In order to reduce the amount of garbage entering the landfill, increase recycling and conserve natural resources, Mecklenburg County appointed a task force of business leaders to develop a mandatory source separation ordinance (SSO) for corrugated cardboard and office paper. The Ordinance was subsequently adopted by Mecklenburg County, the City of Charlotte, and the Towns of Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, Matthews, Mint Hill and Pineville. The Ordinance became effective January 1, 2002.