Cary It Green: The Town of Cary's Sustainability Initiative
- Annerose Ross
- Apr 3
- 3 min read
Table of Content
A Local Movement: What Is Cary It Green?
Why Local Initiatives Matter
Cary’s Environmental Goals
Programs Making an Impact
Events, Workshops, and Community Involvement
How to Participate
How Curate and Cary Align
Sources & Further Reading
A Local Movement: What Is Cary It Green?
Cary It Green is the Town of Cary’s sustainability initiative, aimed at empowering residents with tools, education, and programs to reduce waste, conserve water, and take care of the environment — all from their own neighborhoods.
You’ve probably seen Cary It Green signs at local events, near composting drop-off bins, or in newsletters. But behind the scenes, this is a full-service approach to sustainability that touches everyday life, from your curbside bin to your water meter.
Why Local Initiatives Matter
While global climate policies and national regulations often get the spotlight, local programs like Cary It Green are where real change starts. Why?
70% of public infrastructure is managed locally [Source: ICLEI USA]
Programs feel more relevant and accessible to residents
Municipal efforts lead to measurable waste reduction, water savings, and carbon cuts
These local wins scale into long-term change, and Cary’s ahead of the curve.
Cary’s Environmental Goals
The Town of Cary has outlined clear priorities through its Community Climate Action Plan:
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Improve recycling and composting programs
Conserve water with smart infrastructure
Preserve green spaces and plant more native trees
Empower citizens through workshops and outreach
These goals are built into programs offered through Cary It Green, and progress is regularly tracked through municipal reporting. (Can you tell I'm a proud Cary resident?)
Programs Making an Impact
Here are some of the programs that make Cary It Green more than just a motto:
♻️ Free Composting Kits & Education
Residents can attend classes and pick up free compost bins for home use, reducing landfill waste and feeding healthier soil.
💧 Smart Water with Aquastar
Cary’s award-winning smart water meter program allows residents to track leaks and conserve water through a real-time dashboard. (More Info)
🧴 Hard-to-Recycle Days
Electronics, paint, textiles, and other tricky items are collected during special seasonal events to prevent landfill overflow.
🏘️ Green Neighborhood Recognition
HOAs and neighborhoods can apply for awards by demonstrating sustainability practices: native landscaping, rain barrels, LED conversions, and more.
💸 Environmental Mini-Grants
Local schools and organizations can receive small grants to create their own eco-projects, from garden beds to classroom recycling programs.
Events, Workshops, and Community Involvement
Cary It Green runs regular educational events like:
Native plant gardening and composting classes
Stream cleanups and park restoration projects
DIY rain barrel workshops
Earth Day and Sustainability Fairs
Tip: Follow @TownofCary on Instagram or check their Events Page for upcoming workshops.
How to Participate
Here’s how you can get involved:
Join a compost or gardening class
Apply for a mini-grant with your school or nonprofit
Attend a recycling or collection event
Sign up for water usage tracking with Aquastar
Talk to your HOA about applying for Green Neighborhood status
The Cary It Green homepage is your one-stop resource for getting started.
How Curate and Cary Align
At Curate, we believe local impact = real impact.
Our Swaps platform encourages secondhand buying and recirculation, reducing overproduction and textile waste
Our Local marketplace supports small businesses, artisans, and micro-bakeries that align with Cary’s environmental values
Our educational content amplifies programs like Cary It Green and helps users live more consciously, without overwhelm
We’re proud to support what’s happening in our backyard.
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