July 2025

Orange County Solid Waste

Please be advised that curbside recycling collection may be delayed due to the effects of Tropical Storm Chantal. Visit the Solid Waste website for the latest update and download the Orange County NC Recycles App.

Tuesday, July 8: The recycling collection trucks are unable to collect in the following areas: 

Collection will resume at these locations when conditions allow. 

Orange County Emergency Information

Orange County is under a state of emergency. Visit ReadyOrange.org for the latest county-wide emergency updates. We encourage all residents to sign up for emergency alerts at OCAlertsNC.com to receive emergency communications from Orange County.

To assist operations, Orange County Solid Waste loaned a collection truck to the Town of Carrboro Public Works. Orange County Fleet loaned a sedan to another municipal partner.

A quarterly update of some key Solid Waste programs.

Did you know that only some sunscreen containers are recyclable in Orange County? Spray sunscreen cans and sunscreen bottle tubs are NOT recyclable. Only recycle hard plastic sunscreen bottles that are clean, empty, and dry. 

Effective July 1, 2025, fees at the Orange County landfill and fees for compost bins have increased. Visit the Solid Waste website for more information. The Solid Waste Programs Fee remains at $138 per year with no increase.

Plastic Free July is a global movement that provides ideas and resources to help you reduce how much single-use plastic you use throughout the month of July and beyond. Reducing plastic use helps reduce waste in Orange County. For example, plastic clamshells, plastic drink cups, and plastic film make up almost 9% of Orange County’s waste.

Try these plastic-free alternatives this Plastic Free July:

Did you know it is illegal to dispose of oyster shells in landfills or use them as mulch for landscaping in North Carolina? 

The Orange County Landfill offers cost-free oyster shell drop off for restaurants, businesses, and residents.

Why is oyster shell recycling important?
The Oyster Shell Recycling Program is organized by the North Carolina Coastal Federation to restore wild oyster populations. The North Carolina Coastal Federation reports that global oyster populations are at historic, critically low levels due to poor water quality, habitat loss, increased harvesting, disease, and more.

Oyster reef restoration provides three main benefits to North Carolina’s coastal environment and economy: food, filter, and fish habitat.

Help support North Carolina coasts by bringing your oyster shells to the Orange County Landfill, located at 1514 Eubanks Rd, Chapel Hill, NC 27516. Visit the Orange County Landfill webpage for hours of operation.

A monthly review of the most common and obscure findings in recycling carts.

As part of the Recycling Stars Program, Solid Waste staff evaluate curbside recycling carts to educate residents on proper recycling. The program’s goal is to improve the overall quality and quantity of recyclables collected from households around the County. Residents that recycle properly are awarded a star sticker. Residents also receive feedback on unaccepted items found in their recycling cart via a letter or ‘Oops’ tag attached to their cart. For more information on the Recycling Stars Program, please visit our website.

Some contaminants that inspectors have found recently:

Download our free app called Orange County NC Recycles in the Apple or Google Play Store where you can:

• Use the A-Z guide to find out the right way to dispose of your materials

• View the recycling collection calendar and receive reminders

• Learn about the Waste & Recycling Centers

At Orange County NC Solid Waste on Facebook, Instagram, and X. 

Listen to OC Solid Waste Representatives the second Tuesday of each month from 8:15 am to 8:45 am on the ‘3-D News’ on local radio WHUP 104.7 FM, over the air and streaming online. Visit this link to listen online. If you missed the show, you can listen online since shows are archived for a month after airing. 

Orange County Solid Waste Management

orangecountync.gov/recycling

recycling@orangecountync.gov

(919) 968-2788