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Club News

To see the latest news about the North Carolina Sierra Club, check out the new blog.

Volunteer for Festifall!

Sunday, October 5, 1-6 p.m.

Downtown Chapel Hill

Would you like to engage others in discussion about issues you care about?  Here’s a good chance to do just that. OCG needs your help with the following tasks:

  • Sitting at our table for an hour or two to represent OCG (1:00-6:00 pm)
  • Helping set up the materials, table, and chairs (10:30 am Changed to 9:00 am)
  • Helping with breakdown (6:00 pm)
  • Making an educational poster (before Oct 5) These are really welcome!!
  • Purchasing materials to make an educational poster

Please contact Maureen at mchayes720@earthlink.net if you want to help. See the official Festifall page for more information about the event.

Statement on the siting of the future Orange County waste transfer station

OCG's Executive Committee was pleased when the Orange County Commissioners decided to reconsider the siting of a solid waste transfer station near the Rogers Rd. neighborhood outside Chapel Hill. 

In spite of a strong recycling program, the current landfill is nearing capacity. The county has decided to ship Orange County solid waste elsewhere for final disposal and has hired a consultant to develop criteria for the siting of the transfer station.The site can be on a relatively small acreage but needs to be well buffered and relatively close to the main sources of solid waste generation. The proposed designs show minimal water consumption and zero runoff!

Loren Hintz attended the public hearings on behalf of OCG, where a key issue was environmental justice. The Rogers Rd. neighborhood is a historically Black community that has been adversely affected by the Orange County Landfill. Participants at the hearings spoke in favor of criteria that would eliminate neighborhoods like Rogers Rd. from consideration for the transfer station. The transfer station does not have the same severe impacts as a landfill but there are potential issues of smell, noise, litter and traffic.Due to social circumstances and previous environmental impacts on this community, OCG opposes the siting of the transfer station near the Rogers Rd. neighborhood and supports criteria that would remove Rogers Rd. from the list of potential sites.

Statement on a proposed Neighborhood Conservation District in the Glen Lennox neighborhood

One goal of the Sierra Club is to promote livable communities that reduce urban sprawl. Recently a proposal was submitted to redevelop the Glen Lennox apartment complex in Chapel Hill. We are pleased that the developer withdrew his proposal.

OCG believes it is important to preserve the Glen Lennox community for a number of reasons. The neighborhood is home to many old deciduous trees, and is pedestrian and bike-friendly. Its proximity to UNC and moderate cost allow people to live, work, and study in Chapel Hill. OCG supports the creation of a Neighborhood Conservation District, which will work to preserve this community. Careful consideration should be given to any future development.

Executive Committee Meetings

Monday, October 13, 7 p.m.

Carolina Meadows

All members are welcome to join the Executive Committee in the discussion of issues and projects.  Contact Judith Ferster for further information.

E-mail annoucements

To receive e-mail reminders of upcoming Orange-Chatham Group meetings and events, sign up for our listserv.


The Orange-Chatham Group meets once a month except during the summer, usually the second Wednesday of each month at 7:00 pm. Visitors are always welcome! Meeting times and locations will be posted above.

You do not have to be a Sierra Club member to participate in our outings. See our Outings page for details and guidelines.