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Horry County solid waste officials push for stronger recycling, outline $153 million landfill expansion
Summary
Pam Creech of Dory County Solid Waste told the council the county must expand recycling and diversion to reduce landfill pressure and outlined a proposed $153,000,000 expansion to extend landfill life to 2063; staff and council agreed to workshops and intergovernmental coordination.
Pam Creech of Dory County Solid Waste told Horry County council members that recycling and food-waste diversion are essential to prolong the county landfill and manage growth.
"The proposed cost will be approximately a $153,000,000 and it will extend the life of our landfill to 2063," Creech said, citing recent tonnage figures and the authority's diversion programs. She said last year the county’s Class 2 landfill accepted about 148,000 tons and Class 3 (MSW) about 3,000 tons.
Creech described several current and planned diversion efforts, including material recycling facilities, household hazardous waste collection, construction and demolition processing, tires, and a food-waste program that partners with local schools. She said those programs have created local jobs and would be expanded to pull roughly 40% of recyclables out of the waste stream—work that, she said, will add years to the landfill’s life.
Creech also warned about long-term liability tied to handling specialty wastes, recounting an instance in which a contractor later relocated materials out of state and was unable to meet obligations; she said state rules can leave counties responsible after waste leaves their jurisdiction. To reduce taxpayer burden, she said the authority is drafting model manufacturer-responsibility legislation to ask producers to help pay for nonrecyclable packaging and noted the authority is seeking to present that proposal to municipalities and state legislators.
Council members responded favorably to a request for a data review and workshop. Staff and members agreed to coordinate meetings with Pam Creech’s board, county administrators and city partners and to continue conversations with the municipal league to explore coordinated or mandatory recycling approaches.
Next steps: staff were asked to set up the requested workshop and return financial figures and proposed policy options for council review.
