Bills put landfill trash in its place

ROBERT W. DALTON, Staff Writer

COLUMBIA -- Members of the Spartanburg County Legislative Delegation came out swinging Tuesday over Waste Management Inc.'s plans to build a regional landfill near Enoree.

Their punch was aimed at where it could do the most damage: The industry giant's wallet.

According to a bill introduced in the state House, no more than 50 percent of the trash received at the new landfill could come from outside of Spartanburg County.

"We don't need another regional landfill," said Rep. Phil Sinclair, R-Woodruff, who represents Enoree and is the bill's primary sponsor. "All it is is a chance for Waste Management and Spartanburg County to make money in the garbage business."

About 80 percent of the trash that comes into Waste Management's Palmetto Landfill near Wellford comes from outside the county, according to company spokesman David Pepper. The county's residential waste does not go to Palmetto, but it would be taken at the new landfill under Waste Management's proposal.

"It's now going into the county-run

landfill at an expense to the taxpayers," Pepper said.

Local lawmakers were joined by Rep. Jeff Duncan, R-Laurens, in offering a similar statewide proposal. Sinclair said he fully expects Waste Management to issue a legal challenge if the bills pass.

"We asked an attorney to look at it, and we believe it is legal," Sinclair said. "This is a legitimate attempt to look at not only Spartanburg County but the entire state and determine what our policy is going to be regarding solid waste management."

Then the usually mild-mannered Sinclair took the gloves off.

"We need to talk about the vision for Spartanburg County," Sinclair said. "Gov. (Mark) Sanford talks a lot about the quality of life and making the state more competitive. Can anybody tell me how another landfill improves the quality of life or makes Spartanburg County more competitive? They can't, because it doesn't."

Rep. Mike Anthony, D-Union, who also represents residents in the affected area, said there is no need for the landfill when another regional landfill is located about eight miles away in Union County.

"We'll partner with Spartanburg County to take their waste," Anthony said. "There's no need to turn the area into a dumping ground for other states."

Spartanburg County Council voted in October to begin negotiations with Waste Management on construction of the replacement landfill. Councilmen David Britt, Ken Huckaby, Frank Nutt and Steve Parker voted in favor, while Rock Adams, Chairman Jeff Horton and Johnnye Code-Stewart opposed entering into negotiations.

Waste Management has offered a deal worth more than $59 million over the next several decades. Through host fees and savings at the county-run Wellford Landfill, the deal could generate more than $100 million for the county.

Nutt said the proposed legislation would have no impact on his decision.

"I don't know how it will affect negotiations," he said.

Britt did not return a phone call seeking comment.

Pepper said it would be inappropriate for him to comment until he had time to study the bill.

The bill could receive second reading from the local House members today and third reading Thursday, then move onto the Senate.

House Speaker Pro Tem Doug Smith, R-Spartanburg, is not a sponsor of the legislation. Smith, an attorney whose firm represents Republic Services, a Waste Management competitor, says he supports the bill, but will not vote to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest.

Robert W. Dalton can be reached at 562-7274 or bob.dalton@shj.com.