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The Cape Fear River Watch Board of Directors adopted the following position statement at its September 2009 meeting.

Solid Waste Management for New Hanover County

New Hanover County Landfill

Cape Fear River Watch (CFRW) supports the environmentally safe and efficient handling of solid waste in New Hanover County (NHC) to maximize re-use and recycling and minimize the need to landfill and incinerate. We of course realize that the large amount of waste generated by the county requires the operation of a “state of the art landfill”, which NHC currently has, and an upgraded incinerator that will meet or exceed both the current and the forthcoming EPA guidelines for emissions and fly ash.

We have attended the meetings held by the Solid Waste Advisory Board (SWAB) which served to review the numerous issues surrounding solid waste handling and management in NHC. At that time, CFRW offered its opinions on the management of Solid Waste in the county with specific recommendations, some of which were those researched by SWAB. Recommendations formulated by the SWAB were presented to the NHC County Commissioners on January 20, 2009. Following this presentation, the NHC County Commissioners elected to develop a request for proposals (RFP) and solicit bids from private contractors to manage the County’s solid waste needs. This recently released RFP does not provide incentives or reward the bidder’s efforts to reduce loadings to the landfill, reduce emissions from the incinerator, or provide a plan to move New Hanover County towards an encompassing system that will serve us in the future. It is structured instead to favor a low cost bidder without any incentives to increase recycling or to upgrade WASTEC. The RFP should be structured to reward the investment of the bidders in a system that is designed to serve the public good rather than just reducing the short-term cost. It would have also been beneficial to allow public and scientific input into this plan. We hope, in this regard, that you will consider our input when you are reviewing the RFPs.

CFRW believes that the County should leave the important job of managing our solid waste in the hands of the county employees currently managing our waste or award the contract to a company who will put forth an aggressive set of goals to reduce our solid waste by a total county-wide recycling program. We should focus on the reduction of county demands for additional landfill space and waste incineration but without “just transporting” our waste problem to another site. In order to accomplish these goals, the County and/or the contractor should develop and implement county-wide plans for increased re-use and recycling of both household and construction and demolition materials. These materials should be viewed as resources and not waste. Our goal should be a more sustainable solid waste management plan that is both economically and environmentally attractive to businesses, tourism, and to our residents. It should be one that minimizes harm to our natural areas and reduces the use of natural resources.

In order to accomplish the above, a comprehensive strategy must be developed that incorporates a transition strategy to cope with current demands and realities while setting the stage for an environmentally friendly solid waste management plan. We list several of our recommendations below that should be considered in this comprehensive plan.

County-Wide Curbside Recycling

The inclusion of a mandatory curbside recycling program for all residential and commercial customers in the unincorporated areas of New Hanover County is a critical factor that would reduce the amount of solid waste going into the landfill or incinerator, as well as to increase the responsible re-use of natural resources. The existing drop-off sites in the county are inadequate for the county and do not promote active recycling. To address this problem, CFRW encourages the County to explore partnering with the City of Wilmington’s successful curbside recycling program. If immediate county-wide recycling cannot be implemented (economic concerns), then a phased approach should be initiated with high density areas given priority. Drop-off sites will be maintained to insure that all residents have the opportunity and are encouraged to recycle until county-wide curbside recycling is available.

CFRW proposes that a single-stream recycling or a materials recycling facility be developed in the future plan. The facility should be a regional collection point and a model for recycling that could serve the local and regional needs. Single stream recycling means that recyclable items do not need to be separated prior to collection, saving transport and handling costs and making it easier for people to recycle. Such a facility will generate additional, much needed jobs within the County. And with new state rules restricting the disposal of certain materials (plastic, etc.), recycling is not only a potential revenue source but a state mandate as of October 1, 2009. Furthermore, trash haulers should be required to pick up hazardous materials from residences such as auto wet cell batteries, electronics, and paint from residential customers several times annually and provide a drop-off location for disposal throughout the year.

