North Carolina Landfill Bans

Which materials are banned from North Carolina landfills? There are currently 14 items on the list.




1. Used oil
2. Yard trash
3. White goods
4. Antifreeze
5. Aluminum cans
6. Whole scrap tires
7. Lead-acid batteries
8. ABC beverage containers
9. Motor vehicle oil filters
10. Recyclable plastic bottles (except motor oil or pesticide bottles)
11. Wooden pallets
12. Oyster shells
13. Computer equipment
14. Televisions

First, reduce your consumption of these items. Then, reuse them if you can. Finally, recycle them.

The first items were banned from North Carolina landfills beginning in 1989. Aluminum cans have been banned from landfills since 1994. Unfortunately, still only half of all aluminum cans generated in North Carolina are recycled.

In October 2009, three new materials were banned from landfills: wooden pallets, motor oil filters and plastic bottles. At least 95 percent of North Carolina residents have access to some type of plastic bottle recycling through local government programs. Unfortunately, North Carolinians currently recycle only 18 percent of PET plastic bottles.

The most recent ban is the television and computer equipment ban that went into effect in July of this year.

Landfill bans are necessary for several reasons. In many cases, the banned materials are hazardous to our health and environment. Improper disposal of some substances could contaminate soil, surface water or drinking water. In other cases, throwing away the product is like throwing away money. North Carolina throws away $115,483,600 in aluminum cans and plastic bottles each year!

Now that you are informed about North Carolina’s landfill bans, go tell your friends!

Learn more about the bans at http://www.p2pays.org/bannedmaterials/.

Source:
“Draft Blog” at http://www.p2pays.org/bannedmaterials/resources.asp