Announcing the 2023 FHA/GREEN SCENE Annual Spring Recycling Event

FOR FEARRINGTON AND GALLOWAY RIDGE RESIDENTS ONLY.

FHA In Partnership with The GREEN SCENE

Saturday, May 20, 2023  Only Between 9:00am and Noon

3 Events — 1 Day: Gathering Place Parking Lot.  

This Event is Sponsored by the FHA and by 

Fearrington Resident & FHA Vice President Amy Ghiloni.

 

1. FREE SHREDDING

Have your confidential documents destroyed on-site, free of charge. Watch as Shimar Recycling Inc. shreds your documents.

Guidelines:

• Bound paper stacks one inch thick or more need to be separated 
• Remove rubber bands and heavy banker's paper clips from papers 
• Paper should not be in binders or heavy plastic.

2. PRESCRIPTION MEDICINE DISPOSAL

The Chatham County Sheriff’s Department will be available to safely dispose of all your old, unused, or expired prescription medications safely and legally.

All you need to do is leave them in the original packaging and hand them to the sheriff deputy on duty at the Gathering Place. No liquid medication or "sharps" (needles) are accepted. Remember: NEVER FLUSH medicines as they cause environmental issues.  

AN ALTERNATIVE TO THROWING AWAY YOUR CURRENT UNUSED, UNWANTED PRESCRIPTION MEDICINES: consider donating them to Chatham Cares Community Pharmacy [CCCP] in Siler City, a non-profit community-based organization operated by a licensed pharmacist and committed to reducing health disparities by providing access to quality pharmacy services to the low-income, uninsured, and underinsured residents of Chatham County. Read all about it here.

3. FIRE EXTINGUISHER CHECK Spring 2023 Information -- Stopping Fires In Your Home With Smoke Alarms And Fire Extinguishers. 

The mission of the North Chatham Volunteer Fire Department is to protect lives, property and the community environment from the destructive effects of fire, disaster or other life hazards by providing public education, incident prevention and emergency response services. The department will have staff and firefighters on hand at the event to check your fire extinguisher and to advise on how to safely use it. 

_____________________________________

REMEMBER that we are no longer able to accept Household Hazardous Waste at our events; however, the County Will Accept Such Waste on This Same Day.

One of Chatham County’s 2023 Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Events will be held on this same day (May 20, 2023) at the County’s Main Recycling Facility approximately 13 miles from Fearrington Village, at [click the address for a MAP] 28 County Services Road, (which is just 6 miles west of Pittsboro, off Hwy 64), between 9:00 am - 3:00 pm on the following schedule:

After the County's May event, there will be six more REMAINING 2023 COUNTY HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE EVENTS scheduled for the following Saturdays 

(Chatham County Residents Only). No decal is required. Must show ID at HHW events.

• June 17
• July 15*
• August 19
• September 16
• October 21
• November 18*

*The Sheriff’s Office will be on-site during these HHW events to conduct a medicine takeback. Learn more details below.

No business waste and no trash will be accepted.

Note that household fire extinguishers must be recycled at one of these scheduled Hazardous Waste Collection Events and cannot be recycled at the County regional Collection Centers. If it is from a business it will NOT be accepted at HHW events. Contact a private company for disposal options.

At HHW events, the county accepts such items as oil-based paints, solvents, stains, bleach, aerosols, cleaners, pesticides, brake fluid, fluorescent light bulbs, propane tanks, etc. Residents can bring 20 gallons of latex paint cans per HHW event. If you have a 1-gallon paint can that has half a gallon of paint in it, it will count as 1 gallon. Latex paint can be safely dried out and put in with your regular trash.

For a complete list, please visit the www.chathamcountync.gov/hhw or contact the Solid Waste & Recycling Division at 919-542-5516 or recycle@chathamcountync.gov.

For information on what items are accepted by the County's HHW program, be sure to visit their website.

