In most cases, there is no capital investment required by the community setting up the UCO Collection Program. The majority of vendors will provide a container at no cost, pick up the UCO at designated times and provide a payment for the UCO.
Additional staff members are not required to run a successful collection program. The UCO collection container should be placed at a staff convenience center to ensure the UCO containers are not contaminated.
There are no specific regulations for UCO collection programs; however, the convenience center should be in compliance with appropriate stormwater mandates.
The local government identifies a UCO vendor through the Recycling Markets Directory that services the specific area in need. In most cases, the vendor will supply a collection container that will be kept at a staffed convenience center. The vendor will pick up the UCO as needed and most likely will provide a payment to the local government managing the program. (click here for a link to our quick steps)
DEACS can assist in developing an outreach plan. In most cases, the best plans include signage at the UCO collection site, local government webpage, fliers, radio/television ads, inserts, newspaper articles and newsletters. For assistance in developing your outreach campaign, visit the DEACS outreach webpage or contact Jamie Ragan at jamie.ragan@ncdenr.gov or 919-707-8141.
Place UCO collection containers at staffed sites. It is recommended that containers be kept locked and site staff transfer UCO from resident containers to the large collection container. Also, proper education of staff and public is critical.
There are environmental and economic benefits to having a UCO collection program. Environmental benefits include: reduction of sanitary sewer overflows; prevention of onsite waste water system failures; reduction of solid waste leachate; and creation of opportunities for beneficial reuse. Economic benefits of a UCO collection program include: reduction of cost associated with SSO clean-up; job creation related to UCO collection; increasing volume of UCO to supply growing reuse markets; and revenue generated for local government from UCO collection payment.
