2024-2034 NC Solid Waste and Materials Mgmt Plan Update

2024=2034
North Carolina
Solid Waste and
Materials Management Plan
rho
DEE
NORTH CAROLINA
Department of Environmental Duality

Letter from the Secretary
As the first update to the state's solid waste and materials management planning in over ten years, the 2024-2034 North
Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan reflects the changing realities of a state that is experiencing significant
growth. The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) is committed to a future of solid waste and
materials management that supports a circular economy, conserves land and material resources, and sustains future growth.
A healthy environment and a healthy economy go hand in hand.
The development of the 2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan was a collaborative
process that reflects the inputs and efforts of many parties, including: the public, waste and recycling industry
associations, community and environmental advocacy groups, local and state government agencies, facility owners/
operators, and the NCDEQ Division of Environmental Assistance and Customer Service, the Division of Waste
Management, and the Division of Environmental Education and Public Affairs.
NCDEQ expresses gratitude to all those who provided feedback and ideas on how the Department engages in solid waste
and materials management. It also expresses special thanks to the following current and former NCDEQ employees for
their work on this important plan to help guide the Department over the next decade and beyond: Jamie Ragan,
Wendy Worley, Delaney King, Sandy Skolochenko, Heather Cashwell, Michael Scott, Ed Mussler, Jason Watkins, Deb
Aja, Teresa Bradford, Timothy Davis, Andrew Hammonds, Jessica Montie, Sarah Moutos, Sherri Stanley, and Katherine
Lucas.
?t2howt siw),-
Elizabeth Biser
Secretary, North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan i

Table of Contents
Acronyms.........................................................................................................................................................................iv
ExecutiveSummary.............................................................................................................................................................v
Introduction..........................................................................................................................................................................1
2024-2034 Plan Overview................................................................................................................................................1
Current System and Summary of Key Actions........................................................................................................2
PublicParticipation and Input...................................................................................................................................
2
Legislative and State Planning History.........................................................................................................................
3
LegalFramework of SB 111........................................................................................................................................3
Material Management Requirements in SB 111.......................................................................................................3
KeyLegislation Beyond SB 111..................................................................................................................................3
Prior Solid Waste and Materials Management Plans..............................................................................................4
Key State Accomplishments From 2014 to 2024......................................................................................................5
The Current NC Materials Management System............................................................................................................
8
SolidWaste Disposal.......................................................................................................................................................
8
DisposalTrends Since 1990.........................................................................................................................................
8
DisposalCapacity and Facilities................................................................................................................................
9
Industrial Materials Requiring Disposal.................................................................................................................10
MaterialRecovery..........................................................................................................................................................11
Sources of Discarded Material..................................................................................................................................11
RecyclableMaterials..................................................................................................................................................11
Organic Materials and Food Waste.........................................................................................................................13
North Carolina's Circular Economy........................................................................................................................15
Statusof Disposal Bans.............................................................................................................................................16
SpecialMaterial Management......................................................................................................................................17
ScrapTires...................................................................................................................................................................17
Electronics...................................................................................................................................................................18
HouseholdHazardous Waste...................................................................................................................................
20
BrownGrease and Septage.......................................................................................................................................
20
2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan ii

Emergency Response and Disaster Debris.............................................................................................................
20
Utility -Scale Solar Systems.......................................................................................................................................
21
Key Actions for the Coming Decade...............................................................................................................................
22
AdvanceWaste Reduction............................................................................................................................................22
ExpandMaterials Recovery......................................................................................................................................22
Evaluate Landfill Capacity & Management...........................................................................................................23
Oversee Management of Closed Landfills..............................................................................................................
24
ReduceIllegal Activities............................................................................................................................................
25
SupportSource Reduction Efforts...........................................................................................................................
25
Growthe Circular Economy.........................................................................................................................................26
Enhance Policies to Support Solid Waste and Materials Management..............................................................26
Improve Markets for Recycling Commodities.......................................................................................................27
Develop Infrastructure and Optimize Material Recovery........................................................................................
27
Expand Residential and Away -from -Home Recycling Programs......................................................................
28
Improve Material Quality in the Recycled Materials Stream..............................................................................
28
Expand Organics Material Recovery and Diversion Infrastructure...................................................................
29
Manage Special Waste Streams....................................................................................................................................29
EvaluateRegulations.................................................................................................................................................
30
ReduceToxicity of Disposed Waste........................................................................................................................
30
Improve Disaster Debris Response..........................................................................................................................
30
Educate and Engage with the Public...........................................................................................................................
31
ProvideTechnical Assistance...................................................................................................................................
31
Expand Facility Operator Certification Programs.................................................................................................
32
Develop Training and Outreach Opportunities....................................................................................................
32
Improve DEQ Information Resources.....................................................................................................................
33
Conclusion..........................................................................................................................................................................
34
AppendixA.........................................................................................................................................................................
35
AppendixB.........................................................................................................................................................................
39
2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan iii

Acronyms
ABC permit
Alcoholic Beverage Control permit
CCR
coal combustion residuals
C&D
construction and demolition
CRA
Carolina Recycling Association
CRT
cathode ray tubes
DAQ
Division of Air Quality
Department
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
DEACS
Division of Environmental Assistance and Customer Service
DWM
Division of Waste Management
EPA
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
FEMA
Federal Emergency Management Agency
FY
Fiscal Year
GIS
geographic information systems
HB
House Bill
HHW
household hazardous waste
HDPE
high density polyethylene
MRF
material recovery facility
MSW
municipal solid waste
NCEM
North Carolina Emergency Management
NCDEQ
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
PET
polyethylene terephthalate
PFAS
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances
Plan
North Carolina 10-Year Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan 2024-2034
RMD
North Carolina Recycling Markets Directory
SB
Senate Bill
SWANA
Solid Waste Association of North America
TDSR
temporary debris storage and reduction site
2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan iv

Executive Summary
The 2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan (Plan) is a comprehensive plan required by
state law (G.S. 130A-309.06(a)(1)). Its purpose is to assess the status of solid waste and materials management in North
Carolina and provide new objectives and strategies to achieve environmental and economic benefits for the next ten years.
The first state plan was adopted in 1990 and updated in 2003 and 2014. This update constitutes the fourth iteration of the
state plan.
In general, the Plan represents the Department's goals of responding to new opportunities, public concerns, and critical
issues through collaboration, strong customer service, and transparency. The Division of Waste Management and the
Division of Environmental Assistance and Customer Service coordinated the development of the Plan using data from state
reporting processes, staff expertise, information from other agencies, and input from organizations, waste managers,
industries involved in waste diversion, and the public.
Through this Plan, NCDEQ seeks to maximize the recovery of discarded materials to reduce the state's long-term
dependence on final disposal in landfills and to assist both private and public sector stakeholders with the technical issues
associated with running economically viable, environmentally compliant, solid waste management operations. Two of
North Carolina's largest regional landfills, which together accept about 25 percent of the state's waste, are approaching
capacity within the next decade. Coupled with the added pressure of the state's rapid growth, diversion efforts are critical
to extend the life of existing landfills. Efficient and effective diversion of recyclable materials is the best strategy to minimize
the long-term environmental liabilities of landfills and to respond to the growing difficulty of siting new disposal facilities.
Adequate disposal capacity and robust materials management infrastructure strengthens economic development
opportunities, ensures that North Carolina remains economically competitive, and helps mitigate the cost of local solid
waste and materials management programs. Growing the circular economy through investments in private and public
sector infrastructure projects helps expand private investment in the state through business expansion and recruitment of
haulers, processors, and manufacturers.
Material diversion has a proven track record and strong ongoing potential for creating jobs and business opportunities in
the state. Increased recycling efforts will redirect more end -of -life material to feed the economy, create jobs, spur economic
investment, and supply manufacturing feedstock for local industries that rely on these materials. Diversion activities also
deliver broad environmental benefits including emission reductions and energy, water, and resource savings.
NCDEQ also recognizes the long-term necessity of disposal facilities and the need to ensure they are safe and protective of
public health and the environment. As such, the need to prepare for the permitting and deployment of new technologies
for managing discarded materials is recognized in the Plan. Further, the Department also calls for maintaining a robust
ability to respond to the challenge of materials generated by natural disasters.
Solid waste management in North Carolina has changed since the promulgation of the Solid Waste Management Act of
1989. Disposal of solid waste in unlined landfills has progressed to lined landfill disposal. Recycling and diversion have
achieved significant footholds in solid waste management and in North Carolina's economy. The solid waste management
industry is changing from one of permanent entombment to one of materials management that supports a circular economy.
Many materials can be diverted from the waste stream and have value as a resource for new products.
2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan v

As the state progresses into the next decade, there is again an opportunity for environmental protection and new economic
development opportunities through the optimized management of discarded materials. It will be a worthwhile challenge
for the state and its partners to capture the jobs that can be created by new industry and practices while ensuring the
protection of natural resources and public health that has made North Carolina so successful in solid waste management.
2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan vi

Introduction
The 2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan is a comprehensive plan required by state law
G.S. 130A-309.06(a)(1) to assess the status of solid waste and materials management in North Carolina and provide new
objectives and strategies to achieve environmental and economic benefits for the next ten years.
2024-2034 Plan Overview
Through this Plan, NCDEQ seeks to maximize the recovery of discarded materials to reduce the state's long-term
dependence on final disposal in landfills and to assist both the public and private sectors with the technical issues associated
with running economically viable, environmentally compliant solid waste management operations. Second only to waste
prevention at the source (or pollution prevention), efficient and effective diversion and reuse of recyclable materials is the
best strategy to minimize the long-term environmental liabilities of landfills and to assist in extending landfill capacity.
Material diversion also has both a proven track record and a strong ongoing potential for creating jobs and business
opportunities in the state. Diversion of commodities from disposal can supply essential feedstocks to North Carolina
manufacturers and deliver broad environmental and economic benefits, including emission reductions and energy, water,
and resource savings.
While waste reduction, recovery, and diversion are established as the top of the materials management hierarchy, NCDEQ
also recognizes the long-term necessity of disposal facilities and the need to ensure they are safe and protective of public
health and the environment. As such, the need to prepare for the permitting and deployment of new technologies for
managing discarded materials is recognized in the Plan. Further, the Department also calls for maintaining a robust ability
to respond to the challenge of materials generated by natural disasters.
Additional key focus areas include goals and actions to address a range of special wastes and efforts to assist private and
public stakeholders with the technical issues associated with running economically viable, environmentally compliant solid
waste management operations. The Department continues its dedication to improving customer service, training, and
communication to make sure all stakeholders are informed and prepared to best manage discarded materials and to reduce
associated environmental impacts.
Many of the solid waste and materials management strategies in this Plan — such as efforts to address greenhouse gases and
odors, strengthen facility design and monitoring requirements, promote waste reduction and recycling, seek sustainable
funding for waste and recycling programs, and expand efforts to curtail illegal dumping — will bolster job and economic
growth throughout the state and will serve to mitigate potential impacts to disadvantaged communities. Further,
communities that have been disproportionately impacted in the past should have reasonably available waste and recycling
programs, access to information, and take part in the decision -making process about waste and sustainable materials
management to help their communities thrive.
2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan

