To Whom It May Concern:

In recent months, there has been a great deal of information and, in some instances, misrepresentation about solid waste management in North Carolina. Because of concerns raised, a one-year moratorium was passed by the NC Legislature in August of 2006 to allow time to study solid waste disposal issues. As a result, the proposed changes in regulations as they currently stand have the potential to unnecessarily significantly increase the cost of solid waste management services in our State. As president and CEO of Waste Industries USA, Inc., and current chairman of the National Solid Wastes Management Association, I would like to share some facts about our industry and my company.

Solid waste collection and disposal-- not the most glamorous or fun-to-talk-about topic— is our business, my life’s work, and I am proud of the vital public services we provide. For 37 years, Waste Industries has been at the forefront of solid waste management innovation and technology, providing solid waste management and recycling services to the citizens of NC. These services include collection, disposal, recycling and waste reduction. Protection and preservation of our environment and human health are key principles that have helped us focus on how to properly balance the task of waste collection, waste recycling, and disposal.

Today, our State is fortunate to have state-of-the-art landfills for disposal of solid waste in an environmentally safe and efficient manner. These modern landfills co-exist safely in our communities – next to neighborhoods, schools, businesses, and parks. It’s good to report that no significant environmental pollution has been reported at any of these modern landfills. Safe disposal of waste is important. The solid waste industry consists of hundreds of large and small service providers, each playing an instrumental role in providing solutions for the collection and disposal of the nation’s growing waste volume. It’s also important for you to know that a significant portion of the total waste generated in NC is disposed of in other states. Yes, our state is a net exporter of waste, currently exporting nine times more than we import.

At Waste Industries, we are part of the solution – not the problem. Our business is serving others – customers, co-workers, and community, and we take pride in the essential services that our productive, safe, and loyal workforce provides each day. Our company spends over $80 million annually with NC-based suppliers and subcontractors and we are part of the vital infrastructure in the communities we serve.

For nearly four decades, I’ve made it a priority to conduct business in a respectable, ethical manner. Our employees are your neighbors. We employ nearly 2,000 hard working men and women who are dedicated to solving the very difficult solid waste problems we face today.

We believe the State’s current policy for siting, construction, and operation of modern landfills is comprehensive and effective in protecting the health and safety of North Carolinians. Sustainable economic development requires the capability to adequately manage waste generated within our State’s borders, but a moratorium on permits makes an extremely difficult process even more difficult. The end result of the current moratorium is yet to be decided; however, Waste Industries opposes additional regulations, fees, and taxes that place an undue burden on our company, our customers and, ultimately, the citizens of NC.

We look forward to continuing our tradition of service that is responsive to our customers and sensitive to the environment around us, and service that is governed by sound policy that is based on our industry’s environmental record and the facts.

Thank you for letting me share my insight and experience with you.

Respectfully submitted,

Jim W. Perry, President and CEO
Waste Industries USA, Inc.

Waste Industries USA, Inc. is a 37-year old, vertically integrated solid waste services company that provides collection, transfer, disposal and recycling services to commercial, industrial, and residential customer locations in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Mississippi and Georgia. For additional Company information, visit www.wasteindustries.com.

Media contact: Megan E. Henderson, 919.389.2615, megan@lookingglassnc.com