Taking effect Friday was a ban limiting the types of items that can be disposed of in the city of Albemarle’s landfill.
The North Carolina General Assembly passed a bill into law in 2010 making it illegal to knowingly place old televisions, computers such as desktops, monitors and laptops, as well as computer keyboards and mice and printers, scanners and faxes in the landfill. This includes placing these items, known as e-waste, along the street for curbside collection.
According to Michael Lambert, director of public works for the city of Albemarle, recycling of these items will be available at the landfill.
“If someone brings any of these items to the landfill, they’ll be directed to our recycling facility and they’ll be charged a reduced tipping fee,” he said.
The e-waste ban portion of the law, Session Law 2010-67, was approved in July 2010 and scheduled to take effect July 1, 2011. As outlined in the law, the General Assembly “recognizes that discarded television and computer equipment are rapidly growing and complex waste streams.”
According to Ellen Lorscheider, spokeswoman for the N.C. Division of Waste Management, the law’s goal is to reduce landfills’ risk of possible contamination from metals used to make electronic equipment, which include mercury, lead and cadmium.
Another benefit from the ban is the increase in valuable parts from the electronic equipment that will be available for reuse. According to the N.C. Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR), an average of five to six pounds per capita of e-waste is thrown away each year.
Most of these items contain materials that have value and can be reused. Aside from the recycling service provided at the city of Albermarle landfill, other resources are available for residents needing to dispose of e-waste.
Each spring, Stanly County and the city of Albemarle come together to hold a Household Hazardous Waste Day, during which electronic and other items banned from the landfill can be taken to a collection site at the Stanly County Agri-Civic Center.