If Scioto and Lawrence County residents don’t stop dumping their junk off at recycling dumpsters, officials are going to pull those dumpsters.
In a sternly worded warning, Scioto County Commissioners showed a shocking photo of a pile of garbage that included old tires, a suitcase, a broken pallet, old carpet, garbage, and more just dumped.
Commissioners said, “The Scioto and Lawrence County Commissioners have intervened for now to keep recycle dumpsters in their respective counties. Abuse by MANY individuals dumping non-recyclable items in and around the dumpsters has created an impossible situation to clean up and maintain. Items like mattresses, bed frames, kitty litter, tires, broken furniture, and just basic household trash has been dumped by people. This abuse MUST stop!”
The Lawrence-Scioto Solid Waste Management District uses inmates and probationers to clean up around dumpsters and to pick up trash tossed by the side of the road. Due to restrictions put in place due to the COVID-19 crisis, inmates and probationers are no longer available.
Even when they were fully staffed with help, dumping was still a huge problem. Back in early March, Lawrence-Scioto Solid Waste District Coordinator Dan Palmer said, “We have to put a stop to this!” In February alone, 8.7 tons of garbage were illegally dumped in the two counties. Among the garbage picked up by his crews in February were toilets, 5 sofas, 15 TVs, 3 mattresses, a bathtub, and a whole bunch of carpet.
The commissioners warned, “If the abuse continues the bins will be pulled. Please don’t be that person who ruins a good thing for many.”
If you have large items to dispose of, take them to the Portsmouth Transfer Station. They can be contacted at 740-353-6303.
The commissioners went on to warn that, “Illegal dumping by anyone anywhere will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. In some cases, it can be regarded as a classified felony. To report the car tag number or property information of a person illegally dumping, please contact the Lawrence-Scioto Solid Waste Management District at 740-532-1231.”