Current System and Summary of Key Actions
To best capture the complexities of North Carolina's solid waste and materials management system, the Plan is presented
in two parts:
• An overview of the current materials management system, highlighting specific material types, management
pathways, and major considerations for the Plan.
• Five topic areas identified for advancement, development, and improvement for the coming decade, with specific
objectives and key actions to:
o Advance Waste Reduction
o Grow the Circular Economy
o Develop Infrastructure and Optimize Material Recovery
o Manage Special Waste Streams
o Educate and Engage with the Public
Public Participation and Input
The Plan was developed by Department staff from the Division of Waste Management and the Division of Environmental
Assistance and Customer Service. The process included several opportunities for public input:
• An invitation to stakeholders to submit comments regarding the Plan directly to the Department.
• Presentations at technical conferences of the North Carolina Chapter of the Solid Waste Association of North
America (SWANA), the Carolina Recycling Association (CRA), and meetings of the North Carolina Circular
Economy Council.
• An online survey that was made available to the general public and a wide range of stakeholders.
Waste Management
Other local, state, or federal agencies
General Public 70
Materials Management _ 19
Environmental and Environmental Justice
Organizations 17
Figure 1. Self -Reported Respondent Identification.
142
160
Detailed information from the public survey is included in Appendix A of the Plan. Comments received in the public
input process provided critical perspectives and helped shape the goals of the Plan.
2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan 2

Legislative and State Planning History
The year 2024 marks the 35th anniversary of the passage of Senate Bill (SB) 111, otherwise known as the Solid Waste
Management Act of 1989. This legislation modernized North Carolina's management of solid waste and recycling and
provided many of the core elements that still govern solid waste and materials management in North Carolina today. SB
111 established General Statute 130A-309.06, the first requirement that the State of North Carolina "develop a
comprehensive solid waste management plan." In addition, SB 111 put in place many of the foundations of modern solid
waste management and recycling in North Carolina, including legal frameworks and materials management requirements.
Legal Framework of SB 111
• Legal definitions for facilities, materials, activities, and other aspects of solid waste management in North Carolina.
• Training requirements for solid waste management facility operators; and basic powers, duties, and responsibilities
of state government and local government agencies in the management of discarded materials.
• A framework for litter prevention and enforcement.
Material Management Requirements in SB 111
• Statewide goals for solid waste reduction.
• A statutory hierarchy of waste management options, with source reduction and recycling at the top of the hierarchy
and incineration without energy recovery and landfill disposal at the bottom.
• The establishment of the Solid Waste Management Trust Fund (which was later repealed in 2013).
• The first disposal bans on materials, including lead acid batteries, used oil, yard trash, and white goods.
• Requirements for resin identification code labeling of plastic containers.
• A basic framework for managing used oil, including notification and permitting requirements for used oil collection
and recycling infrastructure.
• A fee on the sale of tires and establishment of requirements on state government, local governments, tire sellers,
and tire haulers to improve scrap tire management; and provisions to expand the state Department of
Transportation use of recycled materials in road construction.
Key Legislation Beyond SB 111
Other major legislation built upon SB 111 to modify the framework of waste and materials management in North Carolina,
including:
• House Bill (HB)1109 in 1991 that changed the state's recycling goal to a waste reduction goal and placed reporting
requirements on solid waste facilities.
• HB 859 in 1996 that further modified state goals and placed planning requirements on local governments.
• HB 1465 and HB 1518 in 2005 that expanded the list of materials banned from disposal, including rigid plastic
containers, and required permitted Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) businesses to recycle beverage containers.
• SB 1492 in 2007 that updated landfill siting and permitting requirements, established the state disposal tax, and
established the electronics producer responsibility law.
• SB 729 in 2014 that addressed the management of coal combustion residuals in surface impoundments and landfills
and the beneficial use of coal combustion products.
2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan 3

• HB 130 in 2023 that established requirements for the decommissioning of utility -scale solar projects and the
recycling and disposal of project equipment at the end of the project's life.
• HB 600 in 2023 that instituted a disposal ban on lithium -ion batteries, which will enter into effect on December 1,
2026.
In all, the essential goals of these legislative actions have been to reduce impacts to the environment and public health from
legal and illegal disposal and to capture the environmental and economic benefits of waste reduction and recycling.
Prior Solid Waste and Materials Management Plans
The first ten-year plan was adopted in 1990 following the passage of SB 111 (An Act to Improve the Management of Solid Waste,
Session Law 1989-784), which provided the foundation of the state's modern solid waste policies. Following the first period
of plan management, the subsequent ten-year plan was entitled An Update of the North Carolina Solid Waste Management Plan
2003 to 2013.1 This second plan contained key elements along with specific objectives, goals, and actions. Following the
second period of plan management, the subsequent ten-year plan was entitled Draft North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials
Management Plan 2014 to 2024.2
The 2014-2024 Plan helped the state make advancements in reducing the environmental impacts of disposal and in moving
toward a materials management approach in addressing discarded materials. Many of the objectives of the plan were
accomplished, some involving legislative and rule changes that provided a foundation for achievement of future state goals.
Notable progress was made in establishing dedicated funding sources for certain waste and materials management
activities, modernizing the process of solid waste facility permitting, and in driving separation of recyclable commodities
from waste.
Like the previous plan, the 2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan emphasizes enhancing
environmental protection through proper solid waste management and expansion of waste reduction and recycling activity.
The new plan looks forward and seeks to prepare the state for new and growing challenges, such as disposal capacity,
expansion of diversion and materials management infrastructure, permitting of innovative technologies, addressing special
wastes, better managing disaster debris, creating more sustainable funding mechanisms for solid waste and recovery
programs, and maximizing the economic benefits of material recovery. Renewed emphasis will be placed on ensuring
previously marginalized communities are included in all facets of solid waste and material management decisions. If North
Carolina can achieve a measure of success with this new plan comparable to the previous one, it will have in place a more
sustainable system of solid waste and materials management.
1 North Carolina Solid Waste Management Plan 2003 to 2013:
https://edocs.NCDEO.nc.gov/WasteManagement/DocView. aspx?id=1813982&dbid=0&repo=WasteManagement
2 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan 2014 to 2024:
https://edocs.NCDEO.nc. goy/W asteManagement/DocView. aspx?id=1813981 &dbid=0&repo=WasteManagement
2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan

Key State Accomplishments From 2014 to 2024
Advancing Waste Reduction
• Participated in the development of the North Carolina Marine
Debris Response Guide to improve preparedness for debris
management during response and recovery operations.
• Participated in the Threatened Oceanfront Structures Interagency
Work Group to identify solutions to the loss of homes and other
structures due to beach erosion and to mitigate impacts to the
environment from waste being deposited along the coast.
• Readopted Solid Waste Rules guiding the processing and recovery
of materials as well as updating and expanding transfer station
requirements.
• Updated and readopted compost rules. Improvements include
extension of permit period to ten years, additional provisions for
training courses, clarification of rule language, exemptions for small
food waste composting, and provisions for vermicomposting and
anaerobic digestion.
• Promulgated rules to codify process for conducting environmental
reviews and approvals for temporary debris storage and reduction
sites (TDSR) to assist local governments with the management of
storm -generated debris and subsequent reimbursement processes.
i ev
Figure 2. NCDEQ contributed to the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration's North Carolina Marine
Debris Response Guide.
Growing the Circular Economy
• Awarded recycling and material recovery infrastructure grants that created an estimated 629 jobs and an overall
investment of $6,592,660 and leveraged an additional $22,480,591 in private investment.
• Beginning in 2022, focused portion of the state's grant dollars to support food waste reduction efforts across the
state through a dedicated grant round.
• Offered various one-time grant rounds for glass recycling infrastructure, material recovery facility (MRF)
improvements, and regional consolidation of recyclables for efficient hauling.
• Formed the North Carolina Circular Economy Council to identify ways to expand and accelerate beneficial impacts
of recycling in the state.
Developing Infrastructure and Optimizing Material Recovery
• Worked with all 16 MRFs in North Carolina to develop a standard accepted recyclable list for each "MRFshed,"
including a suite of customizable recycling outreach templates and educational materials to improve
communication to the public about recycling programs.
2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan 5

E NC Accepted Recyclables by MRFshed Provided technical and grant funding
e W Find your community Q support to local governments to improve
® recycling education messaging and outreach
© Gty Town Recycling Guidelines and to expand recycling, food waste, and
Q L° meG°''ernment HRlsbnmugh organics recovery programs.
Na
NaciditName , , n community
Rec°"ery s°"°`°-Raleigh
Facility Awarded $7 656 505 iit
• wary
•
• Recycling type County -run
curbside recycling infrastructure investment grants, totaling
• Local government More info
nnycingw.bsde $13,325,168 in public sector recycling and
® • • Spanish recycling More info
•• gwdelinee diversion projects.
•
• r A •.
® ® +• : Click icon forreryclingguidelines . Funded recycling grants in 87 of the 100
counties.
• Z°°mt° .•. • Provided grant funding for traditional large
haulers, independent haulers, and
composters and other food recovery
Figure 3. NCDEQ's "MRFshed" Map, 2024. organizations to increase food recovery and
organics collection capacity.
• Convened glass industry stakeholders and awarded five grants to expand glass recycling opportunities and
improve processing equipment, positively impacting recycling programs for nearly 2.6 million residents.
Leading Coal Ash Management
• The Coal Ash Management Act of 2014 and actions taken by NCDEQ have made North Carolina a national leader
in managing Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR). To date, accomplishments include the following:
• Nine new CCR landfills and two structural fills have been permitted to provide for safe, environmentally friendly
disposal of ash being generated from and/or excavated from impoundments at Duke Energy coal fired power plant
facilities. Three of those CCR landfills and one structural fill have been built and closed. Five CCR landfills are
currently operating. CCR landfills continue to be constructed and operated with protective liners, leachate
collection, closure plans with caps, and groundwater and surface water monitoring.
• Forty percent (40%) of the total estimated ash (between 100-120 million tons) has been excavated and removed from
coal ash basins to lined landfills.
• Approximately 1.6 million tons of ash has been reprocessed and sold for beneficial reuse through STAR® (Staged
Turbulent Air Reactor) deployed at three retired coal-fired facilities.
• The Division of Waste Management received $300,000 in grant funding from EPA to initiate rule development and
develop a State Permit Program for CCR, encompassing regulations from four NCDEQ programs in providing
oversight of CCR moving into the future.
Educating and Engaging the Public
• Provided regional workshops and training events to local governments to improve effectiveness of collection
programs to deliver higher quality recyclable materials to the material manufacturing supply chain.
2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan 6

