It’s against the law to throw plastic bottles (& other items) in the trash in NC

North Carolina is a recycling hub, turning plastic bottles and glass items into brand new material within the state every day.

In fact, plastic bottles are just one of many items that have been banned from landfill disposal in the state since 2009, as recycling plastic bottles contributes to thousands of in-state jobs and helps conserve energy and resources, according to the NC Department of Environmental Quality.

But plastic bottles aren’t the only materials banned from landfill disposal. Here’s what the law says:

Materials banned from landfills in NC

State law says that along with plastic bottles, we should not throw aluminum cans into garbage that ends up in landfills.

What happens if you break that law?

The bans don’t outline penalties for non-compliance, said Melody Foote, a public information officer for the DEQ’s Division of Waste Management.

“Landfill bans were established by the General Assembly to stimulate certain behavior,” she said. “In this case, it helped to establish robust recycling and businesses in North Carolina that use the recycled material.”

Here’s the full list of items banned from landfill disposal:

• Used oil

• Yard trash

• White goods (such as refrigerators, water heaters, washing machines and dishwashers)

• Antifreeze

• Aluminum cans

• Scrap tires

• Lead-acid batteries

• Motor vehicle oil filters

• Plastic bottles

• Wooden pallets

• Oyster shells

• Computer equipment and televisions

• Beverage containers from ABC permit-holders

Plus, fluorescent lights and mercury-containing thermostats are banned from disposal in construction and demolition debris landfills.

To learn how many of these materials can properly be recycled, visit deq.nc.gov and search “North Carolina Landfill Disposal Bans.”

Find all of our coverage on recycling in Raleigh and Wake County at newsobserver.com/topics/raleigh-recycling.

This story was originally published March 23, 2023 at 6:00 AM with the headline "It’s against the law to throw plastic bottles (& other items) in the trash in NC."

Kimberly Cataudella Tutuska

The News & Observer

919-419-6630

Kimberly Tutuska (she/her) is the editor of North Carolina’s service journalism team.