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This news item expired on 10/30/2009, so the information below could be outdated or incorrect.

Starting October 1, plastic bottles will be banned from the landfill in Buncombe County and all across North Carolina. Wood pallets, oil filters, and oyster shells are also banned.  

The new law targets plastic bottles that have necks smaller than the body of the container and a screw top, cap or other type of closure.

Frequently asked questions about preparing your recycling:

• Do I have to rinse out the bottles? 
  No, but it’s best to dump the liquid, and to rinse them if you can.
  
  
• Do I have to remove the paper from the bottle or can?
  No, just place the bottle or can in the recycling.
  
  
• Do I need to remove the lid? 
  Yes, because lids are violently propelled objects when plastics are bailed into cubes for sale to market.
  
  
• Does the number or the recycling symbol on the bottle matter?
  Not really - just make sure the plastic bottle has a neck that is smaller than the base. If so, it’s recyclable.
  
  
• Am I going to get a ticket if I don’t recycle a plastic bottle?
  No, individuals will not be inspected; however State solid waste inspectors will enforce the law during landfill inspections. Please recycle and  help the County avoid penalties and/or fines. 
  
  
• Where can I recycle?
  If you’re a Buncombe County resident, you have access to curbside service with the local franchised waste hauler. The local waste hauler provides both garbage AND recycling service for Buncombe County residents. They pick up recycling in blue bags.
  
  Residents can fill their blue bags with plastic bottles along with other recyclables – aluminum cans, steel cans, mixed paper and glass -- and put it out on the curb next to your garbage can. 
  
  If you don’t subscribe to a waste hauling service, you may use any of Buncombe County’s convenience centers to drop off your recycling. The convenience centers are located:
  • Behind Earth Fare at the Westgate Shopping Center on I-240
  • At the County Transfer Station off of Brevard Road
  • At the County Landfill off Riverside Drive in North Buncombe County
  • Curbside Management provides a drop center behind Asheville Pizza on Merrimon Avenue

The new law means businesses should subscribe to recycling service. There are a number of businesses in the area who provide commercial recycling pickup service. Call your local recycler or waste hauler to find out more.  Check out the handout below for answers to more frequently asked questions.

DID YOU KNOW?

The residents of North Carolina throw away 12 million tons of materials a year – that includes recyclable and non-recyclable items. That's enough garbage to fill up dumpsters stretching from Woodfin to Wilmington every 47 days. North Carolina citizens throw away an estimated 100 plastic drink bottles every second -- so recyle! Reducing the number of bottles going in the landfill will help preserve its life.  

Most folks don’t realize the huge impact recycling has on the economy. In NC, we throw away $41.4 million dollars worth of plastic bottles every year. Did you know that the nation’s second largest milk jug recycler, Envision Plastics, is right here in NC? Recycling companies like Envision need all the plastic bottles we can give them – in fact, they say they can’t get enough! The more bottles we recycle, the better it is for those recycling businesses and for our environment. 

Recycling supports 14,000 jobs in this state - including jobs in Buncombe County. That means every time you recycle, you support a job.

Find out more about how you can recycle by watching this edition of Buncombe Life.

Additional Info:
File Name	File Size	File Type
Frequently Asked Questions	289 KB	PDF