■
Developed the Recycle Right NC campaign, including ready -to -use
educational materials for local recycling programs, to focus on #Re cyc I e R ig ht N C
increasing recycling participation, capture rates, and material
Ia
quality. ",i-0
CA.Established a new food waste reduction education campaign, Use RECYCLERIGH`8T��-�
the Food NC, which provides governments, consumers, businesses,
non -profits, and institutions with information and helpful Figure 4. Recycle Right NC is a statewide
resources, like food waste reduction social media toolkits, campaign providing recycling information
residential food storage guides, and food waste self -assessment on what items can and cannot be recycled.
guides for North Carolina businesses.
Acquired Every Tray Counts, a statewide program to bring school partners together to share best management
practices in recovering edible food and recycling food scraps from lunchrooms.
Facilitated a NC Tire Recycling Lunch -and -Learn Symposium for local government managers that included a tour
of Liberty Tire Recycling facility in Sanford in the fall of 2022.
With the North Carolina Circular Economy Council, coordinated a tour series of leading and innovative recycling
facilities to provide local and statewide leaders with an in-depth look at the operations behind the recycling process
and perspective on the larger circular economy in the fall of 2023.
Provided workshops, training, and conferences on disaster debris management, agency solid waste and material
management updates, supply chain and market development, regulations, illegal dumping case studies, model
solid waste and recycling ordinances, and guidelines for local enforcement programs.
Maintained publicly accessible electronic applications, which include open GIS data through the NCDEQ Online
GIS website, an easily accessible and navigational electronic repository of facility records through the Laserfiche
platform, and a site locator tool linked to Laserfiche.
�:.... �..... .,.. ® ... a.,:. r ... _,,_ _.------- -- ■El
Figure 5. NCDEQ's Division of Waste Management (DWM) Site Locator Tool, 2024.
2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan 7

The Current NC Materials Management System
This Section presents summary information on the generation, disposal, and recycling of materials in North Carolina. It
provides the foundation for the topic areas, objectives, and actions and provides benchmarks for measuring the progress of
the Plan. For more detailed information on each section, refer to the Solid Waste Management Annual Reports.
Solid Waste Disposal
Disposal Trends Since 1990
The history of landfilling materials in the state is displayed in Figure 6 below. A rapid increase in disposal from the 1990s
to the 2000s was followed by a 22.5 percent decline in annual disposal beginning in FY 2006-07. The decline is estimated to
be due to a combination of the ongoing effects of the economic downturn that began in late 2008, increased recycling,
reductions in the generation of some discarded materials, and other factors. During the mid-2010s, an improving economy
led to an increase in consumer spending on goods and home construction. The result was a steady rise in waste generation
during this period. North Carolina also experienced two major hurricanes in 2016 (Matthew) and 2018 (Florence) that led
to a substantial increase in the disposal of storm -generated wastes. Moreover, through 2024, certain areas of the state are
still utilizing state and federal recovery funds for home renovation and construction, continuing the impact on overall
statewide disposal rates. Although commercial waste generation declined due to the closure of many businesses during the
COVID-19 pandemic, residential waste generation more than compensated for this decrease, continuing the upward trend
in waste generation and disposal. Figure 6 also illustrates projected disposal if the per capita rate were to remain steady
over the next 20 years, which would result in the landfilling of approximately 12.4 million tons of materials in 2033.
18,000,000
11,000,000
16,ow,0oo
ACTUAL FORECAST
15,o00,000
O
0
2023 Tons Disposed:
14,037,108
10,OW,000
3
--
13,000,000
—
12,o0Qo00
11,000,000
I
1o,o00,000
Ilks'�--- -- 2022 Population:
_ 10,705,403
8,000,000
��"
/
7,000,000 -
— I
—Waste
—Population
Disposed
I
6,oao,000 �{
'r 90 1ef,1
19o'A '�°�96 o' 1011 06 10', 10';, 0" 1& _00 160 1p60�
Figure 6. History and Projection of Solid Waste Disposal in North Carolina, 1990-2042.
2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan

It is difficult to project future materials disposal from this historical record because of the general challenge of predicting
economic activity as well as changes in material usage and generation. North Carolina's disposal history has included
periods of rapid growth and rapid decline, giving little basis for accurate, historically based extrapolation. In addition,
future material disposal will depend a great deal on how successful the state is in diverting recyclable commodities from
landfills. Currently the state is experiencing strong momentum in material diversion, which helps mitigate environmental
impacts of disposal and protects economic development throughout the state by ensuring businesses and the workforce
that support them have the necessary resources for growth.
Disposal Capacity and Facilities
Overall landfill capacity in the state remains sufficient through the next few years, with all regions currently having access
to disposal capacity. However, the state's landfill capacity is not uniformly available statewide due to permit conditions,
franchise arrangements, service areas, population densities, and distances. Some regions have limited disposal options and
may be subject to higher disposal costs and possible disruptions in service should facilities close or fuel costs become
prohibitive due to transport to distant facilities.
Additionally, the two largest regional landfills in North Carolina, which together accept about 25 percent of the state's
waste, may reach capacity within the next decade. Other landfills in those regions with a longer estimated life have local
restrictions limiting the areas from which they accept waste and therefore may not be able to service these high -population
regions. Modern landfills are highly technical and take extended periods to design and permit, requiring large tracts of
property that may not be available or compatible with land -use and growth plans in those communities. North Carolina is
a national leader in attracting new businesses, which makes disposal and recycling infrastructure availability critical to
support the operations of not only the business itself, but also the needs of the growing population in those communities.
Inadequate solid waste disposal capacity can thus be a limiting factor for economic development and the ability to attract
new business investments within the state. Alternatively, a robust and resilient materials recovery infrastructure that
effectively returns recyclable materials back into a circular economy creates jobs, stimulates private investment, supports
domestic manufacturing, and helps the state remain competitive for jobs and economic development projects. Furthermore,
having robust recycling markets and resilient infrastructure is attractive to manufacturers with aggressive environmental
goals of reaching zero waste to landfill, like those recognized by NCDEQ's Environmental Stewardship Initiative.
There is a need to consider alternatives to disposal to maximize the state's capacity and to ensure that North Carolina's
economic growth is not limited by the disposal infrastructure available within the state. As some landfills reach capacity in
the next eight to ten years, the availability and convenience of municipal solid waste disposal facilities will change, thus
highlighting the need for increased materials management infrastructure and programming and additional planning for
long-range disposal capacity.
The total remaining capacity of North Carolina's 42 active permitted municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills measures
approximately 364 million cubic yards, equating to approximately 379 million tons based on a calculated average
compaction rate of 1.04 tons of waste per cubic yard of air space. The capacity does not distinguish between imported or
exported waste. The state capacity calculates to 28 years of waste disposal should the rate of landfill use remain steady at
last fiscal year's rate of approximately 11.4 million tons per year for all active MSW landfills. In addition, North Carolina
2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan

is a net exporter of solid waste, sending 479,340 tons out of state in FY 2022-23 while only importing 94,403 tons. MSW
landfills in adjoining states effectively add disposal capacity available to North Carolina.
At the rate of current disposal and the level of current capacity, every additional one million tons of diversion per year
increases the in -state landfill capacity by three years. Continued efforts to increase recycling and material diversion will
help maximize landfill capacity.
Table 1 shows the kinds of disposal facilities in North Carolina, comparing the number of active facilities in 2003, 2013, and
2024.
Table 1. Active Disposal Facilities by Type in North Carolina, 2003, 2013, and 2024.
Type of Facility
Number in 2003
Number in 2013
Number in 2024
MSW Landfills
41
41
42
MSW/C&D Transfer Stations
80
96
96
C&D Landfills
65
53
50
MSW Incinerators
1
0
0
Industrial landfills*
10
16
7
Coal Combustion Residual Landfills
10
*Industrial Landfills in 2003 and 2012 include Coal Combustion Residual Landfills.
In general, the number and kind of disposal facilities in North Carolina has remained steady. The number of industrial
landfills has risen, principally related to the ongoing disposal of coal combustion residuals (CCR). Transfer of waste (and
increasingly, recyclable materials) is a steady feature of solid waste management in the state, with 3.6 million tons sent
through transfer stations in FY 2003-04, 3.8 million tons in Fiscal Year 2012-13, and 6.1 million tons in Fiscal Year 2022-2023.
A new MSW landfill was last sited in North Carolina in 2015. However, many existing MSW landfills have expanded into
new disposal cells, thereby increasing disposal capacity.
Industrial Materials Requiring Disposal
Industrial waste trends include continued waste disposal from coal fired power plants, as well as commercial by-products.
Coal Combustion Wastes from Power Plants
Requirements for the cessation of disposal of ash into impoundments, the closure of all coal ash impoundments, and closure
criteria for sites deemed high risk were established in the Coal Ash Management Act of 2014 and subsequent revisions. The
requirements for closure through excavation for all remaining sites was finalized in a 2020 Consent Order between NCDEQ,
Community and Environmental Groups, and Duke Energy. Duke Energy projected that as many as 108 million tons of CCR
will need to be remediated. Since 2016, nine CCR landfills have been built. Three are now closed as excavation is complete
at those respective power plants. Five CCR landfills are currently operating. Two proposed CCR landfills have not been
constructed yet. All the landfills continue to be constructed and operated with protective liners, leachate collection, closure
plans with caps, and groundwater and surface water monitoring.
2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan 10

Regulated Medical Waste
North Carolina regulations pertaining to medical waste include the requirement that all microbiological waste (infectious
agents from medical, pathological, pharmaceutical, research, commercial, and industrial laboratories) and pathological
waste (human tissues, organs and body parts; and the carcasses and body parts of animals that were known to have been
exposed to pathogens that are potentially dangerous to humans during research, were used in the production of biologicals
or pharmaceutical testing on live subjects, or that died with a known or suspected disease transmissible to humans), as well
as blood and body fluids be treated to make it noninfectious prior to disposal.
During FY 2022-2023, four permitted medical waste treatment facilities that receive waste from off -site operated in the state.
There are also nineteen alternative medical waste treatment technologies approved for use in the state that operate using a
combination of waste shredding and steam sterilization, chemical, infrared, ozone, and heat to treat medical waste at
individual generator locations.
These healthcare facilities are regulated by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services although NCDEQ may
address specific concerns regarding medical waste treatment, such as packaged stored medical waste awaiting shipment
and treatment device operation.
Material Recovery
Sources of Discarded Material
Generators of North Carolina's discarded material stream can be divided into three major sources: residential,
commercial/industrial/institutional, and construction and demolition (C&D). None of these material streams is dominant
in North Carolina and so for the state to reach its overarching goal to maximize waste reduction and recycling in this plan,
attention must be paid to each of the three sectors.
Through the Local Government Annual Report process as required by G.S. 130A-309.09A and through requirements of
permitted facilities, the Department can estimate residential recycling and C&D recovery. In FY 2022-23, North Carolina's
local government recycling programs reported recycling 404,083 tons of traditional materials (glass bottles and jars, plastic
containers, metal cans, paper, cartons, and cardboard) and 98,165 tons of construction and demolition recycling.
Commercial/industrial/institutional recovery tonnage data is difficult to estimate because there are no regulatory reporting
requirements for this sector.
North Carolina must employ an array of strategies and actions that affect a range of material streams at a wide variety of
points of generation.
Recyclable Materials
Since the passage and implementation of SB 111 in 1989, the range of materials considered recyclable has grown steadily.
A wide range of materials can be recycled in North Carolina with demonstrated market demand, a successful record of
entrepreneurial recovery activity, and inclusion in local government collection programs.
The growing trend of increased recovery and recycling of materials is supported by a general global shift toward
strengthening the circular economy and using secondary materials over more energy -intensive virgin materials in
manufacturing. In -state manufacturers of packaging, textiles, construction products, agricultural products, paper, and other
2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan 11

