Landfill bill
addressed a
statewide need

While Columbus was one of several eastern North Carolina counties targeted as sites for regional mega-landfills, the state’s new, tougher landfill standards will benefit residents across the state as well.

The General Assembly, in its final hours, passed a much more comprehensive landfill bill which requires more stringent standards for liners, buffers and prevents landfills from locating near natural areas like state game lands or parks. Gov. Easley signed the landfill bill last week.

There are other requirements as well, including a $2 per ton surcharge to help the state clean up landfills that could leak dangerous chemicals into groundwater.

North Carolina was in danger of becoming a dumping ground for out-of-state garbage as huge waste disposal companies were actively seeking to develop mega-landfills in several, mostly poor, eastern North Carolina counties. The companies promised loads of money to these cash-strapped counties in exchange for hosting landfills.

The new requirements effectively killed all of these proposals, many of which were nearing final approval.

Places like Raleigh, Wilmington and Myrtle Beach will only continue to grow, increasing the demand for rural dumping grounds.

Until Americans embrace recycling, the need for landfills will continue. At least North Carolina, despite its previously easy permitting process, won’t be the dumping ground for everyone else’s trash.

The landfill bill not only addressed the immediate concerns of Columbus County and the Green Swamp landfill, it also offers protection for groundwater across the state.