BY DAN HILDEBRAN
Union County Commissioners discussed the growing problem of limited storage space at the county’s Worthington Springs collection and recycling center, creating backups and unavailability on the weekends, particularly on Sundays.
Commissioner Melissa McNeal broached the topic by recounting a recent experience her husband had attempting to drop off trash at the Worthington Springs collection center.
“My husband went to take our trash off yesterday on a Sunday,” she explained. “That’s what he does. And Worthington Springs was full, which is not uncommon. So, he went to Providence, and they were almost full. And so, it’s clear, I know at least on our side of the county that we’ve outgrown our collection sites, and I know that we are losing money whenever it comes to our trash.”
McNeal added that when southwestern Union County residents drive to a collection site and discover it full, county employees bear the brunt of the complaints.
Solid Waste Director Lamar Griffis explained that the Worthington Springs collection site is hemmed in by State Road 121, two city streets, a fire station, and a ball field.
“Now we have extra room in Providence,” added Griffis, “but that’s a pretty good drive for those folks (in Worthington Springs). “And like I said, Worthington Springs, it literally was just the size of it. I can’t expand anywhere.”
Griffis added that his drivers empty the 20 or 40-yard cans during the weekdays, so trash accumulates at the collection sites on the weekends, when many residents take their trash out. He said that by Sunday afternoon, the sites are reaching their capacities.
“On Friday, Worthington Springs is completely empty,” he told commissioners. “But you got all day Saturday, four hours on Sunday, and they just bring in a ton of stuff.”
Commissioner Mac Johns suggested that the best solution is an additional collection site in the southwestern part of the county.
“It’s Worthington and Providence because the population is growing so fast up there,” he said.
County Coordinator Jimmy Williams told commissioners he had already begun to analyze the costs of an additional collection site. He then proposed another solution that now only larger counties, like Columbia and Clay, deploy: curbside pickup.
“I think there’s a way we can figure out how to get our household garbage picked up at the end of your driveway,” he said. “I really think that that’s possible in this county.”
Williams added that he wanted to conduct an analysis of possible curbside pickup and discuss it with potential vendors.
The county coordinator said he hoped to discuss his idea with commissioners during an annual conference next month.
