Pickens County shortens landfill start time to 5 a.m.; host agreement with Whit Stone Valley updated

Pickens County commissioners voted to amend county code and a host agreement to allow earlier landfill operations at Whit Stone Valley Landfill LLC.

Under the adopted text amendment to Section 38620 (Article 8), prohibited operation hours were changed so that no operation shall be permitted between 7:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., rather than the previous 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. window. The change was described in the meeting as intended to "allow the trucks to get in before traffic and get off before traffic goes through that area." The ordinance change will be reflected in the host‑agreement addendum and requires the standard ordinance signatures.

The board then approved a host‑agreement addendum with Whit Stone Valley Landfill LLC that mirrors the ordinance language: effective July 1, 2026 the landfill may operate from 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. County staff said the amendment follows discussions during a prior work session and that landfill staff recommended the change to improve logistics and reduce peak‑hour traffic conflicts.

What the board approved: The change adjusts permitted hours of operation and the formal host agreement; county officials described the action as an administrative amendment that will be implemented through the host‑agreement addendum rather than as a new service authorization.

Next steps: The ordinance signatures will be completed per county procedure and the addendum takes effect July 1, 2026. Staff indicated they will monitor operations for any community impacts and bring any needed ordinance clarifications back to the commissioners.