Earth Products
More Information about Mulch and Compost
All Earth Products are available
Monday - Friday 8:00a.m. – 4:00p.m.
Saturday 7:30a.m. - 12:00 noon
at the Orange County Landfill
Eubanks Rd., Chapel Hill
(919) 968-2788
Stop at the scalehouse first to notify landfill staff and pay for the product. Landfill staff will load vehicles-- trucks and trailers only, please. Purchasers must cover their load with a tarp prior to leaving the landfill. Orange County is not responsible for any damage due to loading or delivery.
Conventional Yard Waste Mulch
Cost: $25.00 for 3 cubic yard scoop.
Origin: Made from clean yard waste brought to the landfill by residents, local government collection programs and contractors of Orange County. The yard waste is chipped and aged at least 70 days to allow the mulch to decompose slightly prior to sale. The decomposition process creates a heat surge that “fixes” the organic material so it will not harm plants when applied directly to landscapes. The heat surge also reduces the presence of pests, pathogens and fertile weed seeds.
“Red” Decorative Mulch
Cost: $28.00 for one cubic yard scoop.
Origin: Made from the same clean construction wood waste as Natural Color Decorative Mulch, chipped and screened, and then colored with naturally occurring Iron Oxide. The dye is safe for plants, pets, wildlife and humans. Red Decorative Mulch provides all the advantages of hard wood mulch (less nitrogen, less moisture, lasts longer than conventional mulch), plus long-lasting vibrant color.
Class "A" Compost
Cost: $28.00 per cubic yard.
Origin: Produced by a commercial composting firm located in Goldston, North Carolina. Food waste collected in the County's commercial recycling program combined with other organics such as manure, wood chips, and agricultural waste, create the feedstock for this rich humus .
The incoming materials are mixed in proper ratios of carbon and nitrogen and piled into windrows. The temperature, moisture and oxygen are controlled to accelerate decomposition. This process allows the finished material to fully stabilize after which it will not overheat or produce unpleasant odors.
“Class A” is the highest grade given compost in the State of North Carolina's regulatory ranking system. This product is suitable for unrestricted use on crops, landscape plants, turf or ornamentals.
Compost is typically blended with other soils to make custom mixes depending on the application. Compost provides multiple benefits as a natural soil amendment, potting mix supplement and mulch.
Delivery Options
Delivery is available from the Landfill for twenty cubic yards or more of conventional mulch and large loads of other "Earth Products". Landfill staff must assess location prior to delivery to ensure accessibility.
Delivery fees for conventional mulch only are as follows:
For locations within 10 miles of the landfill:
- 20 yards $225
- 30 yards $300
- 40 yards $375
For locations beyond 10 miles from the landfill in Orange County there will be an additional $50 added per load.
Prices include price of mulch. For loads less than 20 yards, contact the landfill for a list of haulers. For delivery of large amounts of red mulch or compost, please call for prices.
Delivery fees only apply to locations within 10 miles of the Orange County Landfill. Further distances will incur additional transportation costs.
More Information about Mulch and Compost
Mulch is most commonly used to top dress gardens and landscapes to provide a distinct boundary for landscaped and garden areas, to suppress weed growth without the use of chemicals and to help soil retain moisture. It can also be effective as a ground cover to help control erosion in certain circumstances. Ask your state or county erosion control inspector for assistance.
Yard waste mulch is ground through a 3"x4" screen which produces pieces 3.5"to 4" long, and no greater than 1" in circumference with a majority of the material smaller than 1/2 inch.
Clean wood used for "Natural" and "Red" colored mulch is ground through 2" oval screens which produces a product that is 1.5" or smaller.
Spring and fall are the best times of year to apply mulch. One cubic yard of mulch spread two inches thick will cover approximately 180 square feet of ground. Spread mulch evenly, but avoid mulching directly around stems and trunks of trees.
Compost is a dark, crumbly soil-like material that is an excellent natural soil additive. It can help transform heavy red clay or loose sand into rich fertile soil without the use of chemicals. To rejuvenate an impoverished soil or establish a new garden plot, apply 2 to 3 inches of compost, and dig it into the surface of the soil.
Orange County Solid Waste Management is unable to guarantee that these products do not contain weed seeds, organisms, metal or other contaminants. Orange County is not responsible for any damage due to loading or delivery.