Scott Mouw NC DEAO

Signs of Progress Recycling has helped reduce disposed tonnage in North Carolina by 2.4 million tons since 2007, a decline of 20 percent. Disposal in landfills has remained flat even as the economy has recovered. Recycling of large waste streams (e.g., C&D and good waste) is on the rise. 40 percent increase in local program recovery of paper and container materials since Plastic bottle recycling has increased from 18,000 to over 36,000 tons/year in five years.

Paper and Container Material Recovery by NC Local Govts 3

The number of curbside recycling programs has increased 50 percent since 2008

Local Government Electronics Collection

Tons of New Diversion Since the Recession

North Carolina Solid Waste Disposal Trends

MRFs Serving North Carolina 8 New MRF since 2008 MRF revamped/modernized since 2008 Other Existing MRFs

Difference in Performance: Average Bin-based program: 247/household/year Average Cart-based programs: 445/household/year Since 2008, increase of 13 million gallons of home recycling capacity DEAO Cart Grantees have increased collection by over 15,000 tons per year.

Conversion to Carts: All major cities and most medium-size towns now using carts Startup of new programs in medium-sized and small towns (some very small) How Does NC Stack Up? Penetration of Carts in Curbside Programs

Improving Supply Efficiency: Hubs & Spokes = accessible single stream MRF = transferring county = good candidates for transfer Transfer of Recyclables

Internal Hub and Spoke: Moore County Transfer out to Pratt MRF in Fayetteville. = Single stream convenience collection = Single stream transfer station Three busiest and most remote sites now using compactors. Doubling of recycling tons 75% reduction in travel time; repurposing of containers; two more site moving to compactors

Swap Shop & Oil Shed Aluminum & Steel Can Bin Plastics Cardboard Glass Mixed Paper Newspaper Scrap Metal Bulky TrashTrash Pre-Crusher Trash Compactor Office Cooking Oil & Electronics The Convenience Center of the Past

Convenience Center of the Future Image credit: Resource Recycling Systems

Single Stream Using Compaction

Images of Recycling Investments in NC Abbey Green C&D Processing, Winston-Salem Envision Plastics, Reidsville Greenway Recycling, Concord Green Pieces, Albemarle

Reflective Recycling Dannys Dumpster Benfield Sanitation MRF Images of Recycling Investments in NC

Shingle Recycling Locations in 2011 Shingle Recycling Locations in 2012 Shingle Recycling at R2R Shingle Grinding at Greenville Paving

Carts and Wheels Major cart manufacturers located in NC Roll Tech in Hickory, NC, makes wheels with recycled HDPE and tire rubber from NC recyclers. Curbside cart programs collecting more HDPE. HDPE comes back to Roll Tech to make new wheels to make new carts to go to more NC communities. = Cart manufacturer = Curbside cart community = Roll Tech = MRF = Plastics Reclaimer

Fiber Prices Since 1996

PET, HDPE, and Aluminum Prices since 1996

Away from Home Recycling 22

Other Encouraging Trends Cooking Oil Recycling Program in Asheville Agricultural Plastics Mercury Lamp Collection in Watauga County Mattress Recycling

Food Waste: The Challenge Ahead Food waste recovery growing in various settings Orange County starting first residential drop-off program More work to do to grow collection and receiving facilities Composting at ASU McGill Environmental Full Circle Brooks Contractors

State Plan DENR beginning to develop new 10 year state plan. Preliminary focus is on increasing material recovery Details will be become available in early summer

Trends, Concerns, and Random Thoughts Zero waste to landfill gaining steam amongst manufacturers The rise of single stream front-loading service? The glass conundrum – little material value for a valuable material. Management of CRTs - when we will hit the collection peak Meeting demand for plastics bottles Marrying up food waste and recycling collection.

Carolinas Plastic Bottle Recycling Capacity Vs Local Supply (in lbs.) NC Plastic Bottle Recycling – Improvement with Room to Grow (in tons)

Challenges Ahead Governors current budget includes reduction in funding to Solid Waste Trust Fund from $4 million/year to $2.4 million/year Will limit and possibly eliminate some grant programs What future policies make the most sense in a materials management kind of world? Will they entail some shifts in responsibilities?

Scott Mouw NC DEAO