Landfill Management

NHC has one of the best designed and operated landfills in North Carolina. The landfill exceeds North Carolina and Federal standards for containing solid waste, and the leachate created is treated through constructed wetlands and/or with a water treatment facility that provide for the proper management of this potentially harmful material. However, the real issue is space. Currently the capacity of the northern site is about 9 million cubic yards, of which 6 million cubic yards have already been used. Reducing the introduction of recyclable materials (household and Construction and Demolition) and other waste (Waste Incineration – see below) into the landfill will help but until we can approach a zero-waste program we will still need some additional landfill space. Well planned and designed use of the current cell areas and limited expansion south of the current area can provide needed storage and extend the life of our landfill. It is critical that any expansion does no harm to the surrounding areas and that leachate be handled as it is now to prevent any contamination of the groundwater and/or the adjacent NE Cape Fear River.

One other consideration for the landfill involves the possible installation of landfill gas collection facilities, assuming adequate gas is now being generated. Capture and use of the landfill gas (CH4, CO2, and minor other gases) provides important energy and environmental benefits. Landfill gas may provide an energy source that directly reduces atmospheric pollution while qualifying for renewable energy production incentives.

WASTEC Management

WASTEC

The WASTEC incinerator functions to ultimately reduce the volume of material entering the County’s landfill. WASTEC currently handles approximately 46% or 140,000 tons of the solid waste generated in NHC on an annual basis (SWAB study). In this regard, it is a critical component in the management of NHC’s current solid waste. However, according to SWAB, upgrades are needed to bring it up to a peak operating efficiency of +90%.

Utilizing already installed technologies and upgrading WASTEC with the best available technologies to insure strict compliance to state and federal standards are critical facets of an interim strategy to handle NHC solid waste. Along with these upgrades, continuous monitoring of emissions is essential. With these improvements Cape Fear River Watch supports the use of the incinerator as a component of the overall solution. The upgrade would allow the incinerator to operate at peak efficiency, handle more wastes, and with improved materials handling and decreased by-products, the energy generated may qualify for Renewable Energy tax incentives. A peak operating WASTEC could produce up to 30,000 Mwh of electricity annually (enough to power 3,500 homes – SWAB study).

Incineration, like landfilling, is not a preferred method for waste handling but we recognize its need to handle a portion of our waste. We believe that upgrades would allow the incinerator to minimize emissions while handling even more trash. As EPA considers and will soon implement new limits on GHG and other emissions, perhaps including particulates, it is critical that upgrades will insure that the incinerator meet and hopefully exceed the new standards. This would illustrate to NHC and the State that our county is committed to an environmentally friendly place to live, work, and visit.

Construction & Demolition Debris Recycling

CFRW supports the building of a state of the art C& D recycling facility that insures that the maximum amount of C&D materials are recycled.

Educational Campaign

It is critical that the residents of NHC be educated about the issues of solid waste handling and management. Citizens have a major role to play by not only reducing the amount of solid waste but also in insuring that more hazardous waste is kept out of residential bins. These types of waste create additional problems for both the landfill and the incinerator as leachate and emissions, respectively. As mentioned above, additional hazardous waste collection days and a drop off location would help this issue.

CFRW believes that investments in county-wide recycling, state of the art recycling facilities, improved C&D facilities, upgrades and maintenance of WASTEC, and expansion of the landfill are essential. These steps will provide NHC with the opportunity to handle all of its solid waste and the potential to become a recognized leader in solid waste management in the region and in NC as we transition from waste handling to waste reduction that will lead to reduced needs for landfill space and incineration.

Cape Fear River Watch volunteers have picked up nearly 7,000 pounds of trash from local watersheds during the first 3 monthly clean-ups of 2008.

Go ahead. Read that sentence again. 7,000 pounds. Now consider that 2 of those 3 clean-ups took place in the cold rain. Granted, the volunteer crews did knock off at noon on the rainy days rather than the usual 1:00pm, but that kind of dedication is worthy of recognition and applause. Go ahead. Clap.

In addition to the usual assemblage of plastic bags, styrofoam cups, fast food wrappers, bottles, cans and discarded car tires, volunteers have picked up television and computer remnants, the discarded front door to somebody’s house, and a full and sealed IV bag. Enough trash had accumulated in a tributary of Smith Creek near Maides Park to effectively dam the creek. River Watch volunteers removed the trash dam and restored flow to the creek.

