Guideline on Recycling

The 1989 Session of the General Assembly produced legislation providing a statewide effort to reduce solid waste through economical reclaiming material which would otherwise be discarded as solid waste. The portion of the legislation known as the Solid Waste Management Act of 1989 (N.C.G.S. § 130A-309.1) provides for the reduction, recycling, and reuse or treatment of solid waste. The Act further establishes a goal of at least a 25 percent reduction in the total waste stream by January 1, 1993. To meet this goal, each state agency is required to develop a recycling plan which is consistent with the solid waste management policy of the state. The purpose of this policy is to provide an outline that will allow each constituent institution to develop solid waste recycling plans tailored to develop strategies and to utilize recycling resources both on campus and in the local area.

The following policy and procedural guidelines shall be incorporated into the institutional recycling plans:

1. Each constituent institution of the University shall develop a solid waste recycling plan and forward the plan to the North Carolina Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources with a copy to UNC General Administration by May 1, 1992. To the extent that institutional plans have been previously developed, such plans should be reexamined in light of this policy statement.

2. Each campus will designate a person as the institutional recycling coordinator. Although certain institutions have previously established the recycling coordinator as a full-time position, most institutions will require designation of an individual on an ad hoc basis. It is not the intention of this policy to require establishment of a new position for this purpose.

3. Each institutional recycling plan should specifically prohibit non-conforming disposal of waste materials in violation of General Statutes.

4. Each campus should promote the purchase of commodities which are manufactured with recycled products where economically feasible to do so.

5. Each institutional plan should be developed with consideration of local or municipal efforts in recycling and joining with local programs where practical. Copies of a Directory of North Carolina State and Local Contacts for Recycling Information and Assistance — 1991 and a Directory of Industrial and Commercial Recyclers Serving North Carolina Businesses and Communities have previously been provided. These documents are intended to enhance local contacts for joint recycling efforts and as a source of firms specializing in material recycling.

6. Each institutional recycling plan should include a time frame for reporting implementation of the plan. Also previously provided was a document entitled Guidelines for Developing Recycling Implementation Plans for North Carolina State Agencies which is intended to serve as a resource for determining program elements which should be considered for inclusion in the institutional recycling plan.

[This is a rewrite of Administrative Memorandum #320.]