Frequently Asked Questions

Payments are assigned as follows:

• All owners of improved property in Orange County must pay the SWPF. If a property has multiple units such as an apartment complex or shopping center, each individual unit, or each “front door,” is assessed a Solid Waste Programs Fee.
• Owners of the parcel of land on which there are single-wide mobile homes or leaseholds on which there are double-wide homes or other habitable structures, will be assessed the SWPF for all units on their property eligible to receive service. The SWPF will be assessed to the real property owner for each habitable unit on that property.
• All public buildings such as schools, local government, state government, and OWASA pay the fee.
• UNC Chapel Hill and UNC Health Care (on campus) do not pay the fee as each has its own comprehensive recycling program.

Appeal

When you receive your 2018 tax bill, you may feel that the fee has not been accurately assessed for your property(s). Orange County has developed a formal SWPF appeals process for this type of situation. The appeal form (PDF) can be returned via email the Tax Office  or by mail:
Orange County Tax Office

Attention to Solid Waste Programs Fee Appeal
P.O. Box 8181
Hillsborough NC 27278

Follow the instructions on the form, sign and submit the form by mail or fax to:

Orange County Solid Waste Management
Attention to Director
P.O. Box 17177
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
Fax: 919-932-2900

Review

A review of the appeal will then be conducted by County Solid Waste staff utilizing information provided by County Land Records, the County Assessor’s Office and Solid Waste Management. Appellants will receive written notification of the outcome of their appeal.