<B>Charlotte Considers Paper Recycling Ordinance</B>

Mecklenburg County, N.C., which includes the city of Charlotte, is proposing an ordinance that will require businesses to separate paper from the solid waste stream and recycle it. The ordinance will be presented to county commissioners on Feb. 20.

County staff members have been working on the ordinance for several years, and a task force has been putting the finishing touches on it this winter, the Charlotte Observer reports.

Several business groups have already voiced their opposition to mandatory recycling, and have raised questions about whether regional paper recycling facilities would be able to handle the influx of material.

County authorities believe the measure would take a large step toward landfill diversion of materials. According to Mecklenburg County statistics, commercial, industrial and construction waste makes up more than 75% of material generated and  landfilled in the county. Nearly half of that total consists of recyclable paper grades, the county contends.

As currently written, the ordinance would apply to businesses that generate 16 cubic yards or more of solid waste per week, a total that is met by most medium-sized retailers and offices.

Backers of the ordinance claim that curbside and other residential recycling programs, which have a 75% participation rate, demonstrate that residents are doing their part to meet landfill diversion goals. A recent county sampled revealed, however, that just 20% of businesses have a recycling program, according to the Observer.

The proposal would not be the first of its kind in North Carolina, where several cities and counties have ordinances mandating the recycling of food and beverage containers and some types of paper. The city of Durham requires residents and businesses to recycle cans, newspaper, cardboard and glass bottles and jars.