Date: February 2, 2010
Source: N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources
A recent North Carolina state report reveals the depth of the recession, the lowest volume of waste going into the state's landfills in almost twenty years. For its fiscal year 2008-09, waste disposal dropped by 14 percent to 9.91 million tons or 1.07 tons per capita representing a decrease of 1.37 million tons from the previous year, according to the "North Carolina Solid Waste Management Annual Report." "Our analysis indicates that the reduction in disposal is a direct result of the economic recession," said Dexter Matthews, director of the state Division of Waste Management. "Waste previously created by the housing and building markets is not being produced and, therefore, is not ending up in North Carolina landfills." Data for the report was culled from 655 local governments, 371 solid waste management facilities and 152 state agencies, institutions and schools.
Highlights of the Report's Findings
The state in fiscal 2008-09 had a decrease of solid waste disposal to a historic low. The combination of a national recession with significant decline in construction waste, and increased costs of disposal led to this decrease in the state's solid waste disposal.
The state per capita disposal rate is 1.07 tons per person per year, which is the same as fiscal 1991-92. This represents a per capita reduction of 14 percent from the previous year and 21 percent from the highest per capita rate of disposal during fiscal 2005-06.
North Carolina communities disposed of 9,910,031 tons of waste in North Carolina and out-of-state facilities. This represents a decrease of 1,374,681 tons from the previous fiscal year.
The N.C. Department of Revenue reported Solid Waste Tax collection of $19,567,831.27 which would equate to 9,783,915.64 tons of taxable waste going into North Carolina landfills and exported out of state through North Carolina transfer stations.
North Carolina-permitted solid waste management landfills and the New Hanover County Municipal Solid Waste incinerator received a total of 9,182,790 tons of solid waste for fiscal 2008-09. Almost 140,000 tons of this waste originated from other states, a decrease of 5,825 import tons over the previous period. South Carolina and Virginia accounted for all imported waste.
North Carolina exported 863,604 tons for fiscal 2008-09, a decrease of 19 percent from the previous year and a 35 percent decrease from fiscal 2006-07 when North Carolina exports were at peak levels. Exported waste was sent to South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee and Georgia.
Recovery of glass, plastics, aluminum and steel containers grew dramatically during fiscal 2008-09 surpassing 110,000 tons for the first time.
A sharp increase in container recovery can be directly attributed to the Alcoholic Beverage Commission permit holder recycling law, which took effect on January 1, 2008. Container commodities - glass and plastic bottles, aluminum and steel cans - experienced an increase in recovery, with glass leading the recovery.
Curbside recycling programs contributed more to recycling in North Carolina than did recycling at drop off centers, for the first time since local governments began reporting in the early 1990s.
To see the solid waste report, visit www.wastenotnc.org/swhome/AR08_09/AR08_09.pdf.
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