State Solid Waste and Materials Management Plan

Staff meeting and planning

The Solid Waste Management Act of 1989 established policies and goals to promote methods of solid waste management that are alternatives to disposal in landfills and to assist units of local government with solid waste and materials management. The law requires the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (Department) to develop a comprehensive statewide solid waste and materials management plan with the collaboration of local government, regional planning agencies, and the public, and periodically update that plan (G.S. 130A-309.06(a)(1)).  The law also requires that owner/operators of industrial solid waste facilities develop individual plans for management of the waste they generate (G.S. 130A-309.09D(c)). Copies of the statewide plan updates from prior years and the industrial solid waste and materials management plans can be found below.

Tab/Accordion Items

A North Carolina plan is in development for the 2024 – 2034 cycle.  Feedback is being solicited to develop an action-based, achievable, and inclusive plan. One significant step toward achieving this goal is to survey the various stakeholders of North Carolina on elements of the proposed plan, keeping in mind that the North Carolina General Statutes require the plan to focus on education, public participation, and waste reduction goals.  Stakeholder input is a key element to the success of this development process.  

Survey:

The NCDEQ Division of Waste Management (DWM) and Division of Environmental Assistance and Customer Service (DEACS) has developed a stakeholder survey.  You can complete the survey by clicking this link or by scanning the following QR code:

Projected Plan Update Development Steps and Schedule:

  1. January 31, 2024: Deadline to complete survey.
  2. Winter 2024: NCDEQ meets with stakeholders and the public via regional meetings to review Plan draft.
  3. Spring 2024: NCDEQ incorporates public input and survey data into Plan draft.
  4. Summer 2024: NCDEQ revises and adopts the 2024 – 2034 Plan.
  5. January 2025: NCDEQ begins implementing the plan.

Plan Development Status:

Beginning in 2024, the Department will provide an update here every Monday morning on the status of the process.