Recycling Center has deep roots in Charlottesville. It began in the early 1970s with a glass recycling center at Barracks Road Shopping Center. Soon thereafter, recycling began in earnest with the formation of the Charlottesville Ecology Club. A glass recycling center was opened in February of 1973 at the corner of Ridge and South Streets. Fifteen to twenty 50 -gallon drums of glass were collected the first day. As volume continued to increase, the Club relocated to the fire station on Rt. 250. Then in 1979, the recycling center moved to its present day location at McIntire Road. Over 691,000 pounds were received that first year.

In 199 2, RSWA began operating the McIntire Recycling Center. Today, recycling is not just glass and aluminum cans. You can recycle just about anything: from your morning newspaper to plastic grocery bags!

Today the McIntire Recycling Center receives visits from over 1, 300 cars each week. In 201 8, a total of 4,333 tons of material were collected and recycled.