Environmental injustice, public health and solid waste facilities - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Environmental injustice, public health and solid waste facilities in North Carolina Jennifer M. Norton University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Public Health Department of Epidemiology October 20, 2006 Outline What is a
What is a solid waste facility? How can solid waste facilities affect public health? Are people of color and poor communities in North
Aerial Photo: Orange County Solid Waste Landfill Complex Photo from TerraFly.com
Tires Tire Landfill TIRELF Pulp paper sludge, ash from power generation Industrial Solid Waste Landfill INDUS Garbage Waste Transfer Station TRANSFER Drywall, concrete, electrical fixtures Construction & Demolition Debris Landfill CDLF Garbage, sludge Municipal Solid Waste Landfill MSWLF
Photo: Unlined Municipal Solid Waste Landfill (closed) Orange County, NC Photo courtesy of Ginger Thompson Guidry, 2004
Water
Groundwater contamination from leachate (‘garbage-juice’)
Air
Landfill gases
Noise Traffic safety Community resources
Photo: Scale House at Orange County Solid Waste Landfill Photo courtesy of Ginger Thompson Guidry, 2004
Photo: Lined Municipal Solid Waste Landfill (open) Orange County, NC
United States Census Bureau
Census block groups were used to define
North Carolina Division of Waste Management
Reviewed facility records to obtain information:
Permit dates Location
Block group
Percent people of color population Median house value (community economic wealth) Other factors related to solid waste facilities and
Population density (persons per square mile) Region of the state
Identified communities with and without solid
Photo: Construction & Demolition Debris Landfill Orange County, NC
The odds of a solid waste facility:
2.1 times higher in less-white communities
1.4 times higher in less-wealthy communities
The rate of newly permitted solid waste facilities
2.2 times greater in less white communities compared
The rate of newly permitted privately owned or
2.4 times greater in less white communities compared
Photo: Leachate collection pond at Orange County Landfill Photo courtesy of Ginger Thompson Guidry, 2004
The results of this statewide analysis validate
Editorial cartoon source: Dwane Powell, Raleigh News & Observer, October 26, 2005
Solid waste production is a problem
Lack of incentives to reduce waste may lead to
Communities can take action to raise
Operation status on December 31, 2003 Source: Data compiled from records maintained by the NC Division of Waste Management
United States Census Bureau
Census block groups were used
North Carolina Division of
Reviewed facility records to