General Observations on Recycling Policy in North Carolina

1
General Observations on Recycling Policy in North
Carolina

• Laws and regulations have been key to almost
  every aspect of recycling progress in NC
• Early policies focused on managing waste, and
  were focused on responding to garbage issues.
• Later policies have focused on recycling more as
  a commodity issue, reflecting the transition from
  solid waste to materials management.

2
Foundations

• Senate Bill 111 (1989)
• Established goals, state programs, local
  government responsibilities, initial bans, SW
  Trust Fund, etc.
• House Bill 1109 (1991)
• Changed goal from recycling to waste reduction
• H859
• Established local planning responsibilities
• Other laws on white goods, aluminum can ban, etc.

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Major Recent Policies

• H1518 (2005)
• Required all ABC permitted bars and restaurants
  to recycle their beverage containers.
• H1465 (2005)
• added oil filters, wooden pallets, oyster shells
  and plastic bottles to the ban list
• S1492 (2007)
• Revamped landfill siting and permitting
  requirements, established permit fees,
  established 2 disposal tax and its distribution
  framework, established the first part of NCs
  electronics recycling law, including a disposal
  ban on computer equipment. 
• H887 (2010)
• Established the final state electronics recycling
  policy, putting producer responsibility
  requirements on computer and TV manufacturers,
  and establishing a disposal ban on computer
  equipment and televisions July 1, 2011

4
Other Kinds of Helpful Policies in NC

• Flexible regulatory protocol that encourages
  shingle recycling
• Allowance of compost demonstration sites that
  helps small-scale food waste diversion
• Grant funding protocols
• Dedication of some grants to private recycling
  development
• Targeted funding for specific initiatives e.g.,
  carts and mercury product collection
• Bonus points for certain kinds of projects in
  grant cycles e.g., away-from-home collection,
  hub and spoke

5
Some Beneficial Effects of NC Policies
Encouraged by plastic bottle disposal ban,
disposal tax grant funds, and DENR funding
priorities
Decline in waste disposal encouraged by
combination of NC policies, protocols, etc
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Some Beneficial Effects of NC Policies
Doubling of plastic bottle recycling encouraged
by ban but also grant funding from 2 tax
Pallet disposal ban increased tonnage and
business activity for recyclers
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Some Beneficial Effects of NC Policies
Tripling of tonnage handled and 250 increase in
customers for filter recyclers from the oil
filter disposal ban.
Increase in business activity for small haulers
encouraged by ABC law, disposal bans, and some
funding support
8
Expanding Supply Independent Haulers

• Small haulers and new recycling start-ups playing
  an increasing role in material collection
• ABC customers
• Other commercial customers
• Unincorporated residences
• Examples
• Green Pieces, Stanly County area 130 to 2290
  customers in four years.
• Hatteras Recycling, Dare County 335 to 1100
  customers

9
Challenges Ahead

• Governors current budget includes reduction in
  funding to Solid Waste Trust Fund from 4
  million/year to 2.4 million/year
• Will limit and possibly eliminate some grant
  programs
• What future policies make the most sense in a
  materials management kind of world? Will they
  entail some shifts in responsibilities?