However, once the West Virginia legislature charged solid waste authorities with new responsibilities, the number of open dumps dwindled, Burl Smith, the director of the Upshur County Solid Waste Authority, told the Buckhannon Rotary Club Tuesday.
Smith, who retired from the City of Buckhannon in 2010, briefed the club on the duties of the UCSWA and the Make-It-Shine Month initiative coming up in April.
Solid waste authorities must develop comprehensive recycling plans; design litter and solid waste control plans as well as commercial solid waste siting plans; promote source reduction; and implement reduce, reuse and recycling activities.
They must also “identify and prioritize open dumps,” Smith explained.
While there are no certified open dumps located in Upshur County in 2018, “20 years ago, there were probably 20 to 25 dumps,” he said.
“People in the neighborhood, they would literally have a certain area along the roadway, and that’s where they got rid of their garbage,” Smith said. “Right now, we don’t have any open dumps in Upshur County that are over a few weeks or months old because they are kept cleaned up.”
Facilities other than the solid waste transfer station on Mud Lick Road must secure a certification from the UCSWA to open a dump in the county, and each resident in Upshur County is required to keep an updated record of how they’ve disposed of their trash for the past month, Smith said.
Residents who want to get a jump on spring cleaning are encouraged to do so during the month of April, which has been designated as Make-it-Shine month in the city and county for the past 25 years, Smith said. In fact, city and county officials are scheduled to sign proclamations Thursday declaring April Make-it-Shine month — an ideal time to spruce up yards, garages, outbuildings and basements, as well as focus on recycling.
“Some of our goals include litter-free roadways and clean and neat properties for all to enjoy,” Smith said. Specific projects planned include Adopt-a-Highway pickups; the annual Celebration of Recycling at Crossroads Recycling Center near Walmart Friday, April 20 and Saturday, April 21; and bulky goods pickup.
“The City of Buckhannon has done a great job in providing a means for you to clean up your property, clean up outbuildings or your basement or whatever, and you can dispose of that,” Smith said.
City residents can bring bulky goods to the waste transfer station (on Mud Lick Road) for no charge on the first and third weekends of April, while county customers are invited to do the same on the second and fourth weekends of the month.
Smith said Mountain State Waste, the residential waste collector for southern Upshur County, plans to place drop-off boxes at Banks District Fire Department for bulky good waste disposal with rules identical to the ones governing the waste transfer station.
To read the full story, visit https://therecorddelta.com/article/wva-winning-battle-against-trash.