Resident raises safety and cost concerns after county's new zero‑tolerance cardboard policy at landfill

A resident and former certified weighmaster told the county commission on Sept. 8 that a recent Solid Waste policy change — a “zero tolerance” rule for cardboard in demolition and residential trash loads — was implemented without public notice, created safety hazards, and effectively instituted mandatory recycling without public input.

Michael Fay of Spring Hill described operational changes at the county landfill and convenience centers. “Drivers dumping demo have been made to pull cardboard from out underneath their loads... Residential trash drivers have been told they would have to open bags and remove the cardboard,” Fay said. He warned of safety incidents at the demo area and said that asking residents or haulers to climb into or sort through loads creates injury hazards and could force the county to halt operations for safety reasons. Fay also said that mixed cardboard is contaminated and many recycling facilities will reject it, and that the new approach will shift costs to residents who use private collection.

Commissioners heard the concerns and asked county staff to follow up. Commissioner Greg Lawrence asked county leaders to have Solid Waste Director Mac provide more details. County Mayor Rogers Anderson said he would ask Mac to send a report to commissioners and the mayor’s office agreed to circulate a written explanation to the commission in the next one or two days.

No formal action was taken at the meeting; commissioners asked staff to provide documentation and a timeline of the policy change, including whether there was board or solid waste authority input and how the county plans to educate the public.