Secure Landfill
“Providing environmentally sound, cost effective, and sensible municipal solid waste management services since 1981”
Background
New Hanover County’s Secure Landfill opened in 1981 as the first lined landfill in the state of North Carolina. Liners only became federally mandated as of the late 1990’s. The landfill facility encompasses 689 acres of which approximately 230 are natural wetlands bordering both the Northeast Cape Fear River and Fishing Creek. The landfill is permitted by the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Solid Waste Management. Wastes not accepted include liquid waste, yard waste, medical waste, hazardous waste, radioactive waste, tires, oil, batteries, and paint. Wastes permitted for acceptance include mixed construction debris (shingles, concrete, brick, building supplies, wood waste, etc.), commercial waste, and residential waste (household). The goal of the New Hanover Landfill is to protect the best interests of the County by offering a cost effective, environmentally sound and sensible municipal solid waste management system to the citizens of New Hanover County.
- Cost Effective: reducing expansion costs by extending the life of the facility through waste reduction from waste-to-energy (WASTEC), recycling, construction/demolition waste processing, and integrating new technologies
- Environmentally Sound: utilization of the highest quality liner systems to protect against potential groundwater contamination and landfill gas migration, use of best management practices and cutting edge technologies including constructed wetlands for the treatment of landfill leachate, employment of highly trained and educated employees
- Sensible: management and accountability of New Hanover County’s waste without reliance on others for proper handling and disposal, protection from environmental liability
