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UNCW Recycling Depot

Recycling center · Wilmington, NC · reviewed since 2022

How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 64%72+45.7Reliability 28%71+20Replies to reviews 8%31+2.6Momentum penalty65−3.5Experts Score= 65Not enough data for value; its weight is shared by the others.Grade B: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews.65SCORE
BGradeLetter from the Experts Score: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39, F = under 20.
#12 of 26 recycling servicesPosition by Experts Score among all companies we track in this category. · better than 56%
4.8 ★★★★★ 27 Google reviews · 24 photos
89%five-star reviews
4.44★last 12 monthsAverage stars on reviews from the last 12 months only.
5%1–2★, last 20 reviewsShare of 1–2★ reviews in the last 24 months — or the 20 newest reviews when the company had fewer than 20 in that time.
26%reviews answered by the owner
Oct 2026latest review

UNCW Recycling Depot at a glance

Reviewers highlight the facility's acceptance of styrofoam, plastic bags, and electronic waste, noting a self-service area and helpful staff who provide information on accepted materials. Positive feedback often mentions the facility's role as a community resource for items that typically go to landfills. However, low-star reviews criticize the site for becoming disorganized and messy when piles of cardboard and styrofoam are left on the ground, particularly after rain.

  • Google rating: 4.8 out of 5 from 27 reviews (89% five-star).
  • Reviews on this page: 27 Google reviews (16 with written comments).
  • Owner responses: the business replied to 26% of reviews.
  • Most recent review: October 11, 2026.
  • Service: Recycling Service serving Wilmington, North Carolina.

Data from Google, last updated October 29, 2026.

Score profile vs other recycling services

Score per factor (100 = best)Each factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (star average, share of 1–2★ reviews, price verdicts…); standing within the category can only raise it, never lower it.. Strongest: satisfaction and reliability; weakest: replies to reviews.

Satisfaction72Reliability71Craft & service–Value–Momentum65Replies to reviews31Satisfaction: 72 (median 69)Reliability: 71 (median 67)Momentum: 65 (median 100)Replies to reviews: 31 (median 31)
UNCW Recycling DepotRecycling Services median0 = centre, 100 = best
SatisfactionSatisfaction · 54% of the scoreRecency-weighted star average (2-year half-life), shrunk toward the category mean by review volume; the company’s own lifetime average as the prior; absolute: 4.0★ = 0, 5★ = 100.UNCW Recycling Depot: 72/100 on this factor. Category median: 69.B
72
ReliabilityReliability · 24% of the scoreHow rarely jobs go badly: share of 1–2★ reviews — 60% the last 24 months (or the 20 newest if fewer), 40% all-time; 0% = 100, 15%+ = 0; the category percentile can only raise it.UNCW Recycling Depot: 71/100 on this factor. Category median: 67.B
71
Craft & serviceCraft & service · penalty only, up to −10 pointsGoogle review highlights: Quality, Professionalism, Responsiveness, Punctuality — how rarely reviewers flag them as a negative, per review since highlights began; 0% = 100, 5%+ = 0. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in — clean highlights are the norm, not a bonus.Not enough reviews for this factor yet. Category median: 91.–
–
ValueValue · 14% of the scoreCustomers’ own price verdicts (Great / Reasonable vs Overpriced) and Value highlights; 65% absolute (all “reasonable” ≈ 80, “great” = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.Not enough reviews for this factor yet. Category median: 98.–
–
MomentumMomentum · penalty only, up to −10 pointsPenalises only a real slide: last-12-month average below lifetime (−0.5★ = 0). Still 4.8★+ over the last year, or steady/improving = 100. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in.UNCW Recycling Depot: 65/100 on this factor. Category median: 100.B
65
Replies to reviewsReplies to reviews · 7% of the scoreHow often the owner publicly replies to reviews under 5★ (1–4★). Needs 3+ such reviews, otherwise not counted; 65% absolute (80%+ replied = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.UNCW Recycling Depot: 31/100 on this factor. Category median: 31.D
31

Bar = this company · dark tick = category median.