Where does it go from here? April’s clean-up is scheduled to take place at Greenfield Lake on April 19th (the Saturday closest to Earth Day.) Judging from the effectiveness of the River Watch volunteers thus far in 2008 and the experience of previous years’ clean-ups at Greenfield Lake, the City of Wilmington had best send more than one dump truck to remove the expected trash haul. The recent low water in the lake due to repairs to the outfall dam has shown that too much of the lake’s more than 5 miles of shoreline is strewn with trash. CFRW is hoping for/expecting a big turn-out to put a big dent in that mess. It’s little early to make real predictions, but so far the long range forecast is calling for sunshine and temperatures in the 70s. We’re due.
Greenfield Lake is one of the hidden jewels of Wilmington and it shines even more beautifully in the spring when the cypress begins to leaf, the dogwood blooms under the long leaf pine canopy, and the thousands of azalea bushes that ring the lake explode in color. It’s about the prettiest spot in the world to pick up trash.

As with previous years’ Greenfield clean-ups, this years effort will include both land and water components. Since so much of the lake’s shoreline is approachable only by water, many volunteers will be using canoes and kayaks to get where the trash lies. For those who aren’t comfortable plying waters of a lake with multiple 14 foot alligators in a tippy canoe, there will still be plenty of trash to pick up on shore. Sometimes it seems that azalea bushes exist solely to catch blowing McDonalds wrappers.

If you’d like more information about how you can help with April’s big Greenfield Lake cleanup contact either Bill Murray or Joe Abbate at River Watch. Until then, just consider that first number again, 7,000 lbs, and take your hats off to a great crew of volunteers.

Did you know that fertilizer, pet waste, pesticides and motor oil goes into our storm drains and makes its way to our streams? And to where we fish? You can find out more at City of Wilmington Stormwater Services

In environmentally conscious California retailers will be required to provide in-store recycling bins for plastic bags for customers to use as of July 1, 2007.

The bill passed by the California legislature is designed to help contain common litter and to ensure the safety of marine animals that often become entangled in or ingest plastic.

Californians use 19 billion plastic bags annually creating a 147,000 plus tons of unnecessary waste.

Are our legislators far-sighted enough to pass this kind of legislation in North Carolina? Maybe in the next 20 years?

Blowing in the Wind–Litter

Windy weather may be good for kites, but not for litter. One wind gust can blow litter into the ocean. Rain can also carry litter to the Cape Fear Estuary and the ocean.

So what’s the big deal about litter?

We have a responsibility to the marine animals and birds whose environment we share. We are lucky to live in a place where we regularly see many shorebirds and seabirds, often get a glimpse of dolphins, and enjoy a beach that has been used by nesting sea turtles for generations.

Litter can look like food to animals.

· Fish and birds can mistake cigarette butts for food.

· Sea turtles can mistake plastic bags or old latex balloons for jellyfish and eat them.

· These mistakes can be fatal. The animals cannot digest this litter so it can block their digestion and lead to death. Animals can become entangled in litter. Many water birds, sea turtles and other sea creatures can get tangled in old fishing line or plastic items. This can lead to drownings or a slow death as the entangled animal starves to death.

Litter sticks around.

Most litter items such as plastic, styrofoam, and cigarette butts do not break down for hundreds of years.

Litter can clog stormwater drains and pipes, causing flooding when it rains. Plus litter looks ugly!

So please dispose of trash properly. Our streets and sidewalks are not trash receptacles!

· Retrieve tangled fishing line and dispose of it in a trash receptacle.

· Cigarette butts belong in ash trays and other designated receptacles. They are the most common item found during cleanups.

Cigarette butts on the beach: If you can tote it to the beach, you can tote it home!

Please don’t leave broken beach toys, chairs or umbrellas on the beach.

· Hang on to picnic items and plastic bags when it’s windy—which is almost always!

· Throw cans and bottles in a trash receptacle, not out a car window.

· Make sure your trash containers at home are covered so nothing can blow out.

· Pick up litter when you see it.

· Participate in beach and neighborhood cleanups.

· Reduce, reuse and recycle.