Lexington County Rejects Countywide Trash Collection Plan Amidst Community Backlash

Lexington County Trash Collection Proposal Goes in the Bin

In a surprising twist at the recent county council meeting, the residents of Lexington County can breathe a sigh of relief as the proposal for countywide garbage collection was tossed aside—much like unwanted waste! The idea, which would have introduced a structured household waste collection system for the first time, was met with overwhelming resistance from the community. As the council took its vote just before a scheduled public hearing, it became clear that many locals were less than thrilled at the prospect of having to pay for a service they didn’t want to use.

The Current Scenario

Currently, folks living in the unincorporated areas of Lexington County have the flexibility to sign up for trash collection services from private companies. However, this setup has led to a fair share of complaints regarding uneven or unreliable service. You can imagine the frustration when some neighborhoods enjoy regular pickups while others are left scrapping for their trash—literally! The county itself does manage 11 collection sites for household waste, serving as a temporary fix, but they’ve seen a noticeable spike in usage recently as more residents have flocked to the area.

What Was on the Table?

At the heart of the proposal was the plan to charge households an annual fee to cover the trash pickup costs, estimated by officials at around $258 per household. That’s a hefty amount for some, especially when you consider that nearly half of current county residents aren’t even subscribed to any collection service. For perspective, neighboring Richland County offers a similar pickup service that includes recycling and yard waste removal for about $368. But many residents are finding it hard to swallow the idea of an additional bill for a service they aren’t currently using.

Voices from the Community

Public sentiment was palpable during the meeting. Local resident Louan Caron voiced her concerns, stating that regular collection might be beneficial for urban communities, but for those residing in rural areas with long driveways, the idea felt more like a burden. “Imagine dragging your trash down a half-mile driveway,” she said. “And let’s not even start talking about animals knocking over the bins!”

Another concerned citizen, Joyce Mize, weighed in with, “I want to have a choice in how I want to spend my money. I take my trash to the dump myself, and I don’t need extra bills coming my way!”

County Council’s Challenge

Despite the clear discontent among the residents, the council discussed the implications of continuing with a piecemeal trash system. Solid Waste Director Lee McIntyre highlighted that the current method isn’t sustainable. “If there are just a few houses on a street, you might miss people,” he reasoned. Drivers aiming for efficiency can often overlook homes as they plot their routes. Hence, providing a unified service could lead to better management overall.

A few council members expressed interest in finding a middle ground to exclude rural areas from mandatory collection, especially those with low-density housing. “We need to do this in planning developments of 10 homes or more, but not the entire county,” remarked Councilman Scott Whetstone.

The Reality of State Law

However, council chair Beth Carrigg brought a dose of reality to the conversation, mentioning that current state law poses significant hurdles. “The Legislature would need to allow overlay districts for more populous areas,” she stated, noting that otherwise, it would have to be a unified curbside service across the board.

So, for now, Lexington County will continue with its patchwork approach to waste management, and many residents will keep their trash routines without the burden of mandatory fees. The question now is—will they truly be able to keep it clean until a better option comes along? Only time will tell!