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Toxics and Solid Waste:
Landfill Moratorium and Studies

Our Position: support
Bill Number: S353
Sponsor: Sen. Clark Jenkins (D-Edgecombe)
Legislative Session: 2006

This legislation places a 12 month moratorium on the consideration of permit applications and issuance of permits for

the construction of new landfills from August 1, 2006 until August 1, 2007.  It also directs the state to study the impact

of solid waste on our state and establishes a commission to look at environmental justice issues surrounding landfills.

Status

Action Needed

Background

North Carolina, a traditional net exporter of waste, found itself this year with 4 pending proposals for mega-landfills and two more proposals in the wings.  If these landfills are all permitted, North Carolina would become the 4^th largest importer of waste in the nation.  The trash going into these mega-landfills would come from other states as far away as New York and New Jersey.  Moreover, these landfills are larger than anything NC has ever seen – three are taller than the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.