Solid waste bill concerns

Oconee County leaders are worried that legislation before the South Carolina General Assembly could take away their authority to keep out of state solid waste from being stored in their county. It’s a bill supported by the State Chamber of Commerce and opposed by the South Carolina Association of Counties. According to Charles Edens, president of the Association of Counties, giant corporations desperately want the bill to invalidate county ordinances. During a meeting last week, Oconee County Attorney Tom Martin told the county Planning Commission, “The South Carolina Association of Counties’ position is basically life as we know, as far as solid waste is concerned, will end if this legislation passes.” Legislation supporters see a benefit of allowing private enterprise to better compete with government when it comes to where garbage is buried. County leaders are being told the legislation undermines county governments’ and citizens’ ability to control where garbage is disposed of in their backyards.