goods are dependent on the delivery of recycled commodities for their product manufacturing. In addition to providing in-
state manufacturers with valuable feedstocks, North Carolina recycling companies also supply recycled materials to other
manufacturers around the country and the world.
Table 2 shows the basic difference in residential materials collected during the early implementation of recycling programs
following SB 111 versus what was commonly collected in 2023.
Table 2. Comparison of Typical Residential Materials in Collection Programs Between 1990 and 2023.
Typical 1990 Residential Collection Mix
Typical 2023 Residential Collection Mix
• Newspaper
• Corrugated Cardboard
• Glass Bottles and Jars
• Mixed Paper (including materials such as direct
• Aluminum Cans
mail and paperboard)
• PET Soda Bottles
• Glass Bottles and Jars
• HDPE Milk Jugs
• Aluminum Cans
• Steel Cans
0 All PET Bottles
• All HDPE Bottles and Jugs
• Steel Cans
• Aseptic and Gable Top Containers
• Non -Bottle Polypropylene Containers
Significant investments have been made in the state's processing infrastructure at the sixteen material recovery facilities
(MRFs) that sort mixed residential recyclables into marketable commodities. These facilities provide the opportunity for
local government programs statewide to collect recycling mixed, or commingled, which improves collection efficiency and
public participation due to ease of use. It has also allowed for the expansion of local government curbside programs utilizing
carts, which is the preferred industry standard to keep recyclables dry, allow for automated trucks, and provide residents
with convenient and spacious containers. In FY 2023-24, 303 local governments reported operating curbside recycling
programs, providing access to 2.25 million residences, or 52 percent of the state's households.
The EPA's most recent annual report assessing municipal solid waste3 indicates that a large fraction of currently disposed
waste contains recyclable materials. Locally, this has been confirmed by numerous waste characterization studies
conducted by North Carolina counties and municipalities within recent years. The Recycling Partnership estimates that the
average household generates 768 pounds of recyclable materials annually¢, yet only 213 pounds are captured per household
through public collection programs in North Carolina. Additional recovery can be achieved by optimizing performance of
existing recycling programs through education and outreach, expanding curbside recycling to houses where curbside trash
collection is provided, and expanding recycling access to multifamily properties statewide.
3 EPA Advancing Sustainable Materials Management: 2018 Fact Sheet:
https://www.el2a.gov/sites/default/files/2021-01/documents/2018 ff fact sheet dec 2020 fnl 508.12df
4 The Recycling Partnership State of Curbside Recycling in 2020:
htt.ps://recycling.partnershi.p.org/stateofcurbside/
2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan 12

Since the last Plan, there has been significant market growth and development of North Carolina's circular economy, which
has broadened the range of materials that can be recycled outside of the typical residential recycling mix discussed above.
This has allowed the recovery of materials such as:
• Agricultural plastics Commercial and industrial plastics 0 Plastic film and bags
• Asphalt shingles Cooking oil 0 Solar panels
• Batteries • Electronics 0 Textiles
• C&D material 0 Fluorescent lamps
• Carpet • Food waste and organic materials
There is an opportunity to further increase diversion of this wide spectrum of materials as markets for these materials
mature and more infrastructure develops to recycle, reuse, compost, digest, or otherwise convert the materials into
commodities.
Organic Materials and Food Waste
One material in particular — food waste — presents a significant opportunity to decrease waste and deliver environmental
and economic benefits. According to EPA, more than one-third of the food produced in the US goes uneaten. Food waste is
the most commonly landfilled and incinerated material. In addition to accounting for the majority of landfill methane
emissions, wasted food leaves a significant environmental footprint through its production, including the use of agricultural
land use, water use, application of pesticides and fertilizers, and energy use. A recent EPA study5 showed that much of the
methane produced from the decay of food waste escapes into the atmosphere before landfill gas collection systems capture
it. Consequently, there is strong evidence to support robust efforts to reduce this waste and increase recovery capacity for
this material.
North Carolina has seen accelerating development and expansion of food rescue operations and composting and digestion
facilities across the state with more than 80 facilities permitted to divert organics from the municipal and commercial solid
waste streams. Additionally, small food waste compost sites are contributing to organics diversion across the state.
Previously, these facilities had to apply for a demonstration site approval, but in 2019, the North Carolina State Compost
Rules were readopted to exclude these small food waste compost facilities. These facilities must still operate within the
regulatory confines, but they are excluded from needing prior approval. Waste diversion through these operations
continues to grow in importance.
During FY 2022-2023,14 permitted compost facilities accepted food waste for processing. These facilities diverted a reported
65,989 tons of food waste, which accounts for 11 percent of total organic feedstocks processed annually, as shown in Figure
7.
5 EPA Quantifying Methane Emissions from Landfilled Food Waste, 2023:
httl2s://www.el2a. gov/system/files/documents/2023-10/food-waste-landfill-methane-10-8-23-final 508-compliant.pdf
2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan 13

Other, 5%� Food Waste &
Food Processing
Residuals, 11%
Grease Trap
Waste, 8%
Wooden Pallets,
2%
Yard Waste, 45% Sludge &
�Biosolids, 13%
Animal Wastes,
10%
Clean Wood, 6% Sawdust,1%
Figure 7. Feedstocks Composted and Mulched in North Carolina, FY2022-2023.
As the state continues to grow, so too does the need for food waste management pathways. A 2022 NCDEQ study6 revealed
a 2.1 million -ton -gap between the generation of excess food waste and the state's commercial composting capacity,
highlighting the need for further facility development as well as investment in other food waste diversion and reduction
methods. In addition to processing capacity, expansion of hauling capacity of various sizes is equally necessary since even
the baseline composting infrastructure has unused capacity for food waste material. Not all facilities that are permitted to
accept food waste do so, but expansion of collection operations helps to feed the existing and future capacity.
In 2022, NCDEQ launched the food waste reduction campaign "Use the Food NC" to provide dedicated education and
outreach services for local governments, businesses, non -profits, and
USE THE
F so
FOOD WASTE STOPS WITH ME
Figure 8. Use the Food NC is a statewide campaign,
providing information on how to reduce food waste
and divert it from landfills.
institutions. The campaign and the Department's newly dedicated
Food Waste Reduction Grant program emphasize the importance of
higher -use management strategies including source reduction and
food rescue operations as well as diversion opportunities like
composting and anaerobic digestion. NCDEQ recognizes the need to
employ an "all -of -the -above" approach to managing food waste and
diverting it from landfills to mitigate harmful environmental
impacts and help extend landfill capacity.
6 NCDEQ 2022 Food Waste Compost Capacity Gap Report:
https://www. deq.nc. gov/environmental-assistance-and-customer-service/composting/north-carolina-2022-compost-
capaci , -report/download?attachment
2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan 14

North Carolina's Circular Economy
Over the past decade, NCDEQ has invested in increasing and expanding recycling infrastructure in communities and
businesses, strengthening the state's circular economy. As a result, North Carolina has a robust and multifaceted circular
economy, putting the state in a strong position to compete for jobs and economic development in this increasingly
important sector.
The Department maintains the North Carolina Recycling Markets Directory (RMD), which
lists recycling business service providers across the state and region. In 2023, the RMD
lists more than 730 companies, 562 of which are North Carolina businesses and
manufacturers. This figure represents a quadrupling of North Carolina recycling firms
since the RMD was established in 1989. Recycling businesses throughout the state recycle
a wide range of materials, from plastic bottles to paper, tires, metals, food waste, and
electronics and can innovate quickly to take on new waste streams such as discarded solar
panels. The diversity of North Carolina's circular economy helps create synergies between
recycling companies and provides opportunities to recycle even more materials.
Furthermore, these businesses employ a significant and growing sector of the North
Carolina economy. The Department estimates 15,700 North Carolinians are employed by
private sector recycling businesses, according to a 2020 employment study7.
Materials that are collected and recycled in North Carolina are made back into an array of
NORTH CAROLINA
RECYCLING
MARKETS DIRECTORY
Figure 9. The North Carolina
Recycling Markets Directory
connects businesses, industry,
and governments with companies
that accept materials for recycling
products that are used by consumers every day, such as new packaging, textiles, compost, and remanufacturing.
and construction products. One of the keys to growing the North Carolina circular
economy is access to a consistent supply of high -quality collected materials. Expanding the collection of materials will signal
to companies and investors that North Carolina is a state where material supply is available and where opportunities for
business growth are robust.
Key sectors of the state's recycling industry include large-scale PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and HDPE (high -density
polyethylene) reclaimers and manufacturers of glass, textiles, compost and soil amendments, electronics, construction
products, and tissue and paper packaging. These manufacturers rely on the delivery of high -quality, commodity grade
recycled materials sourced from across the state, nation, and even beyond as raw materials for their manufacturing
processes. NCDEQ also continues to research and promote emerging reuse and recycling markets for renewable energy
products including solar panels, electric vehicles, and utility storage batteries.
NCDEQ awards and administers grants to strengthen and grow the state's circular economy. Over the past decade, these
grants have contributed to the creation of an estimated 629 jobs and leveraged additional investment of $29,073,251 in
private sector infrastructure projects and $13,325,168 in community infrastructure projects.
During 2018-2020, changes in international commodities markets offered an opportunity to strengthen domestic markets
while improving the quality of collected recyclables. The Department responded by helping local governments reduce
' NCDEQ 2020 Employment Trends in North Carolina's Recycling Industry:
https://www. deq.nc. gov/environmental-assistance-and-customer-service/rbac/2020-recycling-employment-stud
final/download?attachment
2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan 15

contamination, or non -recyclable items, in the recycling stream and rebranded the statewide Recycle More NC education
campaign to Recycle Right NC. Additionally, the Department prioritized public and private sector grant funding to advance
sortation technology and build stronger domestic end markets for recyclables.
In addition to investing in public and private sector infrastructure projects, NCDEQ continues to underscore its
commitment to a circular economy by regularly engaging with stakeholders, including through the creation of the NCDEQ
North Carolina Circular Economy Council.
Members of the Council include leading recycling
companies, non-profit organizations, industry
associations, and product manufacturers, many of
which have a national or global reach. The
Department convened the Council to identify ways
to expand and accelerate beneficial impacts to the
state's natural resources and economy through
recycling and effective waste management.
Figure 10. The North Carolina Circular Economy Council includes Adequate disposal capacity and robust materials
recycling companies, nonprofit organizations, industry association, and management infrastructure strengthens economic
product manufacturers active in the state (2023).
development opportunities, ensures that North
Carolina remains economically competitive, and helps mitigate the cost of local solid waste and materials management
programs. Growing the circular economy through investments in private and public sector infrastructure projects helps
promote private investment in the state through business expansion and recruitment of haulers, processors, and
manufacturers.
Status of Disposal Sans
The disposal bans promulgated in SB 111 were implemented in various stages in the years immediately following passage
of the bill, and many now have a long history of diverting materials from solid waste landfills. Additional bans have been
passed and implemented since SB 111. Table 3 shows all the statutory banned materials, the date of the ban, and the
estimated total diversion of the specific materials since the bans went into effect.
The calculations for the bans come from a variety of data sources, including local government solid waste and recycling
annual reports and Department studies and reports. Most of the data can be found in the North Carolina Solid Waste and
Materials Management Annual Reports. Because much of the tonnage is from local government programs and does not include
private sector activity, the total diversion is understated. However, disposal bans have been effective in diverting a large
amount of material from landfills, saving airspace, and delivering those materials back to the economy for use in a wide
variety of products.
2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan 16

