Surveillance cameras at the Pence Road Materials Recovery Facility caught the sort of moment no worker wants to star in. A circular saw blade flew off a load, sliced through the air along the sorting line and skimmed past a sorter before crashing onto the conveyor. Mecklenburg County officials say the clip is a stark reminder that a single sharp object in the recycling stream can turn into a high-speed projectile inside a processing plant. Their plea to residents is blunt and simple: when in doubt, throw it out.
Video Shows Close Call
According to WCCB Charlotte, the surveillance video from the Pence Road facility appears to show a circular saw blade shaking loose from a load and arcing across the sorting line toward workers. The blade narrowly misses one crew member, then lands on the conveyor before anyone has time to move. County officials shared the footage to underline just how quickly an item that never should have been recycled curbside can turn into a serious safety threat in a single-stream facility.
County Warns Residents
Mecklenburg County Solid Waste confirmed the close call happened at the Pence Road Materials Recovery Facility and reiterated that the site is an industrial MRF that handles commercial loads, not a public drop-off location, as noted by Mecklenburg County Solid Waste. The facility listing places the plant at 7833 Pence Road and explains that people work side by side with sorting equipment. County officials say keeping sharp or heavy metal out of curbside recycling is critical to protecting those workers and preventing expensive damage to the machinery they rely on.
Why Blades Are Hazardous
Inside a material recovery facility, fast-moving conveyors, sorting machines and human sorters all share the same cramped environment. Loose metal in that setting can turn into a projectile that injures staff or wrecks equipment. An analysis of MRF operations by the EPA highlights the many physical hazards present in recycling plants and how foreign objects in the stream ramp up those risks. Industry reporting from Recycling Today also notes that workers routinely contend with sharp items and other contamination that make sorting tougher and injuries more likely. County staff say that is exactly why they keep hammering on proper disposal and dedicated drop-off options for items that do not belong in a curbside cart.
Facility History
The Pence Road plant opened in mid 2025 and was in the spotlight almost immediately when a small fire broke out just days after the facility began operating, a reminder of the challenges that come with running a new, high-capacity sorting line (WBTV). Coverage of that earlier incident pointed to concerns about keeping hazardous materials out of the recycling stream. County officials say that incident, paired with this latest close call, has them pushing even harder for residents to clean up their recycling habits to better protect both workers and equipment.
How To Dispose Of Blades Safely
County staff are clear on this point: saw blades and other sharp tools do not belong in your curbside cart. Treat them as scrap metal or haul them to one of the county’s full-service recycling centers, which accept scrap metal and other enhanced recycling materials, according to Mecklenburg County. The county’s recycling pages spell out what items are accepted and offer contact information for questions about oddball materials. If you have to move sharp blades yourself, officials recommend wrapping them securely or taping them to a piece of cardboard so they cannot slice through bags or injure anyone who handles them.
For Mecklenburg County, the ask is straightforward: double-check what you toss. Keeping dangerous metal out of the curbside stream is a small step for residents that can mean the difference between a routine shift and a serious injury for the people working the line.
