Recycling plastics soon to be
mandatory in North Carolina

by Tina Ray
Paraglide

	photo by metrocreativegraphics.com

Effective Oct. 1, the disposal of plastic bottles will be banned and recycling will be mandatory in North Carolina.

In 2005, the N.C. General Assembly passed House Bill 1465, banning plastic bottles from being disposed of in regular trash bins effective this October.

According to the N.C. Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance Web site, the disposal law does not apply to containers intended for use in the sale and distribution of motor oil or plastic pesticide bottles.

According to the Web site, recycling plastic bottles conserves energy and resources. Bottles can be recycled into new plastic bottles or different products such as carpet, lumber and other types of containers or clothing.

Fort Bragg residents can use their residential curbside recycling program, said Melinda Harrington, sustainable materials planner with the Environmental Management Branch, Directorate of Public Works.

“Units and those living in barracks can bring their recyclables to the recycling facility located behind Building 3-1137 on the DPW compound or the drop-off sites located at the North and South Post Exchange parking lots,” said Harrington.

Petty Officer Second Class Ryan Poole stopped by the DPW compound Friday to drop off plastics. Poole said that recycling is important and he plans to adhere to the upcoming disposal ban.
“It’s really easy; it’s no problem. I’ll continue because I’ve been recycling ever since I’ve lived here,” said the Texas native who now lives in Raeford, N.C.

A Directorate of Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation voucher can be issued by turning in recyclables such as plastic, paper, cardboard and aluminum cans, Harrington said. Those vouchers pay for unit functions at DFMWR facilities on post through Qualified Recycling Program incentives.

Soldiers and their Families may contact Tim Nance, QRP manager, at tim.nance@us.army.mil or call 396-5323 to sign up to participate in the incentive program, Harrington said.

Nance said he plans to send a letter signed by the garrison commander, Col. Stephen Sicinski, post-wide and through proper Army channels to get the word out about the disposal restrictions. Implementing the ban will be very important.

The bottle ban supports Fort Bragg’s Environmental Policy, “The Right Way … The Green Way … All the Way,” he said.

“Recycling will also fuel the local recycling markets and establish a recycling infrastructure in Fayetteville and the surrounding communities,” Nance said.

Yet, the biggest hurdle to plastics disposal will be collections, said Sid Williamson, DPW solid waste and recycling manager.

QRP will likely hire another staff member to help oversee collections and will seek to sell the plastics, once bailed, to the highest bidder, he said.

“Fort Bragg wants to be the leader in this community,” he said. “It’s one of the Fort Bragg Garrison Strategic Goal Number 1, Sustainable Community goals to get all plastics out of the landfills for reuse and recycling, so this program is important. We will need to promote this program and make it convenient.”

For more information about the upcoming disposal of plastic bottles restrictions or about recycling, contact DPW at 396-5323 or visit its Web site at www.bragg.army.mil/envbr.