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Assembly passes new recycling law |
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Thursday, 24 January 2008 |
by LAUREN LAWSON
News Reporter
Restaurants across the High Country that hold certain Alcohol Beverage Commission permits are required to recycle beverage containers sold and consumed on the premises, as effected January 2008.
The law originally passed in 2005 by the North Carolina General Assembly required ABC permit holders to separate, store and provide collection for recycling of beverage containers sold on the premises.
According to the initial N.C House bill, businesses that failed to fulfill these recycling requirements
would have their ABC permits revoked.
However, the law was recently re-written to state that violators could receive both a fine and
suspension, not revocation, of their ABC permit.
 The recycling bin outside Boone Saloon is filled now that restaurants with certain ABC permits in North Carolina must recycle. Photo by Anna Donlan
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According to a public relations representative at Gov. Mike Easley’s office, the recycling requirements
were not previously heavily enforced, but will be now.
Restaurants that do not sell alcoholic beverages are not affected by the re-written law.
Local restaurants will follow in the footsteps of two Boone area eateries recognized by the North
Carolina Department of Environmental and Natural Resources as examples of responsible recycling.
One of the restaurants recognized by NCDENR’s bar and restaurant recycling case study was Pepper’s
Restaurant, which has been recycling since 1988, said Jenn Pillow, front house manager and
Appalachian State University graduate.
According to NCDENR’s study, Jack Pepper took the recycling himself before the Town of Boone
began its recycling program.
“Pepper’s used to drive the recycling in a pick-up truck. Now GDS comes and picks it up once a week,”
Pillow said.
Pillow said Pepper’s recycles glass bottles, plastic, aluminum cans, and newspapers.
GDS Recycling provides services to many businesses and residential areas for recycling pick-up.
GDS administrative assistant Angie Farthing said they separate, clean, and bale the materials before
shipping them to various mills.
“We offer different programs for different businesses, and billing is done on a customer to customer
basis,” Farthing said. “Some businesses even receive a rebate depending on the material quantity
recycled.”
With the new law in effect, businesses across the state will be required to train employees, create
storage space for recyclables and bins, as well as find a commercial collection service, such as GDS,
for regular collection.
“I think this law is definitely a good thing…I am only skeptical about what happens at the recycling end.
I have heard that there is not enough room, so what happens to the rest?” Pillow said.
However, Pepper’s will continue to recycle regardless.
“We’ll still do our part…It is important and it also creates awareness for employees,” she said.
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