It’s the time of year when we use pumpkins and gourds for display. They should not be thrown out in the trash because all parts of a healthy, untreated pumpkin can be composted, including the skin, flesh, seeds and stems. They all break down readily. You can compost at home or drop them off in the food scrap collection bins at the Orange Transfer Station and Recycling Center. You can also feed the wildlife by chopping the pumpkin into smaller pieces and leaving it out for bir

As the summer season winds down, we often come across unique items that leave us wondering how to recycle or dispose of them properly. Here are some common ones: Sunscreen bottles/tubes: Hard plastic sunscreen bottles can be recycled, but remember to empty them before tossing them in the recycling bin. On the other hand, flexible tubes of sunscreen (similar to toothpaste tubes) are not recyclable due to the multiple layers of different materials. These tubes should be placed

Ah, summertime, with its blue skies, flowering trees and shrubs, and warm temperatures. We also get to enjoy the delicious fruit and vegetables at our local farm stands. Not only is their produce delicious and nutritious, it’s a great way to support our local farms and farmers. The Orange Community Farmer’s Market is held at High Plains Community Center at 525 Orange Center Rd. every Thursday from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. from the last Thursday in June through the last Thursday in

We hear the word bamboo and might picture pandas munching on it in China. Bamboo is a fast-growing grass that regenerates quickly from its roots, requiring minimal replanting. Compared to many other crops, bamboo requires significantly less water and doesn’t need pesticides or fertilizers to grow. Bamboo forests are effective carbon sinks, which means they absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide and release more oxygen than trees. When trees are cut down, the climate and ecosy

Paper towels are a common single-use and increasingly expensive product, and they have a significant environmental impact worldwide.

Join us for a fun and informative event at the library! Get ideas and learn about ways to responsibly dispose of all sorts of stuff...

Shredded paper cannot be combined with our other recycling. In fact, shredded paper is a huge problem for recycling facilities.

Did you know that Connecticut was at the forefront of an important recycling effort? Yes, Connecticut was the first state in the US to pass a statewide mattress recycling law in 2013.

What happens when medications are disposed of improperly? They end up in our ecosystems, leaving a lasting imprint on wildlife, water systems and potentially human health.

When it comes to laundry, we can choose from a wide range of great sustainable products that don’t use harmful plastics and chemicals

We’re all familiar with the 3Rs: reduce, reuse and recycle. We’re also aware of environmental concerns and sometimes feel overwhelmed by

During the holiday season, household waste increases by over 25%! This is due to excess food & packaging that doesn't get recycled

Although it’s nearly impossible to avoid all microplastic ingestion, scientists and doctors have some tips on how we can lower our exposure

Knowing if and where an item can be recycled can be confusing. Go to recyclect.com, type in an item and learn how to recycle it

When we waste food, we also waste all the energy and water it takes to grow, harvest, transport and package it.

The Orange Recycling Committee and the town have been busy over the last nine months. Last fall, town composting began so that Orange...

You put paper and cardboard in the recycling bin, but does it actually get repurposed into something new? The answer is "YES!"

Are you done with those jeans with the broken zipper? The stained shirts and pants? Those tattered towels and that coffee-stained shirt?...

One of the worst things we can do is wishcycling. That’s when we optimistically put non-recyclable objects into recycling bins.

Effective January 1, 2024, Connecticut’s bottle and can redemption will increase from five cents to ten cents. Doubling the redemption...