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Explore North Carolina's experience with material disposal bans, focusing on legislative steps, implementation results, and observations. Learn how bans impact market development, enforcement challenges, and the importance of infrastructure development for success.
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Material Disposal Bans North Carolina’s Experience Virginia Recycling Association May 15, 2012 • Will Sagar • ExecutiveDirector
Just Say No Legislative Steps Implementation Results
1989 North Carolina Bans • Tires • White Goods • Automotive Batteries • Yard Waste • Motor Oil
Later Bans • Aluminum Cans 1993 • Antifreeze 1993 • Plastic Bottles 2005 • Oil Filters 2005 • Pallets 2005 • Electronics 2010
Observations on NC’s Disposal Bans • Early bans focused on problematic materials. • Main concerns of solid waste policy were landfill capacity and disposal safety. • Markets/infrastructure a secondary concern. • More recent bans have been “commodity” based. • Response to material demand and the need for collection infrastructure and activity.
Plastic Bottles The ban was passed in 2005 and went into effect October 2009.
The “Commodity” case– Plastic Bottles • Plastic bottle demand rising worldwide. • Broad range of product applications. • Domestic capacity fighting with China for supply. • Long-term rise in petroleum/natural gas costs will keep driving reliance on PCR (post-consumer resin). • Southeast particularly rich in bottle plastic processing and end-use: 1.439 billion lbs/year.
Implementation Regulatory view Local Government planning Significant Media Coverage
Critical Support • Technical Assistance • Training • Education Materials Development • Contact with Generators • Outreach to Media • Grants • NC recycling grant funds split between public and private sectors • Specialized grant cycles and bonus points in traditional cycles aimed at banned materials
Market Development Effects of Early Bans • 12 million tons of material from disposal. • New markets and processing Infrastructure • Increase in supply to existing markets: e.g., oil, white goods, and batteries • Yard waste ban spurred mostly local government infrastructure, but now helping build private sector
Lessons from NC Bans • Bans are an effective way to declare the commodity status of materials. • Enforcement can be an issue and bans by themselves are not a “magic bullet.” • Successful bans require both presence and development of infrastructure. • May need lead time built in to law for infrastructure to mature. • Success can be encouraged with program and grant support.
Summary • Bans increase recovery • Recycling creates jobs
Will Sagar • Executive Director • will.sagar@serdc.org