Serving Barnwell County and it's neighbors since 1852
One million dollars was budgeted for a pilot program to pick up roadside trash in District 7. Barnwell County was included. Contractors picked up almost twenty tons of trash, covering 360 miles of county roads, at a cost of ninety thousand dollars. The program was successful and the legislature budgeted $8 million to pick up trash on all secondary roads in the state.
Ted and Patti Carter live on Reynolds Road a few miles from the landfill. They are constantly picking up trash that falls off commercial trash trucks, pickups and trailers that are not covered or secured.
A truck load of trash was dumped on land owned by Cindy Flowers. Law enforcement investigated, found a name in the trash and called the offender. The officer was told the trash had been taken to the land fill, it was closed, so he threw the trash by the road.
Joey King, Maintenance, DOT Engineer, meets with employees (from left) Robert Sanders, Dustin Fail, and Ashton Walker for daily assignments. “I pick up litter, my crew picks up litter and it’s discouraging that in no time, it’s right back again.”
Michael Kinard, DOT employee, removes a pallet that had fallen from an unsecured and uncovered vehicle on Hwy 3.
What is the mind-set of a driver who, having finished a meal of fast food, opens the vehicle window and throws out drink cups, empty cartons, styrofoam containers and paper bags?
“They just don’t care,” comments a resident who picks up litter each day.
A driver drinking a beer knows an open container is against the law, along with driving under the influence, chucks the beer can on the road, to avoid being arrested, but trash discarded by drivers does not create the majority of litter on county roads. It comes from commercial trash transports, pickups and trailers going to the landfill and recycling centers that are not secured or covered.
Ted and Patti Carter live on Reynolds Road, a few miles from the Barnwell County Landfill. Their property is beautiful complete with rolling green pasture, manicured yard and lovely home. To maintain that appearance, the Carters pick up litter along the road, once every week.
“What’s most aggravating is pickups pulling trailers going to the Barnwell County Landfill loaded with construction debris and yard waste that isn’t secured and ends up on the side of the road as litter. Simple tie downs or tarps would eliminate a lot of the problems.”
“Another problem is nails, screws and other construction debris on the road. It causes flat tires on our vehicles. This happens often,” explains Patti.
“There needs to be a change in attitudes,” comments Ted. “There are rules regarding covered trailers and vehicles that could be enforced, for things to change. I have a friend who lives in Aiken. He said if a truck pulls into their landfill and is not covered, the driver is told to turn around and leave. Why can’t that happen in the Banwell landfill?”
Cindy Flowers, who lives on Ashleigh Road, a few yards off Reynolds Road, relates her litter experience. “We were out of town and my mother, Grace Dyches, saw what looked like a truck load of trash dumped on our land and called dispatch.”
Barnwell County Sheriff Steve Griffith and Deputy Darren Towne investigated and found a name in the trash. The offender was called, who told the officer he went to the landfill, and since it was closed, he dumped the load. He was ordered to remove the trash.
“This kind of dumping is often reported to my office, a deputy investigates and if a name is found, that person is called. We cannot ticket anyone, even if we find a name in discarded trash. The offender can say they did not leave the bag of trash. When we do find a name, he or she is advised they have a timeline to pick up the trash, or be ticketed. We do have available cameras; we will loan to county residents and install on high litter sites,” said Sheriff Griffith.
Barnwell County Litter Control Officer is deputy Darlene Sanders (803-671-1682 or 803-300-2815).
What is the law?
A county ordinance written in 2005 states: "It is unlawful for any vehicle to transport loose material by truck, trailer, or other vehicles unless covered and secured in such manner as to prevent litter on private or public property." This is identical to S.C. litter laws. According to that ordinance, only a Barnwell County deputy may enforce this ordinance. This was amended in 2020 to include the Barnwell County Landfill Supervisor, who now has the ability to issue a ticket to offenders. County recycling centers depend on employees to inform the public of the ordinance, but have no power to enforce.
If these ordinances are in place, why are they not enforced even at the landfill?
Jerry Creech, county council chairman, explained the landfill is shorthanded and employees do not have the time to check loads and enforce the ordinance. “I think the inmates in the county jail should pick up litter. They are just sitting in jail watching TV. Maybe picking up trash would keep them from committing a crime later,” said Creech.
John Hiers, like his neighbor, has been picking up litter on Reynolds Road.
“For decades, South Carolina has been battling the war against litter with the Palmetto Pride ad campaign. Palmetto Pride TV ads are a waste of time and money. It’s not working. What needs to happen is people who trash our roads be ticketed, fined and names published in the paper and then it will stop,” Hiers said.
Who pays?
“I pick up litter, my crew picks up litter and it is discouraging. Then in no time, it’s right back,” said Resident Maintenance Engineer Joey King with S.C. Department of Transportation in Barnwell. “My crew told me while removing litter, a pickup drove by, opened the driver side window, showed the men a drink can and then tossed it on the road.”
Recognizing litter is a problem, the S.C. Legislation in 2022 appropriated, in the state budget, one million dollars for a pilot program in District 7, that includes Barnwell County. Contractors picked up almost twenty tons of litter, covering 360 miles of county roadways. The cost is $90,000.
The pilot was a success and will expand to every district in the state for this fiscal year. Eight million dollars is budgeted for picking up litter. That’s eight million of taxpayers’ money that will not be used for education, law enforcement, or improving health facilities. It will be used to clean up after willful drivers who intentionally trash South Carolina beautiful land.
