Garner will be conducting a one-time sweep of residential areas to pick up and
dispose of storm-related yard waste debris beginning Monday, Sept. 12. All materials intended for disposal should be placed curbside no later than 7 a.m. that morning.

In the wake of Hurricane Irene, the City of Raleigh Waste Services Department will be waiving the special load pickup fee for tree debris for one week.

The city requests that residents prepare vegetative debris in the normal fashion according to yard waste collection guidelines. Tree debris must be no longer than 5 feet long and 18 inches in diameter, and weigh no more than 75 pounds.

North Carolina Baptist Men, providing disaster relief in the wake of Hurricane Irene, are set up in four locations in North Carolina, and they are seeking volunteers.

The Johnston County landfill at 680 County Home Road in Smithfield will accept vegetative debris related to Hurricane Irene from residential customers at no charge,  today through Sept. 10. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. through 4:45 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. through 3:30 p.m.

For more information, contact the Solid Waste Division at 919-989-4750.

Residents in Wake County are encouraged to drop off vegetation and building-related debris at the county's convenience centers.

The Clean Jordan Lake organization is seeking volunteers for its team as part of the 21st Annual Haw River Cleanup on Saturday, March 12.

Have you ever accidentally broken a CFL bulb? If you're not aware, each compact fluorescent bulb contains a small amount of mercury, which is toxic. If you have a broken CFL, be sure you know what (and what not) to do to properly clean up and dispose of broken parts to keep your family and pets safe.

The Town of Cary will hold a Fall Litter Sweep on Saturday, Oct. 2, from 9 a.m. until noon. Volunteers will clean various locations across town, including areas in parks, neighborhoods and along streams and roadways.

Do you have ideas on how to reduce pollution levels in Raleigh's prime source of drinking water? Then you have your chance to chime in this week. Public hearings will be held at 7 p.m. today at Neal Middle School in Durham, and at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Campbell Lodge in the Durant Nature Park in Raleigh. You can also submit written comments through Aug. 16 to John Huisman via e-mail or by mail at N.C. DWQ, 1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, N.C. 27699-1617.

Read more about the Falls Lake cleanup efforts here.
 

A local nonprofit, Clean Jordan Lake, is recruiting volunteers to pick up trash at Jordan Lake from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 8.

Volunteers will meet at the Jordan Dam Visitor Assistance Center (also known as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Headquarters) at 2080 Jordan Dam Road in Moncure. To sign up, visit www.meetup.com/HelpCleanJordanLake.

Efforts will be focused near the B. Everett Jordan Dam, where large amounts of trash tend to accumulate after storms. If possible, bring boats and kayaks (pfd required) to help reach the parts of the shoreline not accessible by foot.  Pants, long-sleeve shirts, hats and bug repellent are highly recommended.  Bottled water, lunch, gloves and trash bags will be provided.

The cleanup is in cooperation with the US Army Corps of Engineers, the NC Department of Transportation, North Carolina Big Sweep and the Haw River Assembly.