Community Food Waste Composting Presentation at Green Scene Meeting April 12, 2023

A special presentation by Fearrington Resident, Cheri DeRosia, on COMMUNITY COMPOSTING.  What it is. How it works. And why we should learn more about it. To view the presentation slides, use this link or click on the cover of the report, which is posted above.

Cheri has a Masters Degree in Environmental Policy from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.  She worked for an environmental consulting firm in Ann Arbor for many years, consulting with state, local, and federal government staff and legislators, as well as private companies, on solid and hazardous waste-related issues.

Cheri is interested in forming a group to develop a plan for how such a community composting program might be possible for Fearrington Village. or in working with existing groups that may already be working on this front. For more information and/or if you are interested in participating, please contact Cheri at cheriderosia@gmail.com.

North Carolina Solar Installers Settlement with Duke Energy Approved by NC Utilities Commission

North Carolina Solar Installers Settlement with Duke Energy Approved by NC Utilities Commission

A rate modification for solar customers in North Carolina was recently approved by the North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC). This has an impact on people living in North Carolina who want to use the utility grid that Duke Energy manages for what is essentially a form of energy storage, which is done through a process [...]  To read the whole article, use the blue title link under the photo.

 

Celebrating Solarize The Triangle's 2023 Success

 

Chatham Soil and Water Conservation District for Creek Geeks Field Day on Saturday, April 22, 2023

Community members of all ages are invited to join the Chatham Soil and Water Conservation District for Creek Geeks Field Day on Saturday, April 22, 2023, from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at Boling Lane Park located at 302 South Fir Avenue, Siler City, NC 27344. This event is free and open to the public. The rain date for this event is April 23rd.

 

The Town of Siler City installed Best Management Practices (BMPs) at Boling Lane Park such as wetlands and riparian buffers. Chatham Soil and Water Conservation staff will provide tours of the park, where they will discuss the BMPs, native vegetation, and the overall benefits for the Loves Creek Watershed.

 

Attendees will be able to participate in several interactive activities including:

• Explore some of the techniques used in stream health assessment and water quality testing in the creek running along Boling Lane Park.
• Search for macro invertebrate critters living in the creek.
• Measure chemical and physical parameters to assess the water quality.
• Using an EnviroScape watershed model, learn how nonpoint source pollutants affect waterways.
• Learn how to make small changes, as individuals and collectively, which add up to a large impact.

 

Each of these activities will run repeat every 45 minutes to give attendees a chance to visit all of them. The Chatham Soil and Water Conservation District will distribute educational activity books as well.

 

Residents who wish to attend are asked to register online at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScPpUYRYYoF7hx8ljY0jX9DEr_mnIAeEjBoiDzlE79NQCviUw/viewform?usp=sf_link Please be prepared to sign waivers at check-in on the day of the event.

 

Calendar event link: https://www.chathamcountync.gov/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/39010/15

News Release: https://www.chathamcountync.gov/Home/Components/News/News/15984/19

 

Questions about this event may be directed to Brandy Oldham, Chatham Soil & Water Conservation District Administrator and Education Coordinator at (919) 545-8440 or brandy.oldham@chathamcountync.gov.

 

Brandy Oldham

District Administrator, Education Coordinator

Chatham County Government

brandy.oldham@chathamcountync.gov 

Chatham Soil & Water Conservation District

1192 US 64 W Business, Suite 200

Pittsboro, NC 27312 

Office: (919) 545-8440

www.chathamcountync.gov/swcd

Customer Service Survey

Chatham County Watershed Protection to Co-Sponsor Creek Week

The Chatham County Community is Invited to Regional Creek Week March 18 –25, 2023.

Post Date: 03/06/2023 9:56 AM

PITTSBORO, NC— The Chatham County community is invited to join the Chatham County Watershed Protection Department and Clean Water Education Partnership (CWEP) for their Regional Creek Week March 18 –25, 2023. The CWEP Regional Creek Week celebrates the four rivers and numerous creeks that provide water for residents, animals, and plants that live in Chatham County, as well as the waterways in surrounding counties of the Piedmont region.

