The Waste Line: A Guest Column From Orange County Solid Waste Management

GUEST COLUMNS

Welcome to the Waste Line

The Waste Line is a monthly column from Orange County Solid Waste Management. Each issue shares useful updates on recycling, trash, and composting, along with tips and news to help residents manage waste responsibly and stay informed.

Did You Know?

Did you know that bagged recycling gets thrown away when it gets to the sorting facility? Recyclables should ALWAYS be kept loose in the carts. Please empty ALL bags of recyclables into the cart and keep plastic bags out of recycling.

Paper bags can be recycled in your cart and plastic bags should be recycled separately at the Eubanks Rd. and Walnut Grove Church Rd. Waste & Recycling Centers.

Wondering if you can recycle a specific item? Download the Orange County NC Recycles app or use the A-Z guide on the Solid Waste website to search for what you can and cannot recycle.

Ferguson Rd. Waste & Recycling Center Hours Change

Effective September 27, 2025, the Ferguson Rd. Waste & Recycling Center will be CLOSED on Saturdays from 2pm-2:30pm to ensure maximum safety while containers are serviced.

Plastic Bag Recycling

Did you know that you can recycle plastic bags and film separately in Orange County? Plastic bag recycling is a great way to keep plastic out of landfills, save natural resources, and make new products from recycled materials.

While you cannot put them in your curbside cart or mixed recycling drop-off, plastic bags and other types of plastic film are accepted at the Plastic Bags & Film Drop-Off at the Eubanks Rd. and Walnut Grove Church Rd. Waste & Recycling Centers. The carts for these materials are located near the Clothing, Shoes, and Textiles bins. The plastic bags and plastic film collected in these carts are recycled into composite decking and railing. Below is a list of accepted and not accepted materials.

Accepted materials:       NOT Accepted materials:

Don’t see your item listed? If the package is stretchy when you pull it, it is accepted. If it is shiny, crinkly, or tears like paper, it is NOT accepted.

Recycle Right: Metal

Recycle right! The only metals that are accepted in curbside recycling carts and mixed recycling drop-offs are metal food and drink cans. All other metal items, including foil and aerosol cans, should be donated or recycled separately at the Waste & Recycling Centers.

What’s in the Cart?

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 the Solid Waste website.

Some contaminants that inspectors have found recently:

• Plastic silverware is not recyclable and should be put in the trash.
  • Waste reduction tip: Bring a reusable silverware set to use for to-go food or in place of disposable silverware at restaurants.
• Microwave popcorn bags are not recyclable and should be put in the trash.
• Chip bags are not recyclable and should be put in the trash.
  • Waste reduction tip: Purchase snacks in bulk rather than individually wrapped packages.
• Black plastic is not recyclable and should be put in the trash.
  • Waste reduction tip: Usable black plastic takeout containers should be reused or donated.
• Egg cartons made of plastic or Styrofoam are not recyclable and should be put in the trash.
  • Waste reduction tip: Choose eggs in recyclable paper cartons instead.

About the Author

The Orange County Solid Waste Management Department operates the Orange County Integrated Solid Waste Management facility, which contains the Construction and Demolition Landfill, Regulated Material Recycling, and Mulch and Compost Sales. The Department also manages five Solid Waste and Recycling Centers, including two with Household Hazardous Waste and three with Food Waste drop-offs, and the County’s comprehensive Recycling Collection Programs for residential and commercial entities. For questions or comments, please email recycling@orangecountync.gov.\

Follow us on social media @ocncsolidwaste on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

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