Greer's trash is a hot commodity for enterprising unauthorized vendors.
Skipper Burns, Director of Public Services, presented his annual report to City Council Tuesday and the numbers just didn’t add up, comparatively to years past.
The tonnage of trash processed through the City of Greer recycling center is down more than double in paper and cardboard and noticeably in aluminum.
City of Greer Recycle Center
|
|
2010-2011 |
2011-2012 |
2012-2013 |
|
Paper |
151.23 tons |
133.69 tons |
60.58 tons |
|
Aluminum |
1.29 tons |
1.26 tons |
.925 tons |
|
Plastic |
30.46 tons |
22.76 tons |
26.92 tons |
|
Cardboard |
145.09 tons |
177.7 tons |
68.08 tons |
|
Tires |
1,652 |
472 |
290 |
Burns told Council he couldn’t explain the discrepancy but City Administrator Ed Driggers gave his take on the issue.
“The correlation is not making a lot of sense. Maybe past reports are not being recorded or more people are recycling, but the numbers don’t show it,” Driggers said. “We have observed vendors picking up before our vendors get there. There is a revenue stream.”
Burns said the aluminum tonnage decline can be explained by the vendor collecting all metals and sorting them at its site. “The metal numbers are changing by the way the vendor is collecting metal,” Burns said. “They say they’re doing better by taking all the metals and comingling them before separating.”
Council was enlightened to learn that light bulbs are no longer accepted at landfills. “I was shocked the first time I saw light bulbs come show up on Amnesty Day,” Burns said. Government warnings claim chemicals contained in the bulbs are considered dangerous and must be recycled to prevent them from contaminating the ground.
Council took action on two items.
• Council approved a second and final reading to change the zoning classification of property owned by James Campbell at 395 Old Woodruff Road from C-2 (commercial) to R-12 (residential, single family.)
• And councilman Wrley Bettis called for a public forum to allow residents to voice their views for a rezoning request for property owned by the Greer Baptist Association at 309 W. Poinsett Street from RM-1 (residential, multi-family) to C-2 (commercial). Bettis said residents on both sides of the issue have notified him of their request. Council approved 7-0 with the forum tentatively scheduled Oct. 22.
Council went into executive session to discuss one economic development contract, a personnel evaluation and legal information concerning the Greenville County Recreation Department.
Greer is among four cities – with Greenville, Mauldin and Simpsonville – recently added under the Greenville County recreation department. That means residents can expect to pay an additional $27.60 in taxes based on a $150,000 house. The 4.6 mills increase will be reflected in tax notices later this month. Greer previously was allowed to opt out of the now defunct Greenville County Recreation District but state legislation and subsequent county proclamation mandated Greer’s inclusion.