Lexington County Scraps Countywide Trash Collection Plan Amid Resident Pushback

Lexington County Trash Plan Hits the Roadblock: What You Need to Know

Lexington County has just thrown a wrench into its plans for a countywide garbage collection system. At a recent county council meeting, members voted to ditch the proposal that would have been a first for the area—establishing countywide service for household waste. The decision came just before a public hearing where many residents voiced their clear opposition. The main concern? People just didn’t want to pay for a service they felt was unnecessary.

A Familiar Dilemma

Currently, if you live in the unincorporated parts of Lexington County, you have the flexibility to choose from various private collectors for your trash needs. While this setup gives residents options, it has also led to complaints about uneven and unreliable service. Depending on where you live, you might find that your neighbor’s trash gets picked up on time while yours sits out for days.

The county also operates 11 collection sites that residents can use to drop off household waste. With a recent influx of new residents moving in, these sites have seen a spike in usage. That said, the proposed plan aimed to introduce an annual fee of about $258 per household to fund a new trash pickup service. For comparison, the neighboring Richland County offers a similar service for $368, including recycling and yard debris removal.

Voices of the Community

At the meeting, community members expressed their concerns. Resident Louan Caron laid it out clearly when she said, “Regular trash collection might be great for a community, but if you’re in a rural area with a half-mile long driveway, you don’t want to drag it down there.” Caron mentioned the potential issues of animals getting into the trash and the drivers not picking up debris left behind. In her opinion, it was far more convenient to take her trash to the dump every month.

Another resident, Joyce Mize, chimed in with her thoughts, stating, “I want to have a choice in how I want to spend my money.” For her, the need for extra bills to support a service she didn’t require just didn’t sit well.

The County’s Take on Sustainability

However, Solid Waste Director Lee McIntyre offered a different perspective. He stressed that the existing system, where residents opt-in for service on their own, is simply “not sustainable.” McIntyre pointed out that with only a few subscribers on certain streets, some homes might get missed during trash collection. “Drivers are looking at maps and trying to remember addresses,” he explained, emphasizing that it would be cheaper and more efficient to have a unified service.

Rural Residents vs. Urban Planning

During the discussion, some council members sought a compromise by suggesting a way to distinguish rural areas from those with more clustered developments in the county. Councilman Scott Whetstone proposed separating the two, stating, “We need to do this in planning developments of 10 homes or more, but not the entire county.” Yet, Council Chair Beth Carrigg responded that under current state laws, the county couldn’t pick and choose areas for trash service. “The Legislature would need to allow overlay districts for more populous areas,” she noted, indicating a unified curbside collection would be necessary.

What’s Next for Lexington County?

With the recent vote to drop the countywide garbage collection plan, it seems residents can continue their current trash disposal methods—whether they choose to use private collectors or take their trash to one of the county’s collection sites. However, the discussion around waste management in Lexington County may not end here. As more residents move in and the population changes, the pressure for a more organized trash pickup solution may rise again.

If you’re one of the many residents affected by this ongoing issue, it’s time to stay informed and engaged. Who knows what changes may be brewing in the future?