Lexington County Council Rejects Countywide Garbage Collection Proposal Amidst Resident Concerns

Lexington County Garbage Collection Proposal Thrown Out!

Hey there, Lexington County residents! Gather ’round because we’ve got some juicy news to share that might just affect your trash routine. At a lively meeting this Tuesday, the county council decided to toss out its much-debated plan for countywide garbage collection. That’s right—you heard it! No more mandatory curbside pickup for the time being!

The Proposal and the Public Outcry

So, what was all the fuss about? Well, the council had considered establishing a countywide collection service for the very first time. This would mean every household in the unincorporated areas of Lexington County would have to sign up for garbage collection, and let’s just say folks had a lot of opinions on this one. Just before a public hearing kicked off, a wave of residents voiced their discontent over the new costs.

Currently, those living outside city boundaries have the choice to sign up for services from private collectors. This flexibility has led to some complaints, particularly about inconsistent and less reliable service since it depends heavily on whether enough neighbors decide to opt-in. It’s a real “hit or miss” situation.

The Current Situation

Lexington County does have 11 collection sites where residents can drop off household waste. And guess what? Usage has been on the rise as more people are flocking to the area. But officials had high hopes for the new plan, which they thought could streamline the process for everyone and possibly even improve those uneven services.

Back in 2021, estimates suggested that subscribing to the proposed service would cost each household a breezy $258 annually. Comparatively, Richland County offers something similar, with an annual bill of $368 that includes recycling and yard debris removal. But here’s the kicker—about 50% of the residents in Lexington County don’t even use any collection service at all. And well, they were not thrilled at the idea of being forced into it.

Residents Weigh In

Take it from resident Louan Caron, who spoke up during the council meeting saying, “Regular trash collection might be great for a community, but if you’re in a rural area and have a half-mile long driveway, you don’t want to drag it down there.” And she makes a very good point! With wildlife and all sorts of critters around, her trash might end up scattered all over the place, not to mention the hassle of getting it back! For her, bringing her trash to a collection site once a month is a preferable option.

Another local, Joyce Mize, echoed the sentiment by stating, “I want to have a choice in how I want to spend my money.” Mize proudly takes her trash to the dump, asserting that another bill is just not on her agenda.

Council Members’ Dilemma

While residents expressed their concerns, Solid Waste Director Lee McIntyre had a different perspective, reasoning that the current patchwork of trash pickup isn’t sustainable. “If there’s only two or three on a street, you might miss people,” he said, emphasizing that an organized service would likely reduce pickup costs.

Some council members thought it wise to separate rural areas from the dense housing clusters sprouting in the county. “We need to do this in planning developments of 10 homes or more, but not the entire county,” commented Councilman Scott Whetstone.

However, Council Chair Beth Carrigg pointed out that state law currently doesn’t allow for picking and choosing specific areas for trash service. “The Legislature would need to allow overlay districts for more populous areas,” she explained. Until then, it looks like any plan would have to cover the county uniformly.

What’s Next?

So, what happens next? As it stands, residents will continue doing what they’ve been doing, whether that’s using private collectors or driving to one of the collection sites. For now, the idea of a countywide trash collection has been put back on the shelf. Only time will tell if this proposal comes back to life or if Lexington will stick with its DIY trash solution for the foreseeable future!