Litter Getters are Here: County Cleanup Continues
By Cathy Patton
“We’re not done yet,” says Litter Control Officer Wendell Hatfield.
“And we’re going to stay with it until the entire county is cleaned up,” added SWA Office Manager Trish Blevins. “We have our orders from the Solid Waste Board. When it comes to litter, It’s zero tolerance from now on.”
Blevins reports that the three day county clean up was a good beginning. April 10th, 155 vehicles hauled 57 1/2 tons of trash to the Copper Ridge Landfill in Capels. April 11th, 252 vehicles dumped 108 tons, and in just four hours on April 12th, 190 vehicles deposited 62 tons of trash at the landfill.
Add that to the 77 tons of trash that was deposited at the landfill on the last free dump day March 28th and the tonnage totals 304.5 tons.
“Some of the vehicles made repeat trips, and almost everyone who dumped thanked us for what the Commission and Solid Waste Board are doing to clean up the county,” Blevins said.
While the SWA is pushing to eradicate litter, the County Commission’s Clean it/Green it Program is in full swing.
“We’ve torn down around 20 dilapidated houses so far,” Commissioner Carl Urps said. “There are about 5000 houses that need to be removed. The work is slow, but we’ll eventually get there.”
Urps said anyone who wants a dilapidated structure razed, must obtain a special form from the Commission giving permission for the structure to be removed. The owner keeps the property and the county does the work.
The process is costly and time consuming, Urps said.
“We didn’t get this way over night, and it’s going to take a while to raze all the old houses,” he said. “We ask for the public’s patience as the clean it/Green it Program continues.”
With both the County Commission and the SWA working to do their part, Blevins said major strides are being made in the clean up effort.
The litter getters have spent several days in McDowell County, she noted, adding that she will provide more details of their activities later. For now, though, she reminds the public to get involved in the clean sweep that is currently underway.
“We announced that the litter getters were coming this time, but it won’t be announced when they return,” she said. “They will be coming and going so the public needs to keep that in mind. We encourage people not to waste the effort they’ve already made. They may have cleaned up a mess, but if they make another one, they will get a ticket.”
Hatfield reminds the public that commercial garbage haulers are mandated by law to accept 10 tires per household per year.
“Ten is the limit, but the hauler must take them,” he said. “The hauler should be contacted in advance. They (commercial haulers) are also mandated to take some bulky items, but call your hauler for instructions.”
If a hauler refuses to pick up the tires or the bulky items, the Public Service Commission should be contacted. The phone number is 800-544-5113.
For those who require a definition of litter, Hatfield relates that solid waste/litter includes, but is not limited to: newspapers, cans, bottles, garbage, trash, discarded household furniture, appliances, tires, animal carcasses, cigarette and cigar butts, shingles, construction and demolition waste and many other materials.
Hatfield said that state law requires that local residents subscribe to and use a solid waste collection service or have proof that their waste is being disposed of at a legal landfill. When garbage is hauled to a landfill, the landfill will provide a receipt, Hatfield said.
Burning garbage is illegal, Hatfield said, providing information that notes: “Certain kinds of open burning is allowed if it doesn’t create a nuisance and if it is not prohibited by local ordinances.
“These types of fires are allowed: Vegetation, (leaves, branches and other vegetative matter (grown on the premises of a home or farm) campfires and outdoor barbeques, vegetation from land clearing operations when a practical alternative disposal method is not possible. Pitburners should be used whenever practical and may be required in non-residential areas…”
MATERIALS THAT ARE ILLEGAL TO OPEN BURN INCLUDE: Household trash, asphalt, rubber or plastic, asbestos-containing materials, including building materials; insulation from copper wire, waste paints, waste oil or solvents.
For more specific information, Hatfield and Blevins may be contacted at the SWA at 436-6608.
The next free dump day at the Copper Ridge Landfill is April 25, Hatfield said.
“The landfill will only accept household garbage on free dump day,” Hatfield explained. “It won’t take some of the items that were accepted during the three-day cleanup.”
For specific instructions on what is accepted at the Copper Ridge Landfill, phone the landfill 436-6174.
For information on the county cleanup, phone the Solid Waste Authority at 436-6608.
