Trashing Lunenburg County

While many people are working to benefit Lunenburg County others are treating her like their personal trash can.  The above trash dump has been cleaned up by volunteers numerous times. The police have been called. The dumping continues.  Nothing will stop this problem except citizen involvement and prosecution by law enforcement.

On the other hand, Lunenburg is attempting to make trash disposal more convenient and the sites more attractive. Tracy Gee, Lunenburg County Administrator, stated the county cleans up as weather and time permits with this location scheduled for cleanup in the near future.  She also stated the county has built or is building five convenience centers for more attractive and efficient trash disposal and recycling.

Supervisor Randy Slayton said a total of 7 convenience sites are planned for the county.

Beverly Hawthorne sent the following in response to our request for more information.

“As we try to consolidate the many (34 at one time) dumpster sites into fewer clean, organized sites to take trash and recyclables, the County realizes that many citizens will not be agreeable that these are convenient.  We have attempted to locate the sites considering a service area of a five-mile radius.  As of May 15, we will have completed two new sites and two upgrades.  Additionally, two more sites are being negotiated now.   We are manning the sites and are imposing hours of operation to ensure the proper use of the facilities in the best interest of the majority of the citizens.

“In the past couple of months, we have experienced abnormal weather that has impacted the roads and the frequency and volume of trash dumped by the citizens as well as can pick-up by the landfill operator.  The private landfill operator, CFS, has experienced problems with adequate and proper scheduling of dumpster pick-up because of these abnormal conditions.  CFS is working closely with the County to identify sites that need more service than usual.  As the weather levels out and citizen’s schedules become more routine, CFS should be able to manage picking up the dumpsters more adequately.

“With all of that said, many of the problems with the dumpster sites are the responsibility of citizens who dump improper trash in cans that should be taken to the landfill or some other site for recycling.  Mattresses, furniture, yard debris, tires, waste oil, and demolition or construction materials should be taken to the landfill.  These items fill up the cans so that citizens with household trash have no place to dump this simple item.  Additionally, citizens fail to take a few extra steps to the back or side of the cans to locate the empty area of the dumpster. This overloading of the dumpsters causes the trash to fall onto the ground for ravaging by animals, and also causes the bags of trash to fall out along the side of the road while being transported to the landfill.

“We have published in the paper and handed out at the new convenience sites the listing of items and where they should be disposed.  We are working with CFS to determine the best methods County-wide for recycling.  As we develop new signage, hours of operation, and other possible services, please keep in mind that your neighbor uses these sites just as you do.  Be a good citizen and use the County facilities wisely.”