Table 3. Tonnage of Diversion of Materials Banned from Disposal in North Carolina, effective date to 2023.
Material Banned
Effective Date of Ban
Estimated Landfill Diversion Tonnage,
Ban Effective Date to 2023
Whole Tires
October 1,1989
3,465,330
Used Motor Oil
October 1,1990
90,488
Lead Acid Batteries
January 1,1991
27,804
White Goods
January 1, 1991
1,273,781
Yard Trash
January 1,1993
18,877,244
Antifreeze
July 1,1994
3,215
Aluminum Cans
July 1, 1994
177,092
Oyster Shells
January 1, 2007
5,368
ABC Permit Holder Beverage Containers
January 1, 2008
165,000'F
Used Oil Filters
October 1, 2009
1,783
Rigid Plastic Containers (plastic bottles)
October 1, 2009
492,026
Wooden Pallets
October 1, 2009
295,595
Computer Equipment
July 1, 2011
52,985
Televisions
July 1, 2011
104,258
Fluorescent lamps and thermostats
(banned from unlined landfills)
July 1, 2011
554
TOTAL
24,867,523
-No new data has been collected for ABC Permit Holder beverage containers since 2014.
Special Material Management
Scrap Tires
Whole scrap tires were banned from disposal in landfills by G.S. 130A-309.10 in 1990. The Department administers the
Scrap Tire Management Program, part of which is the Scrap Tire Disposal Account Fund. The Account Fund was created
to provide each qualifying county that incurred a Program deficit with additional funds for the disposal and recycling of
scrap tires. To fund the 1993 statute, the General Assembly imposed a 1 percent tax on the sale of new large tires (bus,
tractor -trailer, and construction equipment tires) and a 2 percent tax on the sale of new small tires (automobile tires). The
statute requires that each county provide at least one collection site at no cost to the public and businesses for the disposal
of qualifying scrap tires. Counties receive a quarterly tax distribution from the Department of Revenue to be used for scrap
tire program operational costs. In the past, some of the tax collected was allocated to the scrap tire disposal account fund.
However, Session Law 2013-360 (SB 402) eliminated the tax money allocated to the scrap tire disposal account fund.
Currently, money is distributed to the Account Fund annually from the General Fund. Table 4 shows the revenue and
distribution of the taxes FY2022-2023.
2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan 17

Table 4. Distributions of Scrap Tire Tax Revenue, FY2022-23.
Net Tax Collections by the N.C. Department of Revenue
$28,321,901.98
Department of Revenue Cost of Collecting
$374,654.99
Amount distributed to Counties (70%)
$19,563,072.88
Amount distributed to the General Fund (30%)
$8,384,174.11
Money allocated to the Division of Waste Management from the General Fund is used to provide additional funding to
counties in the form of a grant for the cleanup of illegal tire dumps and for county -incurred deficits in their scrap tire
management programs. Scrap tire legislation requires the Division of Waste Management to consider county efforts to
avoid free disposal of out-of-state tires and other ineligible tires and county program efficiency in using allocated funds
when making decisions about grant awards. Seventy-six county programs, including one regional program (the Coastal
Regional Solid Waste Management Authority, which serves Carteret, Craven and Pamlico Counties), applied for the Scrap
Tire Disposal Account Fund Grant during the fall and spring (a total of two grant cycles) of FY22-23, yet requests for funding
far exceeded the available funds. Approximately three -fourths of the state's local governments did not have adequate funds
needed to manage tires for their locality. In FY 2022-2023, North Carolina tire processors reported they received 294,734.00
tons of scrap tires from North Carolina counties and from other states. Some tire sellers bypass county scrap tire collection
sites and have scrap tires taken directly to processors.
Electronics
Discarded Computer Equipment and Television Management Act, per Session Law 2010-67, requires manufacturers to
share accountability for the responsible recycling and reuse of computer equipment and televisions. Some types of
electronic equipment such as computers, tablets, and cell phones result in value to the recycler and the local governments
who collect them from their residents. Many larger electronics such as televisions, computer monitors, printers, scanners
and copiers are recycled at a cost due to the labor required to disassemble components and the proportionally lower amount
of valuable metals contained. Based on information reported from local governments in FY 2022-23, the full cost of
electronics recycling through local government programs is estimated to be approximately $0.25 per pound.
North Carolina residents continue to have wide access to recycling programs collecting electronics and televisions. Local
governments operate electronics recycling programs in response to public demand for responsible a -waste management
options as well as to help consumers comply with the state disposal ban on computer equipment and televisions that went
into effect July 1, 2011. During FY 2022-23, 164 local governments indicated that they operated an electronics recycling
program— many in partnership with another community. For example, in FY 2022-23, 31 municipalities indicated
cooperating with their respective county to provide electronics recycling services, with the municipality collecting
electronics from residents within their jurisdiction and then delivering the material to the county for further management.
Table 5 below describes the different types of electronics recycling services that communities offered in FY 2022-23.
2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan 18

Table 5. Types of Local Government Electronics Recycling Programs in FY 2022-23.
Number of
Electronics Recycling Collection Method
Programs
107
Drop-off Program
366 Total Drop-off Sites Operated
31
Curbside Pickup
34
One -Day Event(s)
11
HHW Program
164
Total Local Governments Operating
Public Electronics Recycling Programs
Data on the amount of material collected by public electronics recycling efforts measures the collection of televisions,
computer equipment, and other electronics, including printers, scanners, cell phones, tablets, video players, and other
electronic devices. Figure 11 below examines public electronics recycling efforts since FY 2008-09 and shows the relative
amounts of televisions and other electronics recovered each year, with computer equipment broken out separately from
other electronics beginning in FY 2019-20.
18,000
Television and
16,000
computer landfill ban
14,000
,
12,000
N 10,000
i
c
o
;
0 8,000
6,000
4,000
2,000
Og 1y `y ,y ,y 1k y� 1y 1 Ny1 y'$ 1° 'LD _'* _'l. 'L
ti�� 'L�� 'L4y0 L�l��0��• L�Ld�y �0��• �Qy1. AT 'L4S; tiZD L61- to
ti� f� f�4-1 41 f� f� til FA �y 4y
■ Televisions ■ Other Electronics ■ Computer Equipment
Figure 11. Public Electronics Recovery FY 2008-09 to FY 2022-23.
The combined total tonnage of electronics recovered by local governments during FY 2022-23 decreased by 8.3 percent from
FY 2021-22. Although this decrease may demonstrate continuing impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, during which
many local governments suspended or limited special collection services, it also reflects the general national trend of
declining electronics recycling tonnage due to advancing technology and lighter material content. Televisions in particular
have become much lighter as flat panel display technology has replaced substantially larger and heavier cathode ray tube
(CRT) models. The data suggests that FY 2015-16 marked the peak in collection of CRT televisions for recycling in North
Carolina. The decline in television recycling tonnage in recent years is expected as fewer CRTs enter the recycling stream
and aligns with similar trends experienced in other states and shown in national data. This trend, however, does not
represent a decline in the need for electronics recycling services or a lack of program efficiency or effectiveness. It is also
not reflective of a decrease in costs to local governments to manage these materials.
2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan 19

Household Hazardous Waste
Household hazardous waste (HHW) refers to household items that are toxic, ignitable, corrosive, or reactive. Household
hazardous waste includes items such as household cleaners, pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, pool chemicals, paints,
automotive fluids, and batteries. These waste types are dangerous to human health and the environment. The Department
recommends that citizens properly dispose of HHW at an approved collection site. Units of local government manage HHW
collection sites that may be temporary one -day events, commonly conducted in a physical structure, or permanent ongoing
collection sites at bricks and mortar locations.
Twenty-three counties in North Carolina have permanent permitted HHW collection sites (30 sites total). A complete listing
of locations of permanent HHW sites as well as current one -day events can be found on the NCDEQ website.
Although the collection of HHW is a costly endeavor, increasing numbers of units of local government as well as civic
organizations and private industries are arranging for this valuable service for North Carolina communities.
Brown Grease and Septage
The septage industry in North Carolina utilizes permitted land application sites, municipal wastewater treatment plants,
and other alternative brown grease management options in the state for the management and final disposal of brown grease
waste. Most brown grease waste is generated from restaurants operating in North Carolina. Grease treatment facilities have
been built and permitted to manage this difficult waste stream across the state.
Septage waste land application is accomplished through staff permitting and compliance activities for more than 620
septage haulers,197 septage detention or treatment (dewatering) facilities, and 110 land application sites (representing 1,700
acres).
While most of the land -applied waste is septic tank, portable toilet, and restaurant grease trap waste, the program also
assists waste generators with other wastes and by-products to determine if they are suitable for beneficial use through land
application. Examples of beneficially reused waste include wood ash and tobacco dust. Best management practices are
followed for each by-product to assure the protection of public health and the environment after evaluation by staff and
are included in the site operational plans.
Emergency Response and Disaster Debris
NCDEQ by general statute is the regulatory entity at the state level charged with the management of solid waste, including
waste generated as part of a natural disaster such as a hurricane or tornado.
NCDEQ collaborates with federal partners, N.C. Department of Public Safety's Division of Emergency Management
(NCEM), and local governments to support the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Response Framework
Emergency Support Functions related to solid waste debris removal (ESF-3), oil and hazardous materials response (ESF-
10), and agriculture and natural resources (ESF-11). NCDEQ staff assisted with preparation and response for Hurricane Ian
in 2022 by continuing to develop and improve GIS mapping tools for reporting, sharing, and summarizing information
about the environmental incidents that the Department handles during an emergency response. NCDEQ also worked to
develop GIS tools, as shown in Figure 12 below, for locating waste management facilities to assist with preparation in the
storm's projected path and for disposal.
2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan 20

