The US state of North Carolina has introduced a new recycling law, forbidding the disposal of plastic bottles on landfills from 1 October 2009 onwards. The law was passed in 2005 but only implemented now. It is hoped that the new law will boost North Carolina’s recycling industry.

No fines will be levied on individuals who fail to recycle each bottle. Instead, North Carolina is focusing on efforts to increase public awareness of the law. Should financial penalties be imposed at all, they will affect only commercial vehicles trying to offload large amounts of plastics on landfills. At present, only about one in five plastic bottles is recycled in North Carolina, according to the state’s Department of Environment and Natural Resources.