North Carolina has been selected as the hot spot for dumping trash from other states. Private companies have applied for permits for six new landfills in eastern North Carolina—in Hyde, Brunswick, Camden, Scotland, Richmond and Columbus counties. These landfills would permanently house tons of trash imported each year from other states. 

Waste disposal companies have found eastern North Carolina appealing thanks to the state's open spaces, lack of disposal fees, and local communities desperate for new sources of revenue. As North Carolina continues to grow, so does the need for our smaller rural communities to create jobs, expand infrastructures, and build new schools. The problem with importing trash is that it is a short term revenue fix; it does not get to the heart of economic woes in these counties.

Meanwhile, the amount of garbage generated per person continues to outpace population growth in North Carolina. North Carolina is also facing the need for additional landfill space for our own trash; current landfills are projected to fill up within 18 years and we currently already export over one million tons of waste to other states. 

North Carolina needs opportunities that create good paying jobs and long-term economic development which adds to the overall quality of local communities and our state.  The root causes that led to North Carolina being targeted as a dumping ground must be addressed by our state leaders. State leaders must help provide sustainable economic development opportunities for our rural communities that will protect North Carolina's natural beauty.  Several community groups are working to fight mega-landfills in their communities—see the links below.

Advocates fighting mega-landfills won a huge victory in 2006.  The 2006 General Assembly passed legislation (S.L. 2006-244) in the final days of the session, which ended July 28. The bill puts a one year halt on state consideration or permitting of new landfills, giving the state time to study North Carolina’s landfill siting and operation rules to ensure they will adequately protect communities and the environment. The bill also creates an Environmental Justice Commission to study why landfills are being sited in low income and minority communities and the impact on these communities.

Latest News

Oct. 9, 2006. The Environmental Review Commission - the legislative body that has been tasked with studying current solid waste laws - met to hear presentations from state environmental staff on current solid waste rules and what kinds of solutions the Commission might recommend to strenghten the state's solid waste laws. These include: strengthening liability provisions for landfill owners and operators; financial assurance requirements for closure and post-closure management of landfills; bans on particular types of waste and better enforcement of bans; siting of new landfills to avoid environmentally sensitive areas; reform of the state landfill franchise process; adequate staffing for state waste programs; cleanup of old abandoned sites; and technology and design standards for new landfills.

Oct. 23, 2006.  The newly created Environmental Justice Commission held its first meeting, at which they heard a presentation by UNC epidemiology professor on a study that found that solid waste facilities in NC are twice as likely to be located in minority communities than in white communities.

Links

North Carolina Environmental Justice Network
NC Division of Waste Management
NC Division of Waste Management fact sheet on landfills
Pamlico-Tar River Foundation
North Carolina Coastal Federation
Swamp Watch Action Team

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