WHITE GOODS White goods are managed in a comprehensive program which is an important part of efforts to protect stratospheric ozone. The White Goods Management Program requires proper removal and management of chlorofluorocarbon refrigerants (CFCs) from discarded appliances. Failure to remove CFCs from appliances being disposed is a violation of state law (G.S. 130A-309.84) and subject to severe penalties. Discarded white goods have significant value as scrap metal and have been recovered for years through existing scrap yard dealers and metal recoverers. The need to manage CFC presents added cost and difficulty in recycling white goods, such as refrigerators and freezers which contain CFCs. CFCs are being recovered by working with contractors, local metal dealers, and through local government programs. An advance disposal tax was imposed on the sale of white goods effective January 1, 1994. The tax is $10.00 for white goods that contain CFCs and $5.00 for white goods that do not contain CFCs. Seventy-five percent of the tax revenues are distributed directly to the counties on a per capita basis to provide for white goods management and to provide for freon removal. County landfills are not allowed to charge fees for white goods disposal. The tax and disposal fee ban will be discontinued in June 1998. This funding is enabling counties to implement comprehensive white goods and metal recycling programs. The funds are crucial for developing an infrastructure for proper CFCs removal, as well as for recycling the metal content. Counties are using the funds to purchase CFCs removal equipment, train personnel in CFCs removal, and to construct concrete pads and overhead shelters in areas for processing white goods. Other direct expenses such as labor and transportation are paid from this fund. Many counties are also using the funds to clean up illegal dump sites of discarded white goods. White Goods Management Account The white goods management account is a special fund set up to assist counties that incur costs which exceed their normal share of the disposal tax revenue. The account receives 20 percent of the revenue form the white goods disposal tax. Grants totalling $166,203.55 were distributed to 16 counties for losses incurred during January - June 1994. The Solid Waste Section provides assistance by visiting county collection sites, reviewing the white goods management program, and making suggestions for improvement. Eligibility for grants is based on several factors, including severity of white goods disposal problems and financial ability of the county to manage white goods. In FY 1993-94, a total of 34,126 tons of white goods was collected by local governments. A significant number of discarded white goods were taken directly to metal dealers by retailers and individuals. A comprehensive report on white goods management is submitted annually in October to the Environmental Review Commission. SCRAP TIRES Tires present complex disposal problems and create unique hazards to the environment and public health. In 1989, a 1 percent scrap tire disposal tax was imposed on the sale of new tires and a scrap tire program was required in each county. In October 1993, the tax was increased to 2 percent and counties were prohibited from charging disposal fees for scrap tires which were generated in North Carolina. The increased tax revenues were also used to clean up nuisance tire sites. Scrap Tire Disposal Account Grants The Scrap Tire Disposal Account was created as a special fund which receives 27 percent of revenues from the two percent tax on the sale of new tires less than 20 inches in diameter. Twenty-five percent of funds in this account are used for grants to counties that did not receive sufficient revenues to operate their scrap tire management programs. The other 75 percent of the fund is used for nuisance tire site cleanups. Twenty-five percent of the funds in the Scrap Tire Disposal Account is used for grants to counties that did not receive sufficient funds to operate their scrap tire management program. These grants are available to reimburse losses incurred by counties during the six-month period preceding the application. Grants totalling $216,638.15 were awarded to 23 counties to assist with losses incurred during October 1993 - March 1994. Grants totalling $281,455.01 were awarded to 34 counties to reimburse losses incurred during April - September 1994. A total of $137,474.39 (nearly 25 percent of the February 15 distribution) is currently available for these grants and will be combined with the May 1995 allocation and awarded in July 1995. The ability to make grants to counties which incur deficits is crucial since some counties have unique difficulties in tire disposal. Three examples of special circumstances and situations are described below: Geography Shipping distance to tire recyclers is a key factor in cost. Counties in the extreme east and west typically incur higher costs. Presence of specialty tire dealers Pasquotank and Alamance counties are examples of counties that host tire dealers who specialize in large equipment tires, and provide service to several adjacent counties. These companies replace tires on farm tractors and heavy equipment in the field and transport the old tires back to their facilities. Providing disposal services for these tires created deficits in the tire programs of these counties. Presence of special industries Washington County has a large logging industry and receives a big volume of large equipment and truck tires from about 12 logging companies. Such tires are expensive to dispose, and the county also incurs high hauling costs since it is a long distance from facilities that can dispose of such tires. Perquimans county is host to the Division 1 NC Department of Transportation shop which disposes equipment tires. The county reported that the volume of tires from this source increased considerably when free disposal was required. For a more detailed presentation of the status of North Carolina's scrap tire management, please request the Solid Waste Section send a copy of the Scrap Tire Management Report dated April 1, 1995.