In Fayetteville, love your landfill by going easy on the plastic bags. 5 tips.

Myron B. Pitts, The Fayetteville Observer
·2 min read
Yes, yes, no, yes: Plastic bags, such as third from left, create a problem for the Cumberland County landfill, says Amanda Bader, director of Solid Wastes.
Yes, yes, no, yes: Plastic bags, such as third from left, create a problem for the Cumberland County landfill, says Amanda Bader, director of Solid Wastes.

Cumberland County officials have made no secret that our 42-year-old landfill on Ann Street is becoming full.

It could reach capacity as soon as 2030, and the county recently wrapped up a period of open houses and public comment about its plans to address the issue.

In the short term, the county intends to build a transfer station to ship solid waste out of the county. It will, in the meantime, work on a longer-term solution — expanding the landfill site on Ann Street downtown, which would add another 20 years of use.

More:What's next for Cumberland County's potential Ann Street landfill expansion?

County residents could potentially play a role, too. Namely, ease back on the plastic bags.

Below are a few tips.

Litter, litter

Amanda Bader, director of Cumberland County Solid Waste, said plastic bags are a problem for the landfill.

“They create windblown litter that we spend considerable time and effort picking up,” she said. “They are unsightly along our roadways and in our trees.”

More:7 years to fix it: Cumberland County hosting open house on Ann Street landfill’s future

Reduce, reuse, recycle

Bader said the hierarchy for solid waste management is reduce, reuse and recycle.

She said she would like people to think if a plastic bag is necessary when they check out.

The international recycling symbol. Amanda Bader, director of Solid Waste for Cumberland County, NC, said she would like people to think if a plastic bag is necessary when they check out at the store. And: ‘Think about how to reuse the bag if you do take one.’
The international recycling symbol. Amanda Bader, director of Solid Waste for Cumberland County, NC, said she would like people to think if a plastic bag is necessary when they check out at the store. And: ‘Think about how to reuse the bag if you do take one.’

“Please consider reusable bags or skipping the bag altogether if they only have a few items,” she said. “Think about how to reuse the bag if you do take one.”

Bags back to grocery

Plastic bags cannot be recycled in the “commingled recycling stream,” Bader said. For city residents, that means do not put them in the blue bin.

Also: “Don’t bag your recyclables,” she said.

A tractor moves and compacts waste at the construction and demo site at the Ann Street Landfill on Tuesday, March 14, 2023.
A tractor moves and compacts waste at the construction and demo site at the Ann Street Landfill on Tuesday, March 14, 2023.

“Plastic bags should be returned to stores that accept them along with other plastic film,” she said. “Many grocery stores have bins out front where plastic bags may be recycled.”

She added: “ You can also recycle the plastic film around bulk items like your water bottles and paper towels the same way.”

Buy bulk, look for logo

A Cumberland County webpage, “Shop Smarter & Reuse,” offers several suggestions. Including:

• Buy bulk goods to reduce waste packaging.

• Look for the recycling logo on products you buy, and support recycling markets by buying products made from recycled material.

• Buy cloth diapers, napkins, towels, and rags rather than disposable products. Buy sponges and rechargeable batteries — anything that can be used again and again.

Grab bags

Bader said that Cumberland County Solid Waste has a limited supply of reusable bags available at the Ann Street landfill for residents who want one. The address is 698 Ann St.

“Be sure to ask for one on your next visit,” she said.

Myron B. Pitts can be reached at mpitts@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3559.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: In Fayetteville, love your landfill — go easy on the plastic bags. 5 tips.