His career in state government began in 1976 with field assignments. In 1989 he was named director of the Division of Waste Management. During his tenure, the division handled many complex and controversial issues dealing with solid and hazardous waste.

 Meyer implemented the state’s transition to lined landfills and helped create the states’ white good and tire recycling programs. He also oversaw the construction and, more recently, detoxification efforts at the PCB landfill in Warren County. In 1980, he initiated the state’s hazardous waste program and worked closely with the General Assembly to create laws more stringent than those at the federal level. As a result, one proposed hazardous treatment plant, GSX, and one incinerator, Caldwell Systems, were closed. He also provided state leadership for the state’s National Priorities Listing program. 

Meyer has always pursued innovative approaches to funding so long as they met his two main criteria, “no to low cost to the state and good environmental protection for the community.” To that end, he initiated the privatization of the states inactive hazardous sites program, began the state’s successful Brownfields program and recently partnered with industry in a $425,000 deal to provide speedier state oversight to clean up 27 manufactured gas plants sites.

 DENR’s Secretary Ross describes Bill as an effective leader. 

“His trademark approach to solving the problems confronting his agency has been to use a combination of common sense, sound science, a willingness to take a rational risk, an open-door policy, and a sense of humor. Bill has served the people of our state long and well.” After retiring from the state, Meyer will continue to work three days a week in the waste management field. He describes his new assignment as, “doing what I have tried to do for 30 years - clean things up but from a private perspective.” His first project for national environmental firm Arcadis, Geraghty & Miller is directing an innovative cleanup at a southeastern Department of Defense facility. 

Bill has been married to Elizabeth Foster Meyer of Wilkes County for 30 years. They will continue to make their home in the Panther Branch community but plan to spend more time at his farm in Cameron, North Carolina. Meyer also hopes to devote more time on his hobby, restoring pre-1973 Chevy Blazers. “I’ve got three right now and I plan to get about four more.”