Recycling ECO Home Page
Updated July 2020
Recycling rules and donation options change during normal times, and the pandemic has complicated things further. We're doing our best to keep information current, but it's always best to check before you make a trip to donate or recycle items. If you learn about changes that are not reflected here, we'd love to know! You can email us here.
LOCAL RECYCLING INFORMATION - Check the links below for current recycling information in your county.
Orange County Chatham County Durham County
Other Recycling and Donating Information:
Recycling During the Pandemic (info from Orange County)
1ST SUNDAY COLLECTIONS **Suspended while church is not meeting in person, but in some cases you can take them to the locations below as indicated
On the first Sunday of each month, ECO collects items that can be recycled but are not picked up curbside. Batteries, corks, and tiny metal bits (screws, clips, etc.) are collected every month. Other items are collected a few times a year as indicated below.
Every month, we collect batteries (D size and smaller), natural and synthetic corks and tiny metal bits (screws, clips, etc.) at the ECO table.
Where do we take them, and can they still go there?
Batteries and metal bits (tiny or otherwise) can still be taken to convenience centers in Orange and Chatham counties.
Natural corks are normally taken to Whole Foods or Weaver St. for the Cork ReHarvest program, but that is on hold during COVID-19.
All corks, synthetic and natural, can still be taken to The Scrap Exchange. During the pandemic, drop off is by appointment only Tues-Sat. 11-4.
For additional items, see calendar below:
RECYCLING CALENDAR **Suspended while church is not meeting in person, but in some cases you can take them to the locations below as indicated**
Updated July 2020
Recycling rules and donation options change during normal times, and the pandemic has complicated things further. We're doing our best to keep information current, but it's always best to check before you make a trip to donate or recycle items. If you learn about changes that are not reflected here, we'd love to know! You can email us here.
LOCAL RECYCLING INFORMATION - Check the links below for current recycling information in your county.
Orange County Chatham County Durham County
Other Recycling and Donating Information:
- Glass: Orange County can receive revenue for recycling glass separately, so it's best to take glass bottles and jars to the Waste and Recycling Centers (WRCs). You can still recycle it in your cart, but it adds to the amount the county has to pay for processing. Later in the year, look for glass containers at the unstaffed recycling sites around the county as well.
- Aluminum foil and foil pans: recycle clean and crumpled aluminum foil and trays at the scrap metal bins at the Waste and Recycling Centers.
- Shredded paper can NO LONGER be recycled in Orange or Chatham County. However, free shredding services are offered year-round at the Shred Center. Shredded paper can also go in your compost.
- Plastics: As with many materials, recycling markets for plastics change. You may have heard that China won't take American plastics for recycling anymore, but here in the Southeast we still have recycling facilities that take plastic. A recent local change is that clear plastic clamshell containers with the number 1 on them can be recycled in your cart if you live in Orange County. Plastic bottles, jars, and tubs continue to be picked up curbside. Many plastic bags and wrappings, including dry cleaning bags, zip lock bags and toilet paper wrappings, can be recycled (if clean and dry) at local grocery stores. Find out more about recycling plastic bags and other plastic "film."
- Technology Recycling: Don’t let your old gadgets end up in the landfill, as they can harm the environment in multiple ways. There are many places that will take your old electronics for recycling, from computers and printers to tablets and portable music players, although some programs are suspended due to COVID-19. Orange County Waste and Recycling Centers are currently operating as normal and take electronics. Even better, use the old ones as long as possible and donate working items when you can. Kramden Institute in Durham refurbishes donated computers and many other electronics for students in need.
- Plastic plant pots and dirty compost bags can be returned for recycling and reuse at Lowe's Home Improvement Stores. They will take all plastic pots including the flimsy cell packs and plastic trays that contained multiple pots, as well as clean, empty plastic bags that contained compost or mulch.
- All types of cartons, such as those containing milk, soup, wine, juice, etc. can be recycled curbside along with bottles and cans. Leave plastic tops on, remove straws, flatten.
- Textiles: Worn-out clothing or other textiles not suitable to go directly on the thrift store sales floor is sold by the pound by the PTA Thrift Store (Chatham County) and the newly named CommunityWorx Thrift Shop in Chapel Hill (next to Whole Foods). Bag separately, keep clean and dry, and mark as 'rags', then bring them to one of the donation points (Jones Ferry Rd. or Elliot Rd.). Textiles (separated and marked) can also be taken to the Eubanks Rd. Waste and Recycling Center in the clothing bin.
Recycling During the Pandemic (info from Orange County)
- Never put any gloves, masks or other PPE in your recycling cart or into any other recycling receptacle. Gloves cannot be recycled with plastic bags.
- Orange County will not be collecting recyclables from the 18 gallon bins until further notice, except from Special Collection Route customers who have been approved and currently receive this service.
- Salvage sheds remain closed at all the Waste and Recycling Centers until further notice.
- When using the Waste and Recycling Centers, please maintain a safe physical distance with staff and other customers and, at these difficult times, maintain your respect for all those working at the centers as they respect you as County residents. Remain in your vehicle until the bin that you need is available.
1ST SUNDAY COLLECTIONS **Suspended while church is not meeting in person, but in some cases you can take them to the locations below as indicated
On the first Sunday of each month, ECO collects items that can be recycled but are not picked up curbside. Batteries, corks, and tiny metal bits (screws, clips, etc.) are collected every month. Other items are collected a few times a year as indicated below.
Every month, we collect batteries (D size and smaller), natural and synthetic corks and tiny metal bits (screws, clips, etc.) at the ECO table.
Where do we take them, and can they still go there?
Batteries and metal bits (tiny or otherwise) can still be taken to convenience centers in Orange and Chatham counties.
Natural corks are normally taken to Whole Foods or Weaver St. for the Cork ReHarvest program, but that is on hold during COVID-19.
All corks, synthetic and natural, can still be taken to The Scrap Exchange. During the pandemic, drop off is by appointment only Tues-Sat. 11-4.
For additional items, see calendar below:
RECYCLING CALENDAR **Suspended while church is not meeting in person, but in some cases you can take them to the locations below as indicated**
- Jan.: Holiday lights (working or not), gently used children's books (Book Harvest - currently accepting donations).
- Feb.: Cell phones, with or without chargers (Durham Crisis Response Center - currently accepting phones; call to make sure someone is there.)
- March: Children's books (Book Harvest)
- April: Eyeglasses, prescription or not, can be broken, includes sunglasses (eyecare services including Pearle Vision and Lens Crafters take these during normal times. It's hard to find Coronavirus updates but we've confirmed that SouthPoint Lens Crafters is currently accepting glasses.)
- May: Cell phones (Durham Crisis Response Center - currently accepting phones; call to make sure someone is there.)
- June: Batteries, corks, tiny metal bits - see above
- July: Batteries, corks, tiny metal bits - see above
- August: Children's books (Book Harvest)
- Sept.: Children's books (Book Harvest)
- Oct.: Eyeglasses - see April above
- Nov.: Cell phones (Durham Crisis Response Center - currently accepting phones; call to make sure someone is there.)
- Dec.: Holiday lights (working or not)