JfiE Hurricane In6derrt Tradking Application
0013 - h • o..:..
0 .. . .
• : `::.. .r.- .ter � :•~ w ��
XW
tw 1 r
•.r.,[dr w.w..iw..-. u.. W.r
.4n.e.. ��blr•Sp..w.lFpw.
Yw�w•[MYy.r-h1r21
hw.w■wA.q
I
• --I"—
1,898Too
7#A" of MA"ftNd1W%D
o mo
Figure 12. Hurricane Incident GIS Tracking Tool, 2024.
Utility -Scale Solar Systems
Multiple changes and additions have been made over the last ten years to legislation involving electrical generation from
solar panel projects in North Carolina, some of which required
action and new program and rule development by the
Department. For a complete list of legislation pertaining to solar
panels, solar panel projects, and lithium -ion batteries enacted
between 2017 and 2023, see Appendix B.
In response to legislation, the Department has created a new
Utility -Scale Solar Management Program within the Division of
Waste Management. Legislation also required the Department to
adopt rules and submit quarterly reports to the Environmental
Review Commission and the Joint Legislative Commission on
Figure 13. Utility -scale solar field Energy Policy of the General Assembly on the implementation of
the requirements of the legislation, including program
development and the status of the Department's rulemaking efforts. The quarterly reports must be submitted December 1,
2023, through December 1, 2025. In addition, with the passage of HB 600 in 2023, solar panels are banned from disposal in
unlined landfills and requires recycling where possible. The Department will be releasing rules for public comment in Fall
2024 with an anticipated effective date of the rules in Spring 2025.
Information about the program, requirements of the law, and the status of rulemaking can be found on the program's
webpage.
2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan 21

Key Actions for the Coming Decade
The 2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan presents specific objectives and actions for the
ten-year period, all organized under five main topic areas to:
• Advance Waste Reduction
• Grow the Circular Economy
• Develop Infrastructure and Optimize Material Recovery
• Manage Special Waste Streams
• Educate and Engage with the Public
These topic areas are based on the data, analysis, and findings presented in the overview of the current solid waste and
materials management system and through public engagement with the Plan. They reflect a path forward for the state to
minimize the environmental impacts of disposal, maximize the economic benefits of material recovery, successfully manage
a range of special wastes, and ensure effective engagement with stakeholders in solid waste and materials management
statewide.
Advance Waste Reduction
Ensure continued stewardship of landfills and all other solid waste management activities with the goal of protecting environmental
and public health while promoting economic viability.
North Carolina will work with government agencies and waste and recycling industries to address diminishing landfill
capacity across the state and monitor disposal capacity to project future needs, supporting entrepreneurial and
technological activity for material diversion where possible. Given that C&D materials represent a quarter of all disposed
waste in North Carolina, encouraging diversion activities and targeting key materials will support the expansion of C&D
recycling and market development, as continued enforcement of regulations will enhance the reliability of C&D recycling.
NCDEQ will continue to monitor facilities and enforce regulations to ensure adequate protection of and safety for
communities and businesses across the state. The Department will ensure proper maintenance of closed landfills and
monitor the ongoing operations of lined landfills, particularly those reaching the second and third decade of use. Although
progress has been made, illegal disposal, littering, and dumping will likely remain a continuous challenge for the state.
Collaboration with local governments and other groups and strengthening the legal framework for compliance will help
the state address these issues.
Expand Materials Recovery
Expand materials management, beneficial reuse, and recycling.
1. Continue efforts to introduce legislation for the establishment of a beneficial reuse program in North Carolina to
develop and implement a uniform process to evaluate whether materials can safely be reused or otherwise diverted
from disposal, to maximize reuse of those materials, and to reduce both legal disposal and illegal dumping.
2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan 22

2. Develop and implement new regulations for C&D recovery and processing facilities to provide permit consistency
across the industry, increase material(s) recovered to provide economic incentives for end user growth and reduce
landfill disposal, and establish standards for the recycling of PFAS-containing C&D waste.
3. Support the recovery of recyclable C&D materials.
• Modernize C&D permitting regulations to ensure and strengthen effective C&D recycling activities.
• Explore ways to create more C&D material processing investment and increased recovery at existing
facilities through financial incentives and support, policies, and technical assistance.
4. Provide legal mechanisms and guidance for the operation of alternative solid waste technologies and material
management practices and technologies.
5. Identify and promote opportunities to increase recovery and maximize efficiency for recycling items banned from
landfill disposal.
6. Continue to implement permit modernization to improve communication, timeliness, and ease of use for permit
applicants.
• Expand internal data collection and tracking to alleviate potential bottlenecks and be proactive in assigning
resources.
Evaluate Landfill Capacity & Management
Continue to evaluate landfill capacity, design, monitoring, and performance to maximize protection of public health and
the environment and consider the cost -benefit of such actions.
1. Continue to evaluate landfill monitoring data and trends, to ensure landfills are designed and operated to
minimize potential impacts to the environment, including impacts to ground water and surface water from PFAS
in landfill leachate; utilize, to the greatest extent possible, every tool available to focus on assessment and corrective
action when data shows an increased risk; where tools are unavailable, seek to amend regulations as needed.
2. Consider promulgating regulations to cease the allowance of disposal of construction and demolition waste in
unlined landfills.
3. Review effectiveness of leachate systems with respect to loading due to age and size, head on liner, and operational
factors.
4. Evaluate landfill capacity, ensure adequate disposal options for the businesses and residents of the state, and
encourage policies for regional cooperation.
5. Evaluate and increase, where applicable, the use of new technologies to assess facility performance.
6. Work with the Division of Air Quality (DAQ) and other stakeholders on regulations to minimize greenhouse gas
emissions from solid waste management facilities.
7. Work with DAQ to identify and incorporate improved methane monitoring technologies into facility operations
and existing monitoring programs for landfills.
• Identify mitigation measures that landfill operators should implement to reduce fugitive emissions and
nuisance odors.
• Implement design and operational practices to promote emissions and odor reduction.
• Amend regulations as necessary to implement.
2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan 23

8. Investigate and implement strategies to lessen impacts of PFAS and other emerging contaminants on landfills and
wastewater.
• Explore options for solidification of industrial, commercial, or remedial wastes that contain PFAS
compounds prior to disposal in solid waste landfills.
• Encourage alternative treatments of leachate to reduce contamination of downstream wastewater
treatment processes.
• Explore options to financially support landfill leachate treatment via grants or directed funding through
an increase in the Solid Waste Disposal Tax.
9. Continue to investigate and evaluate PFAS and emerging contaminants through ongoing detection monitoring,
assessment of impacts where found, and necessary corrective action to ensure landfill disposal of waste containing
these contaminants is not impacting public health or the environment.
10. Continue to evaluate evolving recycling markets for materials like solar panels to potentially expand landfill ban.
Oversee Management of Closed Landfills
Focus resources on the specific issues facing closed landfills across the state to ensure proper maintenance and management
of these permanent disposal sites.
1. Develop and implement initiatives to minimize the known public and environmental health impacts generated by
closed landfills, including as a result of PFAS contamination.
• Continue development and management of the Environmental Monitoring Database.
• Identify compliance issues linked to the maintenance and management of closed landfills and to develop
preventative strategies such as early detection with an adequate monitoring system,
assessment/investigation, corrective action, and technical assistance.
• Provide oversight and assistance for facilities to achieve continued compliance, recognize cost savings
associated with early detection, and minimize potential impacts for both private entities and local
governments.
2. Provide resources for technical assistance, site inspections, and the creation of guidance documents on the post -
closure care of landfills.
3. Establish processes and rules for transitioning closed landfill sites in a regulatory void between the Pre -Regulatory
Landfill Program and landfills regulated under Subtitle-D regulations, to custodial care oversight; To establish
standards for Subtitle-D landfills to provide clarification as they approach the end of the rule required post closure
care period to include monitoring, maintenance, and financial assurance requirements
4. Further investigate options for custodial care of old and abandoned landfills and landfills past the required post -
closure care period.
5. Continue to work with potential developers and facility owners to approve post -closure usage of closed landfills
while enhancing environmental and public health measures; conduct outreach and explore providing uniform
guidance on beneficial use of closed landfills.
2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan 24

Reduce Illegal Activities
Reduce illegal solid waste activities, such as littering, unpermitted disposal, and indiscriminate dumping.
1. Collaborate with local governments, regional agencies, and engaged in cleanup and enforcement activities.
• Continue participation in and support of the NC Solid Waste Enforcement Officers Association, with
collaboration on initiatives such as workshops and conferences.
• Continue to engage in training, partnerships, and other opportunities through the Southern Environmental
Enforcement Network.
• Incentivize cleanups of waterways and public areas through grants.
2. Provide continued assistance to local governments in developing solid waste or zoning ordinances and initiating
illegal dumping enforcement programs.
• Explore options to support local government funding of enforcement programs.
• Work with local governments who do not currently enforce illegal dumping regulations to develop options
with regional planning authorities or other entities to provide enforcement functions.
• Explore options to fund solid waste illegal dump cleanup operations.
• Address zoning of buildings at abandoned sites and development of local zoning and ordinance standards
to deter illegal disposal activities.
• Promote clarification and consistency of authority in the local government extraterritorial jurisdictions.
3. Encourage regional municipalities and local governments to issue demolition permits that require the proper
management, tracking, and disposal of C&D wastes and ensure proper permits are in place from the Department
of Health and Human Services for the management of asbestos and lead containing wastes.
4. Explore the accounting of pumped versus disposed grease and septage with local governments.
5. Evaluate the extent of illegal dumping, identify trends, and target resources to meet state reduction goals.
6. Explore methods to speed enforcement against illegal dumping, such as ticketing. Enhance local government
ticketing abilities, such as through increased penalties.
7. Explore expanded methods to identify illegal dump sites, cite civil penalties, and impose clean-up costs.
• Focus on repeat offenders and significant criminal activity.
• Create public service announcements denouncing illegal dumping paid for by the responsible party.
Support Source Reduction Efforts
1. Encourage the adoption and use of source reduction programs and activities, including food recovery, home
composting, and reduced use of disposable items with no recycling markets.
2. Work with state agencies, universities, and colleges to maximize efficiency and effectiveness of source reduction
programs.
3. Continue to work with local municipalities to coordinate efforts on the prevention and management of illegal
dumping and pollution prevention opportunities.
2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan 25

Grow the Circular Economy
Redirect valuable landfill -bound materials back into the economy to manufacture new products, create jobs and investment, and lessen
environmental impacts.
Growing the state's circular economy necessitates the evaluation of and investment in material recovery infrastructure,
development of recycling markets, and continued education of and engagement with the public. Understanding where
gaps exist and opportunities lie in the existing material recovery infrastructure will enable strategic expansion across the
state to improve the capture of materials and optimize their recovery and entry into the manufacturing supply chain. As
North Carolina's economy continues to attract more business to the state, reducing industrial waste streams and increasing
the flow of materials to collectors and processors through manufacturers and other generators helps meet waste reduction
goals with many working to achieve zero waste to landfill in their facilities. Simultaneously, these process improvements
will have the effect of strengthening recycling markets. In order to ensure recycling markets have access to the quality and
quantity of material they require, it is vital to create and maintain positive public participation in recovery programs
through messaging focused on confidence in and understanding of the recycling system. By improving the effectiveness
and efficiency in local government recycling programs and diverting various material from disposal, North Carolina
manufacturers will gain a more consistent and localized supply stream, further resulting in job and business growth for the
state.
Enhance Policies to Support Solid Waste and Materials Management
1. Support development and implementation of state recycling policies.
• Engage in a stakeholder process to develop a statewide waste reduction/recycling goal.
• Identify and consider policy mechanisms that may help further sustainable materials management
initiatives that enhance economic growth for the state.
• Analyze and recommend additional disposal bans on materials with strong and consistent markets.
2. Explore policy or legislative tools to broaden funding options for recycling programs.
• Establish a Circular Economy Trust Fund with a dedicated funding source such as a portion of the Solid
Waste Disposal Tax for recycling infrastructure grant making.
• Provide support to enhance sustainable funding for materials management and illegal dumping prevention
programs at the local government level.
3. Evaluate potential changes to the Solid Waste Disposal Tax to better support funding of both state and local
government programs engaged in solid waste and materials management, with emphasis on increased waste
diversion and recycling and supporting landfill leachate treatment.
4. Evaluate funding strategies to maintain or grow resources to be able to provide timely and consistent processing
of applications for industry support services such as the tax certification program that currently operates without
fees.
5. Participate in discussions with brand owners, packagers, and related trade associations to develop and implement
strategies to advance packaging waste reduction and industry support for improvement of recycling systems.
6. Conduct periodic studies and analyses to identify waste reduction and diversion opportunities to support the
state's solid waste and recycling planning.
7. Participate in coordinated activities with EPA, other state agencies, and other stakeholders to improve waste
reduction and sustainable materials management in North Carolina.
2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan 26

