Recycle Right: A Conversation with Mecklenburg County Solid Waste
Release Date: 04/26/2025
North Carolina Conservation Network with Kristen Rhodes
The Backyard Naturalists
In this episode, Debbie and Laurie sit down with Kristen Rhodes, an organizer with the North Carolina Conservation Network (NCCN), to explore the power of grassroots action in protecting our state’s environment. Kristen introduces NCCN as a statewide network of more than 60 environmental and justice organizations, all working collaboratively to safeguard North Carolina’s natural resources and public health. She highlights the group’s three key initiatives: Campus Fellows Program – Engaging 30 students across 11 UNC campuses (including 3 HBCUs) to educate peers on environmental issues...
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Lighting Up the Night with Fireflies
The Backyard Naturalists
This week, Debbie and Laurie welcome Ben Pfeiffer, founder of Firefly Conservation and Research, for a glowing conversation all about one of nature’s most magical creatures — the firefly! ✨🐞 Or, depending on where you grew up, the lightning bug. Ben shares his passion and deep knowledge of these enchanting insects, explaining why firefly populations are declining, how development and habitat loss play a role, and what we can do to help. From surprising facts (fireflies are found on every continent except Antarctica!) to sobering realities (some species are already at risk of...
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Bizarre Animal Behaviors – Nature Gets Weird!
The Backyard Naturalists
Ever heard of a shrew with venomous saliva, a vulture that cools off by pooping on its own legs, or a bird that impales its prey on barbed wire? 🦨🦅🐦 This week on The Backyard Naturalists, Debbie, Laurie, and Chris take you on a wild ride through some of the strangest, funniest, and downright bizarre behaviors in the animal kingdom. You’ll hear jaw-dropping stories like: Shrews that paralyze their prey and store them in a “meat locker” for later. Vultures with stomach-turning defense mechanisms. Loggerhead shrikes who skewer their meals on thorns or fence posts. Humpback...
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🌿 Summer in Your Habitat
The Backyard Naturalists
Summer is STILL here, and if you’ve stepped outside lately, you’ve probably felt it too—sweltering heat, sticky air, and maybe even a few critters making themselves a little too comfortable in your backyard. In this episode of The Backyard Naturalists, Debbie and Laurie (with Chris chiming in, of course!) share a lighthearted but practical guide to keeping your habitat healthy during the hottest stretch of the year. ☀️ Heat & Hydration – Creative ways to keep bird baths cool, from ice cubes to misters, plus why moving feeders into shade can make all the...
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iNaturalist – Connecting People, Nature, and Science
The Backyard Naturalists
This week on The Backyard Naturalists, Debbie and Laurie welcome Allison Young, Director of Outreach Programs for iNaturalist, the global platform that’s changing the way people experience nature. Whether you’re snapping a photo of a butterfly in your backyard, spotting a rare bird on a hike, or identifying tracks in the mud, iNaturalist turns those moments into data that helps fuel research, conservation, and environmental education worldwide. Allison takes us behind the scenes of iNaturalist, from its humble beginnings as a grad school project at UC Berkeley in 2008 to a thriving...
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More Random Wanderings and Wonderings
The Backyard Naturalists
Welcome back, nature lovers! After a few weeks of summer break, The Backyard Naturalists are back with another brand-new episode, and this one’s all about embracing the spontaneity that summer inspires. In this week’s episode, Debbie, Laurie, and Chris settle in for another unscripted (and unplanned) conversation that meanders through the joys and challenges of late summer in the Carolinas. From paddleboarding adventures and pumpkin spice opinions (we see you, Trader Joe’s!) to prepping your yard for fall planting, this episode is full of helpful tips and laughs along the way. 🌿...
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The Plant That Ate the World: All About Japanese Knotweed
The Backyard Naturalists
What do you get when you cross a fast-growing, hard-to-kill, concrete-cracking plant with curious naturalists and a microphone? You get this week’s brand-new episode of The Backyard Naturalists! Debbie and Laurie are back and diving into the wild, weird world of Japanese knotweed—also known as "the plant that ate the world." It’s not every day a plant earns a reputation as one of the most invasive species on the planet. But Japanese knotweed? It’s in a class all its own. Originally introduced for landscaping and erosion control (oops), it’s now banned in many states and...
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Fantastic Foxes: Rehab and Real Talk with Elizabeth Negron
The Backyard Naturalists
This week on The Backyard Naturalists, we’re diving nose-first into the world of foxes with Elizabeth Negron, Director of Foxtales Wildlife Rehab in Midland, Virginia. Elizabeth shares her journey from Washington State to the East Coast, driven by her lifelong fascination with foxes. She offers incredible insights into their behavior, biology, diet, and the important role they play in our environment. You’ll learn what it takes to care for orphaned kits, the surprising foods foxes love, and why they’re often misunderstood in suburban and rural areas. Elizabeth also highlights the...
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Encore Episode: Bye-Bye, Seed Bandits! Meet the Squirrel Buster
The Backyard Naturalists
We’re reaching back to one of our most popular episodes for this week’s encore—and trust us, it’s a fan favorite for a reason! If squirrels have ever turned your bird feeders into their personal buffet, this one’s for you. Debbie and Lori are joined by Tatiana Thompson of Brome Bird Care, makers of the innovative Squirrel Buster bird feeders. Broadcasting all the way from snowy Quebec, Tatiana shares the backstory of how a simple idea grew into a worldwide movement in backyard birding. You'll learn how Brome’s clever feeder designs help bird lovers keep the seed for the...
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Encore: Skunks, Sass, and Surprises with Ruby Davis
The Backyard Naturalists
Have you ever wondered what’s really going on with the skunks in your backyard? 🦨 In this fascinating encore episode of The Backyard Naturalists, hosts Debbie and Laurie sit down once again with fan-favorite Ruby Davis for a deep dive into one of nature’s most misunderstood creatures. Ruby brings her signature blend of expertise and storytelling to the conversation, helping us explore skunk behavior, their surprising benefits to the ecosystem, and how to peacefully coexist with these nocturnal visitors. Whether you’ve had a skunk sighting or just want to learn something new about...
info_outlineWhat really happens to your recyclables after they leave the curb? This week on The Backyard Naturalists, we sit down with Jeff Smithberger, Director of Mecklenburg County’s Solid Waste Management Program, for an eye-opening look into the world of local recycling.
Serving over 1.1 million residents across Charlotte and surrounding communities, Mecklenburg County’s waste management operation is a complex, high-impact effort that affects every household. From curbside do’s and don’ts to hidden costs of contamination, Jeff helps us understand what it means to Recycle Right—and why it matters more than ever.
Whether you’re a seasoned recycler or just getting started, this episode is packed with valuable tips, local resources, and surprising facts that will change how you think about your trash.
♻️ In this episode, you’ll learn:
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✅ The 6 items you should put in your curbside bin—and what to leave out
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✅ How contamination is costing taxpayers millions each year
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✅ What really happens to recycled materials (hint: road paint, clothing, and more!)
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✅ Where to drop off hard-to-recycle and hazardous items in Mecklenburg County
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✅ Why wipeoutwaste.com is your go-to recycling resource
We also cover how the county transforms yard waste into mulch and compost, hosts free paper shredding events, and provides services that many residents don’t even know about. 🧺🌿
🎧 Listen, like, and subscribe to The Backyard Naturalists on:
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Let’s clean up our recycling habits and make a greener tomorrow—one bin at a time.