It’s illegal to throw plastic bottles (& other items) in the trash in NC. See the full list
North Carolina residents only recycle 30% of their plastic bottles, the NC Department of Environmental Quality says. But did you know those who choose to throw them in the trash can are technically breaking the law?
At least 27 states have mandatory recycling requirements, and nearly all (49) states ban at least one item from disposal in its solid waste facilities, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. That includes North Carolina.
Why is it illegal to throw out plastic bottles?
Plastic bottles have been banned from landfill disposal in the state since 2009, according to the NC DEQ — and that ban has helped create thousands of jobs and helps conserve energy and resources.
North Carolina is home to more than 60 companies that rely on recycled material to make essential products like toilet paper, shipping boxes and packaging for food, cleaning, personal hygiene and medical supplies, according to DEQ. These companies employ more than 14,000 workers with total annual sales of more than $4 billion.
What happens if you break that law?
In addition to plastic bottles, state law also bans residents from throwing aluminum cans into the garbage — but it’s unclear what happens if you break the law.
“Most of the landfill bans are governed by NC General Statute 130A-309.10, which acknowledges that the occasional disposal of small amounts of prohibited materials is likely to occur and is not deemed a violation,” Katherine Lucas, a spokesperson for the NC Department of Environmental Quality, told The Charlotte Observer over email.
Businesses found to be intentionally circumventing the statute could be fined up to $15,000 per day per violation, Lucas said.
Bottles and cans generated from places that hold alcoholic beverage licenses through the ABC Commission (like bars and restaurants) are required to recycle those materials, Lucas said, though this isn’t regulated by NCDEQ and has its own compliance requirements.
While these recyclables are important, they aren’t the only materials banned from landfill disposal. Here’s what state law says about other materials that you shouldn’t throw in the trash.
Materials banned from landfills in NC
Here’s the full list of items banned from landfills in North Carolina, according to DEQ:
Used oil
Yard trash
White goods (such as refrigerators, water heaters, washing machines and dishwashers)
Antifreeze
Aluminum cans
Scrap tires
Lead-acid batteries
Motor vehicle oil filters
Plastic bottles
Wooden pallets
Oyster shells
Computer equipment and televisions
Beverage containers from ABC permit-holders
Plus, fluorescent lights and mercury-containing thermostats are banned from disposal in construction and demolition debris landfills.
To learn how many of these materials can properly be recycled, visit deq.nc.gov and search “North Carolina Landfill Disposal Bans.”
The News & Observer’s Kimberly Cataudella Tutuska contributed to this story.
This story was originally published April 2, 2025 at 6:00 AM with the headline "It’s illegal to throw plastic bottles (& other items) in the trash in NC. See the full list."
