With the start of a new school year, it seems like everything is new. Whether that’s a new backpack, new classes, or new teachers. We’re here to tell you that it’s OK to recycle things every now and then (literally). Let’s just make sure you’re recycling right! Here are a few tips to keep in mind at school and at home.
Continue ReadingIt’s time to have some fun in the sun! But let’s not be wasteful. While you’re enjoying the heat and all the activities that summer brings, remember to recycle right.
Besides the six items you can recycle curbside, here are some seasonal items you can bring to any Mecklenburg County full-service recycling center all year long.
Continue ReadingMany of the products in your home can contain hazardous or toxic chemicals. Using or getting rid of these the wrong way can be dangerous for your health and the environment. Products with hazardous substances are labeled with words like “toxic,” “flammable,” or “corrosive.”
The average United States household creates about 30 pounds of hazardous waste yearly. That comes up to about 1.6 million tons in the U.S. every year. Take a look around your home and see if you can locate these items (and a few more). We’ll help you dispose of them properly!
Continue ReadingIf you’ve visited one of Mecklenburg County’s full-service recycling centers, you know we take electronics, household hazardous waste, yard waste and more. Now add foam, books and shredded paper to your in-person recycling drop-off list!
Continue ReadingRecycling Right sounds easy. But once you start looking into the details, you might realize you’ve been recycling wrong. Don’t worry. That’s what we’re here for! Our Solid Waste department gets questions all the time. Here are some of the greatest hits.
Continue ReadingWhen you think about sustainability and going green at work, your first thought might be, “Aha! It is time to build a brand new energy-efficient building.” To that, I say, slow down. That might be the right move for some companies but maybe your company can’t do anything that big and expensive. That doesn’t mean you’re locked out of taking action. Smaller steps are important, too!
And according to N.C. State’s sustainability program, “Sustainability isn’t just about the health and well-being of the planet; it’s about the health and well-being of people. From the air we breathe to the food and water we consume, the environment impacts human health.” So let’s tackle this idea of sustainability from a few angles to give you some new ideas.
Continue ReadingIf you’ve ever wondered where your Christmas tree goes when it leaves the curb, watch and learn!
Always recycle right. Crews won’t pick up artificial trees. They can’t be recycled and will end up in the landfill. Crews also won’t pick up live trees with lights or ornaments. For more information about composting and recycling, visit wipeoutwaste.com.
City or County? That’s a question we get a lot when it comes to the services that we provide to our residents. We can’t say we’re surprised – considering that the City of Charlotte is a part of Mecklenburg County, it can be easy to get us mixed up. Throw six more towns into the equation and it can get even more confusing!
A good way to tell the difference is by knowing the types of services each agency provides. But, there are a few instances where it’s going to seem like some of our services overlap. For example, all three of us (City, County, and the Towns) play a role in solid waste. However, even though we share a similar name, the functions of each solid waste department are very different.
Continue ReadingWritten by Kristen Haas, Environmental Educator at Park and Recreation
Don’t worry, I was doing it wrong, too. Until I went on a tour of the Mecklenburg County recycling center that processes curbside recycling bins (the MRF, which we insiders pronounce “Murph”), that is. I learned so much and left feeling empowered to make easy changes that would save money by recycling the right way.
During the tour, I kept thinking about this quote:
Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.
Maya Angelou
So, today I want to share my biggest take-away messages and encourage you all to “do better” too.
Continue ReadingWhether you realize it or not, there are many things you probably know about Mecklenburg County government. For starters, you are probably aware that the County is governed by the nine-member Board of County Commissioners. You may also know that Mecklenburg’s day-to-day operations are managed by County Manager Dena R. Diorio. Chances are you are also familiar with a few County services such as Public Health, Department of Social Services or Park and Recreation.
That doesn’t come close to being everything about us, though. There’s so much more that we do and within all of our departments there are so many programs and initiatives that it can be hard to list them all out. But, we do have a few “best kept secrets” that we think you should know!
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