Creek Week offers the opportunity for the public to interact with the waters of Chatham County through a variety of free river-oriented activities. There are programs where people can visit the rivers, explore ephemeral pools, meet aquatic insects like dragonflies and damselflies, learn about plants that are good for streams, and participate in river clean-ups. Individuals may also participate in the Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) Oh My! scavenger hunt for fun and prizes. Programs will take place in person, via Zoom, Facebook, and Instagram.

To learn more about the free programs being offered during Creek Week, or to register for those programs, individuals may visit Chatham County Creek Week or CWEP Regional Creek Week and find out how to get involved locally and regionally.

Questions about this event may be directed to Phillip Cox, Chatham County Watershed Protection Department, at (919) 542-8268 or phillip.cox@chathamcountync.gov.

NC Invasive Plant Council Figbutter Cup Project (Very Invasive Plant)

Fig Buttercup Project

It's important to correctly identify fig buttercup before trying to remove it, as we have a number of low-growing yellow native wildflowers here in North Carolina that look similar. Distinguishing Characteristics Location: You're most likely to find fig buttercup near a stream or along a floodplain forest.

Food Waste Doesn't Necessarily Belong in Landfills

Cary composting program keeps tons of food waste out of landfills - The News & Observer

Food waste doesn't necessarily belong in landfills. It can be turned into a valuable resource: compost. That's according to the town of Cary and environmental advocates working to reduce waste in the area. At the Citizen's Convenience Center at 313 N.

Chatham County (NC) Household 2023 Hazardous Waste Collection Event Dates

The Household Hazardous Waste events for 2023 will take place on the following Saturdays (Chatham County Residents Only):

No decal is required. Must show ID at HHW events.

• March 18
• April 15*
• May 20
• June 17
• July 15*
• August 19
• September 16
• October 21
• November 18*

*The Sheriff’s Office will be on-site during these HHW events to conduct a medicine takeback. Learn more details below.

Note that household fire extinguishers must be recycled at one of these scheduled Hazardous Waste Collection Events and cannot be recycled at the County regional Collection Centers. If it is from a business it will NOT be accepted at HHW events. Contact a private company for disposal options.

No business waste and no trash will be accepted.

LOCATION: Solid Waste & Recycling Main Facility
28 County Services Road
Pittsboro, North Carolina 27330

At HHW events, the county accepts such items as oil-based paints, solvents, stains, bleach, aerosols, cleaners, pesticides, brake fluid, fluorescent light bulbs, propane tanks, etc. Residents can bring 20 gallons of latex paint cans per HHW event. If you have a 1-gallon paint can that has half a gallon of paint in it, it will count as 1 gallon. Latex paint can be safely dried out and put in with your regular trash.

For a complete list, please visit the www.chathamcountync.gov/hhw or contact the Solid Waste & Recycling Division at 919-542-5516 or recycle@chathamcountync.gov.

HHW 2023 events are held on the third Saturday of each month March through November.

Fearrington Village Green Scene Meeting March 8, 2023

This month we have some interesting information to share, AND, we would like to request your input and opinions on a few activities going forward that we are in the process of "shaping."  Please come and bring your ideas, and possible preferences, and help us create some informative, helpful, and worthwhile programs for our community.

• Discussion of the upcoming May 20,  2-in-1 Shredding Event, with regard to possibly coming up with a "better" name for the event.  ALSO, consideration of possible additional "services" that we might consider adding to the event.
• Some follow-up on the January meeting Composting topic.
• A discussion of the upcoming March 30, Fearrington Cares presentation by Matt Jones, Horticulture Agent with the NC Cooperative Extension Chatham County Center.
• Information about the Chatham County Spring Mulch Sales.

These are just some of the topics that we will go over on Wednesday.
Mark your calendars, and bring a friend!