Wayne County landfill bans cardboard

  • Published
  • By Wright Times Staff Report
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  The Wayne County landfill implemented a new cardboard ban in an effort to extend the life of their landfill space. 

Seymour Johnson is affected by this ban because the base and its residents take trash to the landfill regularly. This is nothing new for base residents because Seymour Johnson, along with the rest of the Air Force, has already been in the recycling mode. 

"Seymour Johnson has been mandated to recycle cardboard for several years along with other typical recyclables like plastic, aluminum cans, office paper and newspaper," said Brian Joyner, 4th Civil Engineer Squadron environmental engineer. "However, the county's new cardboard ban increases scrutiny and penalties associated with failure to do so." 

As of Sept. 1, Wayne County landfill will assess customers a penalty for garbage loads delivered to the landfill containing cardboard. There is a $200 penalty for the first offense, a $400 penalty for the second offense and a $600 penalty for all subsequent offenses. 

"The county is taking this ban serious," said Simone Cato, Wayne County recycling coordinator. "For the most part, industry and businesses in Wayne County have been very accepting and understanding of the need to do this. They want to know how to comply and what their options are." 

The base has procedures in place to allow for cardboard to be easily recycled. For those living in on-base housing, cardboard needs to be put out each week with each household's recycling cart. For offices with contracted custodial support, cardboard is picked up from offices or designated recycling areas for transport to Bldg. 2512. For those facilities without contracted custodial support, cardboard should be taken to Bldg. 2512 and placed in the designated roll-offs. 

"This penalty structure is set up based on each truck going across the scales at the landfill," Mr. Joyner said. "Seymour Johnson sends multiple trucks per day to the landfill. Failure from base personnel and residents to take this ban serious can result in substantial penalties paid out unnecessarily." 

Contaminated cardboard, such as pizza boxes with food residue or cardboard stained with oils and paints are not recyclable. Those materials should be disposed of in the garbage. All other cardboard must be recycled. Anyone with questions should contact Mr. Joyner, at 722-5168 or via email at brian.joyner@seymourjohnson.af.mil.