New Hanover County to launch ‘Treasure Island’ reuse program

Items will be free to the public on a first-come, first-served basis

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A new initiative from New Hanover County Recycling and Solid Waste aims to give unwanted household items a second life while keeping them out of the landfill.

The program, called Treasure Island, will officially open Saturday, July 12, and operate out of a garage at the department’s headquarters at 3002 Highway 421 North. The facility will be open to the public on the second Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to noon.

Treasure Island will offer a wide range of free, usable items, such as power tools, sports gear, patio furniture, wall art, household electronics, paint, books and more, on a first-come, first-served basis. Items will be collected from the county landfill’s customer convenience site and recycling facility, then tested to ensure they’re in good working order before being made available to the public.

“Recycling is important to limiting what materials go into our landfill, but sometimes there are unwanted items that can still be of use but are difficult to recycle or have limited resale value,” said Joe Suleyman, New Hanover County’s Recycling and Solid Waste director. “This program allows these items to get a second chance, keeping them out of the landfill at no cost to the person picking them up, which is certainly a positive for everyone.”

Visitors who choose to take home an item will be required to sign a waiver of liability. No holds or reservations will be allowed. Click here for more information.