Star ratings

27 Google reviews we collected

  • 5 stars2489%
  • 4 stars27%
  • 3 stars00%
  • 2 stars00%
  • 1 star14%

Praise vs complaints

Phrases our text analysis found in 16 written reviews

  • Praise4100%
  • Complaints00%

Topic share

How often each topic comes up in the written reviews

  • Staff & attitude375%
  • Communication125%

What customers talk about

We read 16 written reviews and marked every phrase about these topics. The same colors are highlighted in the reviews.

  • “Every employee that I've met there has been extremely helpful.”
  • “Great communication and detail”

praise complaint · found by our text analysis, Google review wording unchanged.

Recent reviews

SteveLocal Guide · 61 reviewsTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · 2 months ago★

Must be move in time. What a total mess. People left piles of cardboard and Styrofoam all over the ground and it's been raining. Options for recycling cardboard are very limited in the area.

TimLocal Guide · 220 reviewsTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · 4 months ago★★★★★

Good place to bring recycling if you need a place. Takes lots of different materials including foam

ChelseaLocal Guide · 49 reviewsTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · 6 months ago★★★★★

Easy recycling drop off. Time your visit carefully though. If you go as classes are getting out, it could take you forever to get off campus

Montebello.Local Guide · 35 reviewsTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · 3 years ago★★★★★

The only place I can find to recycle styrofoam and Electrical waste. Plenty of bins to get rid of your waste and a warehouse within walking distance for anything else

Marti11 reviewsTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · 3 years ago★★★★★

They have 2 containers for electrical waste that should not be put in trash or ordinary recycling—1st is for “anything with a cord” 2nd is, if I remember correctly, for items with batteries such as old phone batteries. So nice to know about that. Wish I had heard of this sooner. Seems like a well kept secret.

Lisa9 reviewsTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · 3 years ago★★★★★

I am so appreciative of this service provided to our community. They accept items which would normally end up in landfills. There is a self-service area for commonly recycled items and also an area for speciality items. Every employee that I've met there has been extremely helpful.

Photos

Customer reviews

4.8 ★★★★★ 27 reviews on Google · rating breakdown

Reviews from Google, shown as published (original wording, unedited).

Filter by topic — each topic is highlighted in the reviews in the same color
Steve MakgillLocal Guide · 61 reviewsTotal number of Google reviews Steve has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Review from Google · view on Google
★★★★★

Must be move in time. What a total mess. People left piles of cardboard and Styrofoam all over the ground and it's been raining. Options for recycling cardboard are very limited in the area.

Chris Robinson7 reviewsTotal number of Google reviews Chris has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Review from Google · view on Google
★★★★★

They take styrofoam and plastic bags.

Tim McCauleyLocal Guide · 220 reviewsTotal number of Google reviews Tim has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Review from Google · view on Google
★★★★★

Good place to bring recycling if you need a place. Takes lots of different materials including foam

Jerome GriddleLocal Guide · 9 reviewsTotal number of Google reviews Jerome has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Review from Google · view on Google
★★★★★

Great communication and detail

Chelsea ShieldsLocal Guide · 49 reviewsTotal number of Google reviews Chelsea has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Review from Google · view on Google
★★★★★

Easy recycling drop off. Time your visit carefully though. If you go as classes are getting out, it could take you forever to get off campus

Brian GivensLocal Guide · 69 reviewsTotal number of Google reviews Brian has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Review from Google · view on Google
★★★★★

I used the self serve area to drop off styrafoam.

Rita CookLocal Guide · 25 reviewsTotal number of Google reviews Rita has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Review from Google · view on Google
★★★★★

I am so grateful for this service. Amazing and it just feels right!

Joseph HortchLocal Guide · 50 reviewsTotal number of Google reviews Joseph has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Review from Google · view on Google
★★★★★

The only place around that I found that take styrofoam. Thank you UNCW.

Beck2 reviewsTotal number of Google reviews Beck has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Review from Google · view on Google
★★★★★

Thank you UNCW for providing this recycling service to our community.

Thomas Kerner14 reviewsTotal number of Google reviews Thomas has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Review from Google · view on Google
★★★★★

Great public service!

UNCW Recycling Depot on Google Maps →

Business details

  • Address: 5195 Lionfish Dr, Wilmington, NC 28403
  • Website: uncw.edu
  • Service area: Wilmington, NC