Solid Waste & Recycling E-Newsletter |
- Did You Know?
- Inclement Weather Alerts Reminder
- Christmas and New Year's Holiday Schedule
- Sustainable Holiday Shopping
- Safe Battery Disposal Reminders
- Coming Soon! New Food Waste Collection Bins
- What’s in the Cart?
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Did you know that not all gift wrap is recyclable? Only wrapping paper and gift bags that are 100% paper are recyclable. Tissue paper, ribbon, and metallic, glittery and plastic-coated wrapping paper and gift bags are not recyclable and should be reused or thrown in the trash.
Not sure if your wrapping paper is recyclable? Try the scrunch test. If you scrunch the paper into a ball and it stays in a ball, it is recyclable. If it bounces back to its original shape, it should be thrown in the trash.
Wondering how to dispose of a specific item? Download the Orange County NC Recycles app or use the A-Z guide on the website to search for materials and their disposal options.
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Inclement Weather Alerts Reminder |
As we're approaching wintertime, the possibility of inclement weather increases. Make sure you know where to find Solid Waste service alerts to stay up to date with delays, closures, and other important operations information. Inclement weather alerts and other service alerts will be posted on the Solid Waste website homepage and Inclement Weather page in the "About" section. Additionally, alerts will be sent out in the Orange County NC Recycles app.
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Christmas and New Year's Holiday Schedule |
Wednesday, December 24: Regular recycling collection. The Landfill/Disposal Center, Waste and Recycling Centers, and Administrative Offices will be closed.
Thursday, December 25: No recycling collection. Thursday recycling will be collected on Friday, December 26. The Landfill/Disposal Center, Waste and Recycling Centers, and Administrative Offices will be closed.
Friday, December 26: Friday recycling will be collected on Saturday, December 27. The Administrative Offices will be closed.
Wednesday, December 31: Regular recycling collection. The Landfill/Disposal Center, Waste and Recycling Centers, and Administrative Offices will be open.
Thursday, January 1: No recycling collection. Recycling collection will be delayed by one day for the remainder of the week. The Landfill/Disposal Center, Waste and Recycling Centers, and Administrative Offices will be closed.
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Sustainable Holiday Shopping |
Celebrate sustainability this season and reduce your waste by making some small changes to your holiday shopping.
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- Shop local! Cut down on shipping and packaging waste by choosing gifts locally.
- Give experiences and e-gift cards like spa days and cooking classes instead of physical items.
- Skip physical receipts and opt for digital ones instead. Paper receipts are not recyclable!
- Love to craft? Create thoughtful, homemade gifts for loved ones using materials found at nonprofit thrift stores and donation centers.
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Instead of purchasing new wrapping paper, use recyclable materials such as brown paper bags and newspaper that can be festively decorated.
- Save gift wrap, wrapping paper, and packaging materials to reuse for years to come.
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Safe Battery Disposal Reminders |
Battery recycling is a great way to save natural resources, keep materials out of landfills, and prevent truck and recycling facility fires. All types of batteries can be recycled at Orange County's Waste and Recycling Centers. Make sure you're disposing of your batteries correctly and in the right bins:
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Lithium, lithium-ion, and button batteries should ONLY be placed in receptacles labeled for lithium batteries to avoid fire hazard. SEPARATE AND TAPE the ends/terminals (if button cell, tape the entire battery), before bringing to the Waste and Recycling Centers.
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Lead-acid batteries (also known as wet-cell batteries), such as automobile and boat batteries, can be stacked on pallets located at each center. Please do not place lead-acid batteries in the dry-cell battery receptacles.
- Dry-cell batteries (also known as alkaline or zinc-carbon batteries), such as AA and AAA batteries, can be dropped off in labeled containers located at each center.
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Batteries of ANY kind are NOT accepted in curbside recycling or mixed recycling drop-off. Lithium batteries are a fire hazard and should NEVER be put in recycling carts or thrown away. If you are unsure how to properly dispose of batteries at the Waste and Recycling Centers, please see a site attendant for assistance.
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Coming Soon! New Food Waste Collection Bins |
New Food Waste Drop-Off sites are coming soon! In the next few months, Orange County Solid Waste will be rolling out new Food Waste Collection bins in various locations around the County. These bins will be available for Orange County residents to use 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Information on bin details and sites will be publicized in the E-News, social media, and Solid Waste website when finalized.
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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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- Shoes are not accepted in curbside recycling and mixed recycling drop-off.
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Waste reduction tip: Shoes, clothing, and other textiles can be recycled at the Clothing and Shoe Drop-Off bins at the Eubanks Rd, High Rock Rd, and Walnut Grove Church Rd. Waste and Recycling Centers.
- Electronics are not accepted in curbside recycling and mixed recycling drop-off.
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Waste reduction tip: Working electronics should be reused or donated. Broken electronics can be recycled at the Electronics Drop-Off at the Waste and Recycling Centers.
- Plastic buckets are not recyclable in Orange County.
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Waste reduction tip: Plastic buckets can be taken to nonprofit donation centers or County Salvage Sheds. Broken rigid plastics can be taken to the Rigid Plastics Drop-Off bins at Waste and Recycling Centers.
- Bubble wrap and other plastic wrap are not accepted in curbside recycling and mixed recycling drop-off.
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Waste reduction tip: Bubble wrap and plastic bags, wrap, and film can be recycled in the Plastic Bags/Film Drop-Off at the Walnut Grove Church Rd. and Eubanks Rd. Waste and Recycling Centers.
- Coated paper plates are not recyclable and should be put in the trash.
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Waste reduction tip: Use reusable plates or choose 100% paper plates that are compostable.
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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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