Analyzing 7,135,4157.1M ReviewsFor 20,29120.3K Experts
We graded 6 companies on seven things customers actually report: satisfaction, reliability, workmanship, value, momentum, track record and how owners handle complaints.
From 3,628 Google reviews of 26 top-rated recycling services nationwide; 6 of them in Wilmington, NC. Updated November 2, 2026.
Pick the job — we re-rank companies by how customers rated that exact job.
Experts Score 0–100Experts Score (0–100)Absolute quality first: recency-weighted star average (≈54%), share of 1–2★ reviews (≈24%), customers’ price verdicts (≈14%), owner replies to critical reviews (≈7%); minus up to 10 points each for complaints flagged in Google review highlights and for a real slide in recent ratings. Hover a company’s score on its page for the full breakdown. and a letter grade per factor (A = top 20% of recycling services).
| # | Company | ScoreExperts Score (0–100)Absolute quality first: recency-weighted star average (≈54%), share of 1–2★ reviews (≈24%), customers’ price verdicts (≈14%), owner replies to critical reviews (≈7%); minus up to 10 points each for complaints flagged in Google review highlights and for a real slide in recent ratings. Hover a company’s score on its page for the full breakdown. | FactorsFactor grades, in orderSatisfaction (54%): Recency-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.Reliability (24%): How 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.Craft & service (0%): Google 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.Value (14%): Customers’ own price verdicts (Great / Reasonable vs Overpriced) and Value highlights; 65% absolute (all “reasonable” ≈ 80, “great” = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.Momentum (0%): Penalises 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.Replies to reviews (7%): How 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.One letter per factor score: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39, F = below 20. | ★Google star rating as shown on Google Maps. | Typical billMedian bill customers of this company reported in their reviews (needs 3+ priced reviews). |
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| 1 |  Hancock Hauling CompanyWilmington, NC | A 99How 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 69%100+69.2Reliability 31%98+30.2Experts Score= 99Not enough data for value, replies to reviews; its weight is shared by the others.Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AA––A– | 5.00 | — |
| 2 |  American Property Experts- Bulk Mulch and Land Clearing ServicesWilmington, NC | A 80How 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%82+52.1Reliability 28%82+23.2Replies to reviews 8%58+4.8Experts Score= 80Not enough data for value; its weight is shared by the others.Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AA––AC | 4.76 | — |
| 3 |  Southern Metals Recycling IncWilmington, NC | B 70How 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%76+48.3Reliability 28%70+19.8Replies to reviews 8%26+2.1Experts Score= 70Not 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. | BB––AD | 4.68 | — |
| 4 |  Eastern Waste & RecyclingWilmington, NC | B 66How 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 55%70+38.2Reliability 24%38+9.2Value 14%100+14.1Replies to reviews 7%68+4.8Momentum penalty98−0.2Experts Score= 66Grade B: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | BD–AAB | 4.71 | — |
| 5 |  UNCW Recycling DepotWilmington, NC | B 65How 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. | BB––BD | 4.78 | — |
| 6 |  AIC RecyclingWilmington, NC | B 60How 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%65+41.3Reliability 28%63+17.8Replies to reviews 8%8+0.7Experts Score= 60Not 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. | BB––AF | 4.61 | — |
What customers paid, from the price Google asks reviewers to report.
| Job | Low25th percentile: 1 in 4 customers paid less than this. | TypicalMedian of the bill customers reported in their Google review (Google asks reviewers for a price range; we use the middle of each range). | High75th percentile: 1 in 4 customers paid more than this. | FairOf customers who rated the price, the share who chose “Great price” or “Reasonable” rather than “Overpriced”. |
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How the 6 recycling services we rated in Wilmington, NC compare, and what customers praise most.
A = score 80+, F = below 20.
Average stars per company.
Share of Google review highlights.
All price verdicts left with reviews.
Share calling it great / reasonable / overpriced.
Satisfaction (54%) — Recency-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.
Reliability (24%) — How 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.
Craft & service (penalty, up to −10) — Google 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.
Value (14%) — Customers’ own price verdicts (Great / Reasonable vs Overpriced) and Value highlights; 65% absolute (all “reasonable” ≈ 80, “great” = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.
Momentum (penalty, up to −10) — Penalises 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.
Replies to reviews (7%) — How 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.
The 6 best-rated recycling services in Wilmington, NC average 4.8★ on Google across 681 reviews. Hancock Hauling Company has the top rating (5.0★), and Eastern Waste & Recycling has the most reviews (250). Updated October 29, 2026.
6 companies that meet our bar: rated 4.5★ or higher on Google, with a meaningful review history (681 reviews combined) and currently operating. Request a call back and the company will phone you directly.
“We urgently needed to renovate my in-laws’ home due to health concerns, and living out of the area made it difficult for us to help. Finding this company was truly a blessing! They were incredibly kind, professional,…” — Google review
“We’ve had a great experience with this company. They are reliable, always show up when they’re supposed to, and make everything easy. Their customer service has also been very helpful and friendly anytime we’ve…” — Google review
“So excited to get my products from them! Super friendly customer service and amazingly professional. Amelia was great on the phone helping us figure out when delivery was possible and what to get! 10/10 recommend for…” — Google review
“As a car guy.. I absolutely love this place great staff. Fair pricing for today's world.. they have what u need! And they can cut and break pieces of steel for u as well. Highly recommend if your a fabricator.” — Google review
“We're doing cleanup of family property and visited AIC having no idea what we were doing with all our junk. They've been so kind and helpful with sorting and giving us tips on how to make the most out of the mess…” — Google review
“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” — Google review
We scan Google Maps for recycling service listings in and around Wilmington, keep only open businesses whose main category matches the service, and require a Google rating of at least 4.5 from at least 20 reviews. Companies are ordered by a confidence-weighted score that balances rating and review volume. We do not accept payment for placement.
Hancock Hauling Company has the highest Google rating on our Wilmington list: 5.0 out of 5 from 134 reviews (as of October 29, 2026).
Eastern Waste & Recycling has the most Google reviews among the companies listed here: 250, with a 4.7★ average.
Only open Wilmington-area businesses whose Google category matches the service, rated at least 4.5★ from at least 20 Google reviews. They are ordered by a confidence-weighted score of rating and review volume. Placement is never paid.
Analyzing 7,135,4157.1M ReviewsFor 20,29120.3K Experts