The 2012 Plan establishes the goals and recommends policies, programs, and infrastructure for

the handling of materials that would otherwise become solid waste in a manner that meets
local needs and is consistent with state solid waste management priorities. The Solid Waste
Management Act of 1989 (North Carolina General Statute 130A) requires the preparation of a
comprehensive solid waste management plan. The initial ten‐year plan was submitted on June
30, 1997. Mandatory Plan revisions are due every three (3) years thereafter. This Plan is the
fifth such update prepared in conformance with the statute. Long‐range planning is essential
for achieving a cost‐effective environmentally sound discarded materials management system.
To this end, the Plan is a publicly endorsed working document that facilitates a cooperative
management effort between participating governments, keeps control of discarded materials
with local governments, and provides a framework for budget preparation and infrastructure
planning by anticipating future needs. Direction for both short‐ term and long‐term
management of the solid waste (discarded materials) system is set by the Plan. It documents
the existing conditions of the materials handling systems, identifies opportunities to address
system needs, and makes recommendations for future policies, programs, and infrastructure to
accomplish the goals. The seven municipalities and Mecklenburg County cooperate to achieve
the goals of the adopted Plan through the development and implementation of local programs
and services, which are consistent with the Plan and state law.   While the overall planning
direction remained the same, this update presented an opportunity for the County and the
municipalities to step back and take an objective look at our system and envision the
possibilities for the future by reaching out to stakeholders in the County prior to writing the
Plan. This approach allowed us to create a very different document. In addition to meeting the
legal requirement for a solid waste plan, this Plan will serve as a comprehensive resource
document reflecting the needs and aspirational goals of Mecklenburg County and its
constituents. This Plan Update has considered the vision and goals of the communities in
Mecklenburg County; the needs of the customers of Mecklenburg County; what policies,
programs, and infrastructure Mecklenburg County can affect; the environmental and economic
impacts of materials management. The purpose of this update is to provide clear goals and
objectives for materials management for the ten‐year planning cycle, provide a path toward
implementation of those goals, and provide for flexibility in meeting those goals.