As you may be aware, statutory bans on the disposal of wooden pallets, oil filters, and plastic bottles are effective October 1 of this year. With this ban, the General Assembly has recognized that these items are recyclable commodities and not waste, and that the recovery of these materials will contribute to the environmental and economic development goals of the state.
Enforcement of the disposal bans will chiefly be applied at disposal facilities such as landfills and transfer stations by the North Carolina Division of Waste Management. It is unlikely that enforcement will take place at individual businesses or other generating facilities. However, starting a recycling program for the banned materials is the simplest and easiest way to ensure compliance. Depending on the type of violator and the severity of the violation, the North Carolina Division of Waste Management may, at its discretion, assess a range of administrative and/or civil penalties for violation of the disposal bans. The law does allow for accidental or occasional disposal of small amounts of banned materials. The statutory reference for the disposal ban can be found at: http://www.p2pays.org/ref/38/37984.pdf
If you need additional assistance or have questions, please contact the Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance at 919-715-6500.
Other Important Facts About the Disposal Bans
Why is it important to recycle more plastic bottles?
North Carolina and the southeastern U.S. are home to many of the nation’s largest and most important plastic bottle recyclers in the world, including Shaw Industries, DAK Americas, Mohawk Carpet, Coca Cola, and WM/Recycle America. The combined market demand for plastic bottles to make products such as carpet, new bottles, strapping, and polyester far exceeds the entire generation of these materials in North Carolina. The collection, processing, and use of plastic bottles directly creates jobs and contributes to our state’s economic growth. Recycling plastic bottles also conserves resources, saves energy, prevents pollution, reduces our dependence on landfills, and slows climate change.
Why is it important to recycle oil filters?
The steel in oil filters is in high demand by steel manufacturers to make new steel products. The residual oil in filters is also highly valued to produce fuel oil and re-refined lubricants. Recycling oil filters is inexpensive and North Carolina is home to over twenty different oil filter recycling companies. As with plastic bottles, the collection, processing, and use of oil filter materials directly creates jobs and economic opportunity in North Carolina. Recycling filters also prevents the disposal of oil in landfills and helps promote energy independence.
Why is important to reduce wooden pallet disposal?
Wooden pallets are easily reusable and recyclable into new pallets and many different products, and can sometimes be even eliminated from use. North Carolina is home to a robust pallet recycling industry employing over 1,000 people. Pallet recyclers and other companies such as wood fuel users and compost producers have the capacity to consume all of the currently disposed pallet wood in the state. As with the other banned materials, recycling pallets creates jobs, returns valuable resources to a wide range of uses, and helps conserve valuable landfill space.
For more information, contact the Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance at 919-715-6500 or visit the Website at: http://p2pays.org/BannedMaterials/index.asp
DON’T FEED THE GREASE GOBLIN!!
DO:
- Pour oil & grease in collection containers.
- Remove oil & grease from utensils, equipment & food preparation areas with towels & scrapers.
- Put food scraps in collection containers.
- Keep grease out of wash water .
DO NOT:
- Pour grease & oils down the drain.
- Use hot water to rinse grease off the surfaces.
- Wash fryers, griddles, pots, pans and plates with water until grease and oil have been removed.