and his use of recycling center

Staff Writer

Elliott Qualls and a new group of customers from his trash hauling business joined others who have in the past come before county council and spoken on his behalf.

The disposal of household waste and how the county views those who transport for citizens of Fairfield county has been an issue that Qualls and his customers have presented several times in the public comment section of the Fairfield County Council meetings.

According to Qualls, he has attempted to use several county recycling centers but in four cases they “turned me around” he said.

Private companies like those run by Qualls charge a fee to haul trash for citizens who do not have the means, ability, or desire to transport their own refuse.

In the case of private haulers like Qualls, they are not allowed to use the recycling center which is designed for individual residents. Commercial haulers must use the Transfer Station that is located just off US Hwy 321 Bypass North near the Fairfield Elementary School.

The Transfer Station is used for commercial purposes by those such as building contractors, landscapers, dumpster companies, industrial waste haulers, residential refuse haulers, etc. who pay to dispose of materials such as construction site demolition materials, large quantities of natural waste, household garbage and more. Citizens can also pay to dump there.

According to Fairfield County Deputy Administrator Davis Anderson, the Transfer Station charges $50.24 per ton to dump and trucks are weighed to determine the amount charged.

Of 144 open accounts at the Transfer Station, 75 of them are active accounts and pay to dump. On a regular basis 30-40 companies pay for dumping at the Station.

According to Anderson, Qualls probably pays around $600 per month to the Transfer Station.

Citizens who spoke to the council on Qualls’ behalf state that the Transfer Station charge was an unfair burden on this small businessman and he should be allowed to dump at the recycling center.

Qualls says he has approximately 225 customers and that he tries to keep his price low because many are elderly.

Those who spoke to council also added that they feel they have paid their taxes to use the recycling center and believe it is “double taxation” if Qualls must pay again for the dumping of his trucks which contain their trash.

According to Anderson, Fairfield County has a different view of the issue,

In Fairfield County, any county resident can dump their trash at the recycling center. This includes household waste, yard debris, miscellaneous recyclables, etc.

Fairfield County taxes pay for this system, however, the $1.4 million budgeted for recycling in Fairfield County’s budget does not include the added cost of picking up the trash for county residents.

Residents who live inside the incorporated areas of Winnsboro and Ridgeway have separate arrangements with those municipal governments while those in the rural areas are on their own to get their trash to the recycling center.

The Transfer Station has taken in $352,000 in fees according to Anderson. This helps to offset the expenses that taxpayers shoulder for the disposal of trash.

Anderson also points out that if there were not limits on who could dump at the Fairfield County Recycling Center, then business people from surrounding counties would bring their trash to Fairfield County and the citizens would be paying the bill to deal with trash that could be from other counties.

Counties throughout the state of South Carolina deal with their waste in a variety of ways.

Anderson sent out questionnaires to all the counties in the state of SC to ask how they dealt with this issue.

The results showed that some counties charge commercial hauler less and some charge more than Fairfield county.

All counties that replied to Anderson had their own approach such as Berkeley Country which charges a yearly user fee for their recycling center. This $75 fee is added to the tax notice. The fee is $50 for anything going over the commercial scales.

Allendale County does not allow contractors to dump, they have to take their waste to Barnwell County and pay them to dump.

Barnwell County charges $26.50 per ton for Construction and Demolition (C & D) waste and $38.50 per ton for Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), what we might call regular garbage and trash.

Chester County charges $48 per ton for C & D and MSW.

On the higher side of cost, Charleston County’s landfill manager Scott Ribes reports that their MSW will cost haulers $66 per ton. C & D is $30 per ton.

Laurens County only takes limbs and tires in their landfill at $26 per ton. MSW is sent to a private company in Clinton and they charge $47.38 per ton plus $7.50 Environmental Charge plus fuel charge which amounts to approximately $57.50 per ton.

Some Fairfield County recycling centers are under renovation. When complete, Anderson said the dumping process will be easier for individual residents using those facilities.

Anderson said he understands there are other viewpoints on the issue of trash and private haulers like Qualls, but Fairfield County has regulations dealing with what is best for all concerned.