Solid Waste & Recycling E-Newsletter |
- Did You Know?
- Recycling Collection and Facilities Holiday Schedule: Juneteenth
- Salvage Sheds Notice
- Urban Recycling Routes Update
- Oyster Shell Recycling Program
- What’s in the Cart?
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Receipts can not be recycled. They are printed on thermal paper which has a different composition than regular paper. Discard all receipts in the trash.
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Curbside recycling will not be collected on Wednesday, June 19. Wednesday recycling will be collected on Thursday, June 20. For the remainder of the week, curbside recycling collection will be delayed by one day. The Solid Waste Administrative Office, Orange County Landfill, and Waste and Recycling Centers will be closed on Wednesday, June 19. The Solid Waste Administrative Office, Orange County Landfill, Waste and Recycling Centers, and curbside recycling collection will operate as normal on Monday and Tuesday.
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The Salvage Shed at the Eubanks Road Waste and Recycling Center reopened on Friday, May 31, 2024.
Effective July 1, 2024, Salvage Sheds at all Waste and Recycling Center locations will be closed on Sundays to allow for sanitizing, upkeep, and maintenance of the facilities. All other facilities and services at the Waste and Recycling Centers will remain open.
Salvage Shed visits are limited to 10 minutes per day. Only one visit per day is permitted. Residents must wait for items to be placed in the Salvage Shed. Approaching others' vehicles is not permitted.
Below are examples of accepted items and items that are not accepted at the Salvage Sheds. All items left at the Salvage Sheds must be clean and in working condition.
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| ACCEPTED | NOT ACCEPTED |
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| Small, working appliances | Ammunitions, munitions, or other potentially explosive items | | Kitchenware (silverware, Tupperware, non-breakable dishware and cookware – no glass or ceramic items) |
Household construction & demolition waste such as toilets and bathroom sinks | | Books and magazines |
Clothing and shoes | | Electronics in working condition | Pillows, bedding and bed-related items | | Small, non-upholstered furniture (less than 100 pounds) | Mirrors and pane glass | | Small sports equipment (no large items such as treadmills, and no helmets) | Styrofoam, bubble wrap or other packaging waste | | Toys and games (no stuffed animals or fabric) | Large furniture (no more than 100 pounds) | | | Textiles such as rugs and carpets | | | Food and perishable items | | | No paint or household hazardous waste |
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Always ask a site attendant if you have questions about the Salvage Sheds.
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Urban Recycling Routes Update |
Orange County will be assuming recycling collection for the Urban routes starting July 1st, 2024.
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Orange County will now be conducting ALL recycling collection for residences throughout the County. Recycling collection within the town limits of Hillsborough, Carrboro, and Chapel Hill (including the portion of Chapel Hill within Durham County), that is picked up weekly, will now be collected by the Orange County Solid Waste trucks, which are dark green, instead of the lighter green GFL trucks.
Collection days will not change, but collection times may alter slightly.
Please put your recycling cart out on your collection day by 7am.
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Oyster Shell Recycling Program |
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.
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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 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.
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Oyster shells are crucial for reef building and restoration in NC estuaries.
- Baby oysters attach to oyster reefs and grow more oysters.
- Oyster reefs provide habitat for fish, crab, clams, shrimp, and other sea creatures.
- Oyster reefs filter and clean water in estuaries. Water quality improves as more oyster shells are added to estuaries.
- Oyster reefs reduce estuary shoreline erosion.
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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.
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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:
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| Fabric/string bag handles
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- Dryer sheets are not recyclable. Please throw these items away.
- Waste reduction tip: opt for reusable wool dryer balls.
- Fabric/string bag handles cannot be recycled. Please remove these handles before recycling paper bags. Plastic bags can never be recycled in curbside carts, even if fabric/string bag handles are removed.
- Waste reduction tip: bring your own reusable bags to the store instead of getting new disposable bags.
- Sponges are not accepted in Orange County recycling, even if they are marked as recyclable. Dispose of sponges in the trash.
- Waste reduction tip: use washable rags as a low waste alternative to disposable sponges.
- Toys are not recyclable. Donate toys in good condition to a thrift store or the Orange County Salvage Sheds. The Salvage Sheds do not accept toys made of fabric (no stuffed animals, doll clothes, etc.).
- Toothpaste tubes are not accepted in Orange County recycling, even if they are marked as recyclable. Dispose of toothpaste tubes in the trash.
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| Become a Better Recycler! |
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
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Follow Us on Social Media |
At Orange County NC Solid Waste on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
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Can't Get Enough Trash Talk? |
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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.
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1207 Eubanks Rd | Chapel Hill, NC 27516 US
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