In the article, “County looking for help with trash troubles” [The Citizen, Aug. 11], it was reported that Fayette County is encountering greater and greater problems in the disposal of solid waste. Along with the discussion of where to stash our trash for perpetuity, waste reduction must become an equally important factor. Before any attempt is made to find a suitable location for, and subsequent creation of, a new landfill, Fayette County residents need to know that there are serious pollution problems at the First Manassas Mile landfill, as there are at many landfills. Then, they can decide intelligently whether they want an additional landfill in their backyard.

Fayette County residents have it easy when it comes to solid household waste disposal. Their cans go to the curbside once or twice a week, the trash is collected and then it is out of sight, out of mind, all for a nominal fee. Few residents consider what happens to the trash after it leaves their premises.

The trash hauling companies take it to the Fayette County Transfer Station where Southern States Environmental Services assumes responsibility for collecting the trash and transporting it to a landfill in Taylor County. Southern States Environmental Services is under contract with Fayette County for this service. It pays Fayette County $3 per ton of trash.

Southern States Environmental Services has hauled 47,000 tons of trash, or an average of 7,100 tons a month, so far this year to Taylor County.

What happens when Taylor County has had enough? (Ironically, the more trash that is hauled, the more money Fayette County makes; some $141,000 so far this year. That money is deposited into an “Enterprise Fund” which is only to be used for solid waste issues. It is currently being used to help mitigate some of the pollution problems at the now-closed First Manassas Landfill.)

Community recycling efforts have been minimal. Curbside recycling is provided county-wide but the voluntary participation is low. In my subdivision of 45 homes, the recycling rate is about 30 percent. County wide the recycling rate is only 20 percent! What could be so difficult or time consuming about collecting your recyclables in a bin and putting them curbside once a week? Even more frustrating is the little-known fact that much of what we believe is being recycled in fact ends up in the landfill, despite our efforts.

If people were required to pay for their trash by the pound, I believe we would see a great reduction in solid household waste. This practice has been legally mandated in numerous communities across the country as one remedy for the quantity of solid household waste.

We are a throwaway culture. The average American generates four pounds of trash a day! Our trash is collected and we don't consider what becomes of it.

In our household of four, we have reduced our household solid waste output to between two and three kitchen-size garbage bags per week. All that can be recycled, including cardboard and magazines, is recycled; yard waste and non-animal kitchen scraps are composted; and Christmas trees and brush are chipped into mulch at the Rockaway recycling center. We also reuse paper grocery bags until they rip or disintegrate, much to the amusement of the grocery clerks.

The Fayette County Cooperative Extension Service is an excellent resource for composting information as well as a comprehensive listing of recycling sites for just about everything, beyond what we ordinarily think of as being recyclable. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle should become a commonplace mantra in every household, not just a popular slogan.

Pamela Martin

Peachtree City

[Editor's note: Pamela Martin compiled a survey under the auspices of the Fayette County Extension Service and Fayette Clean and Beautiful. The survey asked about composting and solid waste disposal habits of Fayette County residents.]

Back to Opinion Page | Back to the top of the page