The proposed Cape Fear Environmental Site is a modern municipal solid waste landfill that would be designed, permitted, and operated under current state and federal environmental regulations.
This page provides additional information about the proposed location, environmental protections, permitting process, ownership, and potential community benefits. For answers to common questions, visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.
The proposed facility would be located on approximately 735 acres south of Mt. Misery Road in Brunswick County.
The property is already zoned for heavy industrial use and is located near major transportation corridors, including I-140, U.S. Highway 74, and U.S. Highway 421.
The size of the property allows for substantial buffers, screening, and environmental protections.
Modern sanitary landfills are among the most heavily regulated facilities in North Carolina.
Before construction can begin, the project must undergo extensive environmental review by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality.
Environmental protections include:
Modern landfill design differs significantly from older disposal facilities that operated decades ago. Today’s facilities are engineered systems designed to protect public health and the environment throughout operation and long after closure.
Only a small portion of a landfill is actively used for waste disposal on any given day.
Waste is placed in a controlled working area, compacted, and covered regularly in accordance with state regulations. The remainder of the site consists of buffers, stormwater controls, environmental protection systems, access roads, and areas reserved for future use.
On large sites such as this one, the active disposal area represents only a small fraction of the overall property.
If approved, the proposed Cape Fear Environmental Site would provide long-term economic benefits to the Town of Navassa and surrounding community.
Expected benefits include:
Host fee payments continue throughout the life of the facility and would be governed by agreements approved through the public review process.
Traffic impacts will be evaluated through a professional traffic study and reviewed by transportation officials.
Any roadway improvements recommended by engineers or required by the North Carolina Department of Transportation would be completed before operations begin.
Proposed operating hours are:
Unlike many industrial uses, landfill traffic and operations occur during defined operating hours.
Development of a municipal solid waste landfill requires approvals at both the local and state levels.
Local Review: The Town of Navassa must review and approve a landfill franchise agreement and a Special Use Permit before the project can move forward. Public hearings will be part of that process.
State Review: If local approvals are granted, the project must undergo extensive review by the NC Department of Environmental Quality. This review evaluates environmental protections, engineering design, groundwater monitoring plans, operational procedures, and other regulatory requirements.
Construction cannot begin unless all required permits are approved.
The property is owned by Elite Newco I, LLC, which is owned and managed by Wilmington resident Dan Wall. He founded Wall Recycling in 2006 and helped build a leading recycling and waste management company that serves commercial, industrial, municipal, and governmental clients through facilities located throughout North Carolina.
The owners are financially and legally responsible for complying with all applicable environmental regulations and maintaining the financial assurances required by state law. State regulations require long-term monitoring, maintenance, and oversight even after a landfill stops accepting waste.
To see examples of schools, homes, parks, businesses, and community facilities located near modern landfills, visit our Landfills as Neighbors page.