Commercial Recycling
Orange County operates recycling programs for the commercial sector, however these services have limited coverage. Where available, Commercial Recycling services are provided at no direct cost to the participating businesses. Costs are borne through the County’s Basic or Universal Services 3-R recycling fee. If you are interested in receiving commercial recycling services, please call our office or email us at recycling@co.orange.nc.us to find out if your business is eligible for the commercial recycling program or food waste program described below.
Commercial Bottle and Can Recycling
Our commercial recycling program accepts all beverage containers and other recyclable materials including aluminum cans, steel cans, empty aerosol cans, aluminum foil and trays, glass bottles and jars, all plastic bottles, and all paper except corrugated cardboard. We collect over 55 tons per month of commingled containers and paper from over 150 bars, restaurants and other businesses in Orange County. The County provides carts and collection services. Businesses receiving this service are responsible for proper preparation of recyclable materials and cart and site cleanliness. Collection frequency is generally weekly or more often depending on need. While our commercial recycling program’s primary focus is to serve those County businesses with On-Premises ABC permits, if your business is on or adjacent to one of our recycling routes you may also be eligible for service. To join our program a business must demonstrate a willingness to separate materials for recycling, and there must be adequate space for and reasonable truck access to a collection location.
For information regarding the ABC Permit law that requires businesses with some ABC permits to recycle their beverage containers, visit the NC Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance website or the North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission website.
Commercial Food Waste Collection
Orange County Solid Waste Management operates an Organics Recycling Program that diverts nearly 2,500 Tons of food waste and other compostable organic material from landfill-based disposal each year. Collection and composting service is performed by our contractor, Brooks Contracting. This program accepts source separated organic materials such as kitchen and produce department prep waste, post-consumer plate waste, and other compostable organic materials from local restaurants, grocery stores, and food service establishments for composting. The finished compost is available to purchase locally at the Orange County Landfill and Southern States in Carrboro.
Thank you to these area restaurants and businesses for participating in the program:
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Corrugated Cardboard
Non-residential corrugated cardboard is banned from the Orange County Landfill, but the County does not provide collection services. Businesses that generate fewer than fifty boxes per week may use one of the five 24-hour drop-off sites located throughout the county. All others must contract privately for cardboard recycling services or deliver separated cardboard to the landfill for recycling at no charge.
Hazardous Waste
Orange County businesses that produce less than 220 pounds per month of hazardous material such as paint, pesticides, automotive fluids, fluorescent lights or other items that contain mercury, or any other material that might be toxic, flammable or otherwise hazardous can bring them to the Hazardous Waste Collection located at the Orange County Landfill on Eubanks Rd. in Chapel Hill for disposal.
The hazardous waste collection is open Monday-Friday from 10:00AM-6:00PM and Saturdays from 7:30AM-12 noon.
Orange County businesses with more than 75 pounds of material must set up an appointment prior to delivering materials so that waiting times are minimized. Call (919) 968-2788 or email recycling@co.orange.nc.us.
Technical Assistance
We provide technical assistance in waste reduction and recycling to businesses and other non-residential entities on request at no charge. This ranges from simple marketing questions to waste audits to helping to set up a recycling program.
Here are a few tips for setting up a recycling program at your office or other place of business:
- Find out what’s recyclable by looking in the garbage. The usual suspects are clean, dry paper, corrugated cardboard, cans and bottles and special materials associated with your type of business like metals from a bike shop or plastic filmused to wrap shipping cartons. Make note of any regulated materials now thrown away including cardboard, aluminum cans, clean wood and scrap metal as penalties may be incurred for throwing these materials away instead of separating them for recycling.
- Develop and present a detailed plan, What areas need a recycling bin? Who will empty the bins? How much sorting is required? Who will collect the recyclable materials? How much will it cost or save when balanced against garbage disposal costs?
- Get commitment from management and other staff for the program.
- Educate the staff about how to recycle and make it easy, convenient and understandable. Include rewards and recognition where appropriate.
- Include ways to reduce waste in the program including double-sided copying, re-using mailing envelopes with new labels pasted on, replacing disposable dishes and cups with washables, composting kitchen scraps, and office junk mail reduction strategies.