Improve Markets for Recycling Commodities
1. Conduct strategically targeted grant programs to develop and enhance key features of the recycling economy.
• Explore ways to increase available funding for recycling grants.
2. Work with the recycling industry to grow the private sector material collection infrastructure by supporting the
development of haulers, processors, and recycled content manufacturers— thus expanding residential, commercial,
and industrial recycling opportunities.
3. Facilitate the expansion of markets and processors for commodities that make up significant portions of the waste
stream, including organic materials.
4. Support the collection and processing of new materials with emerging markets such as agricultural plastics,
expanded polystyrene, textiles, and renewable energy equipment such as solar panels, wind turbines, and electric
vehicle batteries.
5. Foster collaboration through networking and information sharing opportunities among local governments, haulers,
processors, and recycled content manufacturers within North Carolina.
Develop Infrastructure and Optimize Material Recovery
Expand current and build new solid waste and material recovery, collection, and processing infrastructure.
As many as 800,000 tons of common residential recyclable materials are disposed of each year in North Carolina.
Optimizing the recovery of these materials, with a focus on improving the effectiveness of local government and private
residential recycling efforts, will contribute to the materials management goals of this Plan. Broad access to recycling for
North Carolinians at away -from -home locations, such as parks, sports fields, convenience stores, beaches, pedestrian areas,
and entertainment venues, as well as at other locations like government agencies, universities, and community colleges will
increase material recovery and will normalize and reinforce recycling behavior at home and work. In many rural areas of
the state where population and material density are not sufficient to sustain efficient material recovery facilities, rural
communities can take advantage of large-scale MRF capacity through transport of materials via "hub and spoke" transfer
facilities or via compacted smaller loads sent directly from drop-off sites. In addition to expanding access to recycling and
increasing recovery, technical assistance and investments in education and recovery infrastructure can improve the quality
of materials delivered to manufacturers and reduce recycling costs.
Expanding into new areas of diversion will help reduce disposal and create new economic opportunities. Organic material,
particularly food waste, is the most commonly landfilled and incinerated material in the United States and accounts for 58
percent of landfill methane emissions, according to EPA's 2023 report. Reducing the amount of food waste sent to landfills
requires a multi -faceted approach including higher -use strategies like source reduction and edible food recovery efforts as
well as investments to expand public and private composting infrastructure across the state. Establishing a competitive
network of private recycling and organics/compost haulers and material collectors helps ensure recycling services are
widely available to commercial, institutional, and industrial generators. This infrastructure complements the residential
infrastructure operated by local governments and is a source of job creation and entrepreneurial development.
2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan 27

Expand Residential and Away -from -Home Recycling Programs
1. Increase the quality and quantity of materials recovered from residential sources.
• Identify gaps in local residential collection infrastructure, develop guidance resources, and provide
technical assistance to local governments, private haulers, and recycling processors to increase the number
of curbside recycling programs using cart -based collection.
• Collaborate with local governments to support expanded access to curbside recycling services in
unincorporated areas through local franchising and licensing, and through development of private hauler
recycling services in those areas.
• Support the adoption of effective multifamily recycling policies and services by local governments and
private haulers.
• Collaborate with industry stakeholders to standardize accepted recyclables and education information
within "MRF-sheds."
• Provide technical assistance to local governments and recycling haulers on recycling education and quality
enforcement programs and strategies.
• Support development of customizable outreach and communication materials for use by local recycling
collection programs to ensure high quality recovery of recyclable materials.
2. Increase opportunities for North Carolinians to recycle away from home.
• Support local government and state agency away -from -home recycling at locations such as parks, beach
access points, sidewalk collection points, and event venues.
3. Work to improve efficiency of material movement from rural areas to MRF and other material processing facilities.
• Support the transition of rural convenience centers to commingled collection.
• Work with rural areas to create "hub and spoke" transfer operations where appropriate and feasible.
Improve Material Quality in the Recycled Materials Stream
1. Gather and share best management practices for strategies to improve material quality and decrease unaccepted
items in the recycled materials stream.
2. Develop and distribute educational materials to improve material quality and decrease unaccepted items in the
recycled materials stream.
3. Through grant funding, infrastructure investment, and education, incentivize local public and private residential
collection programs to improve material quality and reduce unaccepted items in the recycled materials stream.
4. Identify and evaluate technological innovations that (a) advance consumer education and feedback on individual
or collective recycling behaviors, and/or (b) improve the acceptance of common consumer materials for recycling,
both of which could reduce unaccepted items in the recycled materials stream.
2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan 28

Expand Organics Material Recovery and Diversion Infrastructure
1. Increase food waste diversion from landfill disposal through edible food recovery efforts and composting
infrastructure development.
• Allocate resources to support and promote local government -operated residential food waste collection
programs.
• Promote the diversion of food waste from commercial businesses across the state, such as supermarkets,
restaurants, cafeterias, and other food service businesses.
• Support development of a variety of food waste collection and processing capacity by traditional large
haulers, independent haulers, and composters.
• Work with state agencies, colleges, and universities to establish and expand food recovery and food waste
diversion operations.
• Support the establishment of food waste diversion initiatives in school districts.
2. Support the expansion of composting collection and processing infrastructure throughout the state.
• Work with the private and public sectors to improve regional coverage of composting services and
facilities.
• Support policies and programs that increase finished compost use in both traditional and emerging sectors
such as agriculture, stormwater control, and other technologies in research and development.
• Improve the permitting, technical assistance, and demonstration process for newly established and existing
composting operations.
• Encourage and promote the composting of brown grease and septage wastes through technical assistance,
education, and training opportunities.
Manage Special Waste Streams
Promote, educate, and regulate for the safe management and disposal of special wastes with the goal of increased reuse/recovery of these
materials.
To ensure the safe management and disposal of special wastes, North Carolina must evaluate regulations around existing
and emerging special wastes and develop adequate infrastructure for proper disposal and material recovery. Through the
assessment of legislative and regulatory policies regarding special waste management, the state must ameliorate funding
deficiencies and consider methods to expand infrastructure for hauling, processing, and recovery of existing materials,
notably scrap tires, and emerging materials, like solar panels. Special waste streams such as leftover pharmaceuticals,
medical waste, HHW, and other materials banned from landfilling will also require ongoing attention and the development
of educational and programmatic efforts to reduce the associated environmental risks and to encourage safe diversion from
landfill disposal. Lithium -ion batteries, in particular, present unique health and safety risks when not handled properly and
warrant robust educational efforts and management infrastructure. Further, North Carolina can gain environmental and
economic benefits through strategic investments in operations that recover special materials containing critical minerals.
Local governments play a crucial role in management of special materials including disaster debris, which is expected to
be a major element of materials management for North Carolina. Cooperative action with local governments, education
and awareness activities, and the development of staging, processing, and disposal capacity will all be critical strategies for
effectively managing debris in the coming decade.
2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan 29

Evaluate Regulations
Evaluate specific industry waste streams with evolving regulatory requirements and adjust North Carolina regulations to
be responsive to the economic and environmental factors associated with these emerging industries.
1. Amend legislation and internal policies to address funding deficiencies in the collection and recycling of scrap tires
and electronics.
2. Engage with other NCDEQ programs and stakeholders in developing rules to address lithium -ion battery and solar
panel landfill bans and to develop an advanced disposal fee or other funding mechanism to support the collection
and recycling market infrastructure needed to recover these materials containing critical minerals. Subsequently
work with disposal and recycling facilities, where applicable, to provide infrastructure and processes to manage
banned wastes.
3. Amend legislation to ban the disposal of solar panels in lined landfills. as the capacity to recycle panels in NC
continues to grow.
Reduce Toxicity of Disposed Waste
Expand efforts to reduce the toxicity of the disposed waste stream and to educate, develop guidance, and increase access
to collection sites to manage wastes properly and economically with unique environmental and public health hazards.
1. Educate and communicate options for the proper management of pharmaceutical wastes.
2. Clarify and communicate the difference between regulated medical wastes and those wastes which do not require
special handling, processing, or disposal.
• Develop outreach material tailored to educate medical facilities and households.
3. Increase the number of HHW collection locations and events by focusing resources on local governments and
regional agencies.
4. Improve outreach and education regarding the hazards of nuisance tire dumps and continue to support local
cleanup efforts.
5. Conduct a robust outreach effort to educate the public about the lithium -ion battery landfill disposal ban and work
with local governments, retail facilities, and battery manufacturers and recyclers to build a convenient collection
network and effective recycling market for end -of -life lithium -ion batteries.
Improve Disaster Debris Response
Improve efficiency and communications in managing disaster debris waste.
1. Increase education and awareness of local governments, contracting companies and residents that participate in
clean-up efforts.
2. Improve post -event communication tools and procedures that will allow staff to better respond to local
governments, contractors, FEMA, NCEM, and local emergency management officials while in the field.
3. Assist local governments in establishing disaster debris management plans and in increasing the number of TDSR
sites that could be utilized during a natural disaster event.
4. Maintain the existing emergency management debris program while increasing awareness, conducting training
events, and processing additional TDSR sites within the state.
2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan 30

