New recycling regulations set to go into effect

Recycling has always been considered a good thing to do. Soon, it will also be the law.

According to NHC Landfill Manager Sam Hawes, “October 1st, the state is instituting a new recycling law that includes bans for plastic bottles, wooden pallets, and oil filters.”

The new ban will be put into place primarily boost awareness about recycling, and will be tough to regulate. It’s especially directed at businesses that use large quantities of recyclable items, like restaurants or auto mechanics, but residents are expected to follow the new law too.

Plastic bottles, wooden pallets, and oil filters, will be added to a list of other items already ban from landfills including aluminum cans, appliances, and antifreeze.

“We’re real excited about the bans, because hopefully it will enable us to save some of this additional landfill space for real waste that needs to be handled that way and we can extend the life of our facilities,” Hawes said.

Every second in the state of North Carolina, 80 plastic bottles are disposed of. By properly recycling them, you’re not only helping the environment and saving valuable landfill space, you’re also boosting the economy.

More than 14,000 people are employed in the recycling industry statewide.

“We need to be able to feed some of the corporations that employ quite a few North Carolinians, so there’s a company one of them, they make carpet with the plastic bottles,” said Lynn Bestul, a NHC solid waste planner.

Recycling seems to be catching on locally. Over the past couple years, the amount of recyclable material dropped off in New Hanover County has increased 71 percent.

Lynn Bestul hopes the new law will encourage residents and businesses to keep up the good work.

For more information you can visit the following websites…P2Pays,NHCGov, State recycling