As summer winds down and a new school year begins, we're sharing resources to help you reduce waste, stay safe in the heat, and support a more sustainable community. In this issue, you'll find our latest food waste reduction tip, information on local food waste drop-off sites, a statewide composting survey, sustainability updates, back-to-school resources, and a reminder to beat the heat with the simple message: Water. Rest. Shade.

Below are the icons for each of the five focus areas of the Climate Action Plan. When you see these icons in the newsletter, you can click on them. They will take you to a page that explains a specific action or to the introduction of that focus area.

Addi is a rising senior at UNC-Chapel Hill majoring in Environmental Studies with minors in Urban Studies & Planning and Food Studies. During her first semester at UNC, she worked as a Recycling Stars Intern with Orange County Solid Waste, and this summer she is working with Orange County Sustainability to implement their newly approved Heat Action Plan. She is interested in the intersections of urban planning, sustainability, and public health and is excited to grow her skills in outreach and education in this role.

Above Is This Issue's Tip to Reduce Food Waste

Orange County now offers even more ways to compost with six new 24/7 food-waste drop-off bins across the County! To use these new bins—located at Cedar Falls Park, Hampton Pointe, Jones Ferry Park & Ride, Meadowmont, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park, and the Eno River Farmers Market—you’ll need to download the Bigbelly Smart Compost app (available in the Apple Store and Google Play). The app lets you unlock bins, check locations, monitor fullness, and see what you can compost.

In addition, you can drop off food waste—with no app required—at three Waste & Recycling Centers and three farmers markets during their regular hours. 

For full details on site locations, hours, and acceptable items, visit the official page linked below. Help reduce landfill waste—get the app, grab your scraps, and drop them off!

NC A&T State Cooperative Extension is conducting a brief statewide survey (10–15 minutes) about community views on composting and reducing waste. Your input can help shape future programs—please share your thoughts!

It’s hot out there! Extreme heat is the deadliest weather hazard in the United States, causing more deaths each year than hurricanes, floods, or storms. Temperatures continue to rise in 2026, with 2023–2025 ranking as the three hottest years on record. By the 2060s, our region could experience more than 40 days each year above 95°F, along with dangerously warm nights that prevent our bodies from cooling down.

This spring, Orange County and the towns of Hillsborough, Carrboro, and Chapel Hill approved the Heat Action Plan. This Heat Season, efforts have focused on life-saving outreach and education, especially for residents most vulnerable to extreme heat. Orange County is sharing multilingual "Beat the Heat" resources on Instagram and Facebook (@ocncgov) to help residents stay safe and recognize signs of heat-related illness. Community members are encouraged to prevent heat-related illnesses and deaths by sharing, liking, and reposting. "Beat the Heat" graphics are available for anyone to download and share at Multilingual Severe Weather Graphics.

You can stay informed during extreme heat events by signing up for OC Alerts, Orange County's public alert and warning system, at orangecountync.gov/OCAlerts.  Consider asking at least one friend or family member to do the same!

Orange County also distributed English and Spanish “Water. Rest. Shade.” flyers throughout Hillsborough, Carrboro, and Chapel Hill. Please print and share them at your community meeting, church, workplace, gym, or other gathering place to help spread this important heat safety message. The Orange County Heat Cohort partnered with the Community Empowerment Fund (CEF) to place the flyers in backpacks for unhoused residents, and Orange County's Fan Program distributes box fans through Department of Social Services locations. Fans and window A/C units are also available through the Hillsborough Police Department. Learn more about cooling resources at orangecountync.gov/heat. 

Remember: Water. Rest. Shade. Beat the Heat!

Our Clothing, Art, and School Supply Swap on July 11 At Eno Arts Mill brought together 75 attendees and filled an entire pickup truck with items ready for reuse. Circular Triangle collected over 200 lbs of clothing with 146 lbs going to community partners. From T‑shirts for tote‑bag making to a “sad pile” destined for repair and textile recycling, nothing went to waste—and we still have three totes of great art and school supplies ready for their next chapter.

Did you know that conserving water also reduces greenhouse gas emissions? That’s because it takes energy to treat, pump, and heat water—so using less water means using less energy and producing fewer emissions.

There are many ways to conserve water. Here are a few of the most effective:

Small changes can add up to big savings—for both your water bill and the environment.

Anyone can count pollinators in their community for 15 minutes. Learn how you can participate.

Have a question or comment about one of our sustainability programs? Want to volunteer? 

Contact us at sustainability@orangecountync.gov

or 919-245-2626

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