Waste is brought to the landfill or transfer station by vehicles that collect it from household and businesses throughout Carteret, Craven and Pamlico counties. At the transfer stations, the waste is re-loaded into large tractor-trailer trucks for transportation to the regional landfill. Transfer stations are located on NC 306 North in Grantsboro (Pamlico County) and on Hibbs Road in Newport (Carteret County).

All waste entering the landfill is weighed on the scales and directed to the proper disposal site, either solid waste, yard waste or inert debris.

For residential customers with small amounts of household waste or trash, a convenient drop-off center has been constructed. This area is paved and elevated to make disposal easy and convenient. A box is also located here for the free disposal of appliances.

Waste is compacted at the "working face' by large compacting machines to maximize the use of air space within the landfill cell. Maximum compaction means lower costs and less use of landfill space. At the end of each day, the working face is covered with dirt or another approved material.

After waste is deposited into the landfill, it begins to decompose. One of the byproducts of waste decomposition is the production of landfill gas. The predominant substance in landfill gas is methane. Methane is a greenhouse gas and contributes to global warming, so CRSWMA is required to collect and burn this gas rather than release it to the atmosphere. This combustion occurs 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. While the blue flame is not visible in the daytime, at night the flame can be seen shooting 12 to 15 feet above the flare station pictured here.

Water that passes through decomposing waste is called "leachate". To protect the groundwater, CRSWMA utilizes a very complex system of liners and water collection systems. The water collected in this system is aerated in large collection ponds and then treated in the City of New Bern's state-of-the art wastewater treatment system.

After a landfill cell is full, CRSWMA proceeds to permanently close the area. Closure includes placing additional liner materials on the outside of the cell, gas collection wells are installed and a drainage system is installed to ensure that stormwater is controlled as it comes down the side slopes.