Solid waste staff outline C&D diversion, compost pilot and mixed‑load enforcement; bear‑resistant carts tabled for further discussion

Solid‑waste staff updated Buncombe County meeting attendees on efforts to increase construction and demolition (C&D) recycling, advance a pilot composting facility for food scraps and strengthen enforcement of the county’s mixed‑load ordinance.

Kristine (representing the county solid‑waste department) said staff completed several preparatory steps since last year, including hiring an inspector, reducing daily C&D acceptance at the transfer station to encourage diversion to the landfill recycling side, and increasing tip fees for undesirable mixed loads. She said the county will run a three‑day on‑site visual waste characterization at the C&D landfill, then sample the municipal solid waste (MSW) side and the transfer station to identify materials arriving as mixed loads and to inform future program focus.

Staff presented current diversion figures and benchmarks from New Hanover County’s C&D recycling facility, which opened with capital costs reported by…