RALEIGH –  As Hurricane Isabel makes landfall in North Carolina, the N.C. Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance (DPPEA) stands ready to provide technical assistance to local governments for the diversion of potential disaster debris from disposal to more beneficial uses.

DPPEA, a non-regulatory agency, will work in conjunction with the Division of Waste Management to aid communities in finding alternatives to debris disposal, such as boiler fuel markets for wood waste and recycling. Many of these potential alternatives are listed in DPPEA’s online Recycling Markets Directory, which contains fully searchable lists of services and markets for recyclable materials, including disaster debris. For help in specific situations DPPEA staff members can be reached at (800) 763-0136.

The agency offers the following advice:

• Vegetative materials, such as trees, stumps, brush and leaf and yard waste, make up the largest portion of the debris produced during tornadoes, hurricanes and other natural disasters. Vegetative debris can be collected, stockpiled and processed to the specifications of a mulch or boiler fuel product. Although some local governments have purchased wood-processing equipment, others find it more cost effective to contract out the services. To find out more about contract grinding, please visit DPPEA’s Hurricane Preparedness site at  and click on “Information on Contract Grinding of Vegetative Debris” for an up-to-date fact sheet on the benefits of contract grinding and pre-contract considerations.
• Large amounts of aggregate debris, such as asphalt pavement and concrete, may result from the destruction of roadways during disasters. These materials can be collected, stockpiled and processed to the specifications for road base aggregate or solid fill material. 
• Material reuse centers, such as Habitat for Humanity in Raleigh, accept used building materials such as lumber, windows, doors and appliances. Source-separated, clean, quality items may be salvaged this way.

DENR's Division of Waste Management is providing local governments with technical assistance for siting and permitting temporary disaster debris staging/storage areas. 

For assistance or more information, contact Jim Hickman, waste reduction specialist, at (919) 715-6528.

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