Solid Waste & Recycling E-News March 2023

Did You Know?
Easter Recycling and Facilities Holiday Schedule
Save the Date: Spring Shred-A-Thon
Recycling Stars Program Update
What’s in the Cart?
Mattress Disposal Reminder

Save the Date: Spring Shred-A-Thon

Mark your calendars for the 2023 spring Shred-A-Thon! Events will take place on May 6^th in Chapel Hill at the Eubanks Park and Ride Lot and May 20^th in Hillsborough at Hampton Pointe behind Home Depot. See the graphic below for more details.

Recycling Stars Program Update

Orange County’s Recycling Stars Program is continuing to make progress in urban and rural areas. The education team has been applying new cart stickers and program introduction letters to ensure residents have up-to-date information on the County’s recycling guidelines. As a reminder, please leave your cart out until at least 3 pm on collection day so that employees can distribute stickers and letters.

The education team has been evaluating carts with the goal of improving the quality and quantity of recyclable material.

New data on the outcomes of the program on recycling contamination is currently being analyzed. This data will be presented at the next Solid Waste Advisory Group meeting, expected to take place this spring.

For more information on the Recycling Stars Program, please visit http://orangecountync.gov/2932/Orange-County-Recycling-Stars-Program.

What's in the Cart?

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. Some contaminants that inspectors have found:

Diapers are not recyclable! Please dispose of them in the trash.
Shovels are not accepted in curbside recycling. Metal pieces can be disposed of in Scrap Metal Drop-Off at the Waste and Recycling Centers.
Video game controllers and other electronic devices or accessories are not accepted in curbside recycling. Electronic can be disposed of via Electronics Drop-Off at the Waste and Recycling Centers.
Hangers of any material are not accepted in curbside recycling. Donate working hangers to the Salvage Sheds or local organizations. Broken metal hangers can be disposed of in Scrap Metal Drop-Off. Throw away broken wood, fabric, or plastic hangers if irreparable.
Plants are not recyclable. Please dispose of plants in your yard waste cart, if applicable, or in Yard Waste Drop-Off at the Waste and Recycling Centers (except Bradshaw Quarry Road).

Mattress Disposal Reminder

Mattresses can be disposed of at locations on Eubanks Road and Walnut Grove Church Road Orange County.

On Eubanks Road, mattresses should be dropped off at the Orange County Landfill before 4 PM Monday through Friday and before 12 PM on Saturdays. After the landfill closes, please bring mattresses to Eubanks Road Waste and Recycling Center. Please note, the Orange County Landfill is located at 1514 Eubanks Road, Chapel Hill NC, and the Eubanks Road Waste and Recycling Center is located at 1518 Eubanks Road, Chapel Hill NC.

The Walnut Grove Church Road Waste and Recycling Center accepts mattresses during all hours of operation.

For more information on center hours and locations, please visit http://orangecountync.gov/1149/Waste-Recycling-Centers or use the Orange County NC Recycles phone app.

Can't Get Enough Trash Talk?

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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