Oak Ridge Plans Free November Recycling, Medication Take-Back and Food Drive

Guilford County and the Town of Oak Ridge are organizing a free drive-through recycling event for Saturday, November 7, from 8 a.m. to noon at Oak Ridge Elementary School, 2050 Oak Ridge Road. The event will also include a medication take-back station staffed by the Guilford County Sheriff's Office and a food drive benefiting local pantries.

Residents can bring a range of unwanted household materials, including appliances, electronics, clean plastic bags, flattened cardboard and certain types of foam. Organizers will also accept tires within stated limits: up to 50 passenger tires or 10 heavy-truck tires per vehicle. Large equipment tires are excluded.

Secure shredding will be available for up to five file boxes of personal documents per vehicle. The program is intended for household material rather than business waste, and residents should check the restrictions before loading vehicles. Batteries, fuel and light bulbs will not be accepted as part of the collection.

The sheriff's office take-back station will accept unwanted or expired prescription and over-the-counter medications, including pills, creams and vitamins. Liquids are excluded. Proper disposal offers an alternative to keeping unused medications in household cabinets or discarding them in ordinary trash.

A Simple Gesture will collect nonperishable foods such as canned vegetables, soups, beans, cereal, rice, pasta and peanut butter. Organizers also list certain baby formulas and packaged snacks among acceptable donations. Glass jars are not accepted for the food drive.

Residents with household hazardous waste that cannot be taken to the event can use Guilford County's Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center at 2750 Patterson Street in Greensboro during its published operating hours. The November event combines waste reduction, secure disposal and food assistance in one stop.