Educate and Engage with the Public
Increase external and internal training and outreach with a focus toward customer service, public awareness, and environmentally
sustainable solid waste and materials management.
Coordinated technical assistance efforts, effective state -local collaboration, and training programs can help ensure that
materials and waste are handled properly with minimum effect on the environment and public health and can help ensure
greater levels of efficiency and commitment to materials management. NCDEQ outreach programs, including statewide
education campaigns like Recycle Right NC, support public awareness of the importance of recycling, help reduce
unaccepted materials in the recycling stream, improve local government recycling program efficacy, and protect recycling
markets. Individualized assistance efforts and networking opportunities for local governments and private sector recycling
businesses improve the capture and quality of recyclable materials and enhance circular market development and
opportunities. Additional outreach and training efforts help bolster that awareness as well as address issues such as illegal
dumping and general solid waste management. Operator certification programs are a critical strategy for supporting
compliance and environmentally sound management of permitted facilities.
Continued efforts to modernize data and technology utilization enable improved efficiency and increased transparency.
NCDEQ's permit modernization efforts to develop a robust online system for applying, tracking, and paying for NCDEQ
permits, licenses, and certificates will streamline the permit process and enhance tracking and access to permitting actions.
Further development of online tools and information sources on permits, facilities, outreach materials, and trainings will
strengthen public awareness of and access to critical solid waste and materials management information.
Provide Technical Assistance
Provide technical assistance for the purpose of both promoting waste reduction and ensuring environmentally sound
processing and management of solid waste and recyclable materials.
1. Provide individualized assistance to local government recycling programs on technical issues, and provide broader
recycling technical assistance through conferences, training sessions, and distribution of information.
2. Conduct regional roundtable meetings with local governments to discuss recycling and solid waste management
issues, such as illegal dumping, material recovery program expansions and improvements, and increasing public
participation in local recycling programs.
3. Provide technical assistance to existing recycling businesses, helping them address issues ranging from material
sourcing to equipment, financing, material handling and marketing, and business development to increase
statewide material markets and recycling capacity and infrastructure.
4. Support business recruitment and expansion to provide robust recycling markets and end -use manufacturing in
support of the circular economy.
2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan 31

Expand Facility Operator Certification Programs
Expand available operator certifications and improve facility compliance through an increased knowledge of solid waste
management laws and rules.
1. Collaborate with the regulated community to establish qualifications and develop policies and protocols related to
training procedures for certified solid waste management operator training programs.
2. Recommend the solid waste industry develop new certification training for operators of solid waste management
facilities: HHW collection facilities, Large Type I compost facilities, industrial landfills, and C&D Treatment and
Processing facilities.
3. Collaborate with stakeholders and local governments for the potential development of recycling and materials
management program management training and certification program.
Develop Training and Outreach Opportunities
Develop external training and outreach programs to support education on solid waste and materials management topics.
1. Collaborate with the regulated community and other stakeholders to identify and respond to training needs.
2. Identify accredited educational institutions that currently offer pertinent materials, courses of study, and research
to expand educational opportunities for operators of solid waste management facilities and those seeking to become
knowledgeable in proper solid waste management.
3. Develop training and guidance materials for external use, including online training that can be used to complete
the Solid Waste Section regulatory training for certification courses.
4. Continue development of internal training to ensure continual process improvement, regulatory consistency, and
strong customer service along with timely and accurate technical advice to both the public and solid waste
management facilities.
5. Maintain and expand state -level outreach campaigns aimed at increasing and improving public recycling behavior.
• Use media and other public outlets to conduct state -level recycling outreach.
• Provide direct assistance to local government recycling programs on the development of brochures,
signage, and other outreach materials, using state campaign imagery and messages to leverage the effects
of state -level outreach.
6. Expand educational venues and develop outreach materials for educating the public on illegal dumping and the
benefit of local enforcement programs.
7. Inform the septage industry through a series of training events about the benefits of composting brown grease
waste and septage waste.
8. Develop and implement outreach, training workshops, and networking events that improve the state's recycling
economy and assist recycling businesses.
2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan 32

Improve DEQ Information Resources
Improve online resources, making information and training elements clear and easy to find.
1. Continue permit modernization efforts to develop a robust online system for applying, tracking, and paying for
NCDEQ permits, licenses, and certificates. This effort will help streamline the permit process, modernize
tracking and access to permitting actions, and improve transparency.
2. Expand the use of GIS and online mapping to make site locations and information available to the public.
3. Continue to improve access to facility history and records utilizing an online document database.
4. Continue to update, improve, and modernize electronic platforms for recycling program databases, recycling
market databases, mapping tools, local government annual reporting process, and other material recovery
information.
5. Establish web access for training and outreach materials that serve as up-to-date resources for both external
customers and staff.
• Provide training and guidance materials.
• Provide information on how to obtain certifications with links to current training providers and their
scheduled classes.
• Outline requirements for private vendors seeking to provide NCDEQ Division of Waste Management -
approved courses for certification and professional development.
2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan 33

Conclusion
The 2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan establishes a modern framework for the state
to address future needs in solid waste and materials management. The Plan also provides critical topic areas and key actions
that not only ensure public safety and protect the environment but also deliver economic benefits through the growth of
the circular economy. Public input is a required component of plan development and has been incorporated throughout
the final document. This input, coupled with analyses of the previous plan's successes and shortcomings, formed the basis
for this Plan's elements and recommended actions.
In keeping with the Plans 10-year span, all five topic areas have a deadline of 2034, but successful strategic plans are
inherently flexible and designed to be adapted as circumstances change. As with any plan, this Plan's effectiveness rests on
the state's ability to monitor outcomes and adapt as needed.
Combined action from the General Assembly, the Department, local governments, the waste management and recycling
industry, private businesses, and North Carolina residents will be needed to achieve the goals laid out herein. The five plan
elements and their associated key actions are vital to improve solid waste and materials management in North Carolina.
They are also necessary to safeguard public health and welfare. North Carolina has achieved a great deal in its last 10 years
of solid waste and materials management. The Plan sets the path for another 10 years of safe and successful solid waste and
materials management.
2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan 34

Appendix A
The Department conducted a public survey to elicit feedback on the 2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials
Management Plan. The survey was conducted from October 24, 2023, to January 31, 2024, and received 408 complete
responses, a similar level of participation to the previous Plan's survey.
The following tables and figures provide an overview of respondent views, type, and interactions with the Department.
Table 6. Breakdown of Survey Respondents' Answer to "Which stakeholder group best describes you?"
Respondent Group
Participant Count
Percentage
Environmental and Environmental Justice Organizations
17
4%
General Public
70
17%
Materials Management
19
5%
Other local, state, or federal agencies.
142
35%
Waste Management
160
39%
Total
408
100%
166
Central Eastern Western
Figure 14. Respondent Participation by Region
48
Statewide
2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan 35

Figure 15. Survey Participation by Region Type
Table 7. Survey Respondents' Reported Interactions with NCDEQ
Interaction Types with NCDEQ
Participation Count
Facility Permitting
150
Environmental Regulatory Questions
148
Facility Compliance
148
Technical Assistance
129
Special Waste Handling
118
N/A
112
Recycling Grants
106
Illegal Dumping/Complaints
98
Disaster Debris
92
New Landfill Siting
36
Other
24
2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan 36

Table 8. Top 10 Waste Types Managed by Survey Participants
Ranking
Waste Types Managed by Participants
1
Recyclables
2
Yard Waste/Yard Trash
3
Municipal Solid Waste
4
Collection & Hauling
5
None of the above
6
Construction & Demolition Debris
7
Scrap Metals
8
Landfill
9
Land Clearing & Inert Debris
10
Household Hazardous Waste
Table 9. Heat Map of Respondent Views on Selected Solid Waste Topics
Strongly
Disagree Disagree Neutral
In general, solid waste regulations are protective of public health
and the environment.
New Landfills are sited and permitted to protect public health and
the environment.
Landfills are designed and operated in a safe manner.
There are adequate levels of inspection, compliance, and
enforcement at permitted solid waste facilities.
It is difficult to comply with NC Solid Waste Laws and Rules.
It is important that the Department support new energy trends and
waste material management technology.
The Department should pursue the development of regulations to
encourage and manage evolving waste management technologies.
Your local government's current solid waste management
ordinances are effectively protective of public health and the
environment.
9
13
25
10
20
31
9
14
38
117
17 57 97
21
24 89 30
11 8 40 81
6 7 72 77
19
Table 10. Heat Map of Respondent Views on Food Waste Reduction Strategies
Not Somewhat Very
Important Im ortant Im c
Promoting
the reduction of food waste at the source.
Supporting
the expansion of food donation activities.
Supporting
the expansion of compost facilities.
Supporting
the expansion of anaerobic digestion facilities.
Supporting
the expansion of animal feeding operations.
Considering
policies or bans to reduce food waste disposal.
Strongly
8
18r6V314615290 97
44 97 83
86 64
2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan 37
85
71
74
54
16
95
73
51

Recycling Education & Outreach
Permitting Assistance Regulatory Updates
General Regulatory Guidance
Compliance Assistance
Training
Food Waste Prevention and Recovery
Waste Reduction BMPs
Disaster Response 47
None of the above 44
One -on -One Technical Guidance 26
94
76
72
72
70
66
57
Figure 16. Respondents' Preferred Technical Assistance Areas
2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan 38

Appendix B
Summary of North Carolina legislation pertaining to solar panels, solar panel projects, and lithium -ion batteries enacted
between 2017 and 2023.
• NC Session Law (S.L.) 2017-192 (HB 589) made multiple reforms to North Carolina's approach to the integration of
renewable electricity generation, including electrical generation from solar panel projects.
• S.L. 2019-132 (HB 329) s. 2 required the Environmental Management Commission (EMC) and the Department to
establish a regulatory program to govern the management of end -of -life photovoltaic modules and energy storage
system batteries and decommissioning of utility -scale solar projects and wind energy facilities. The EMC and the
Department evaluated the end -of -life management of renewable energy equipment and summarized the evaluation
in the January 1, 2021 "Final Report on the Activities Conducted to Establish a Regulatory Program for the
Management and Decommissioning of Renewable Energy Equipment."
• S.L. 2021-165 (HB 951) s. 3 required the Department to develop a plan to ensure adequate financial resources for
the decommissioning of utility -scale solar projects to be submitted to the General Assembly for legislative action.
This legislation also made multiple changes to the requirements for electric public utilities. The Department
evaluated options for the decommissioning of utility -scale solar projects and financial assurance and summarized
the evaluation in the March 1, 2022 "Plan and Recommendations for Financial Resources for Decommissioning of
Utility -Scale Solar Panel Projects."
• S.L. 2023-58 (HB 130) made the Department the lead agency in the statewide administration and enforcement of
utility -scale solar project registration, decommissioning, and financial assurance program for new projects, and for
enforcing the new state -level statutory registration and decommissioning requirements for existing utility -scale
solar projects. The legislation requires the owner of a utility -scale solar project capable of generating two (2) or more
megawatts (MW) alternating current (AC) that is directly connected to the electrical grid to:
• Properly decommission the project upon cessation of operations and restore the property.
• Register with the Department and pay a fee.
• Submit a decommissioning plan and establish financial assurance for new and rebuilt/expanded utility -scale
solar projects.
• S.L. 2023-58 (HB 130) s. 2 enacted a new Part within Article 9 of Chapter 130A of the North Carolina General
Statutes: Part 2J "Management of Solar Energy Equipment" (G.S. 130A-309.240 though 130A-309.243). The
legislation also revised G.S. 130A-309.06(c) to require the Department to annually report on the management of
solar energy equipment to the Environmental Review Commission and Fiscal Research Division of the General
Assembly.
• S.L. 2023-137 (HB 600), s. 19.(a) banned photovoltaic modules from disposal in unlined landfills.
2024-2034 North Carolina Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan 39