From Bart Mercer, Elmore County Commissioner District 4
The Elmore County Commission is in the process of addressing issues relating to trash in our county. Reliable curbside trash service, the ability for citizens to dispose of debris not suitable for placement in curbside containers, trash being disposed of alongside county roadways, and the need to provide new recycling options for our citizens are all topics the Commission has been working for months. A comprehensive plan, the Cleanup Elmore County Initiative, to address these issues is now in the process of being implemented. Elements of the initiative include:
Replacement of Countywide Clean Up Days
For citizens to have an option to dispose of non-household garbage that is too large for their paid roll-away trash container, previous Commissions established Countywide Clean Up Days. Initially, trash trucks or roll offs were positioned across the county every other month for citizens to dispose of larger debris. With increased demand for this service, these sites evolved over time from a higher number of sites every other month to fewer sites every month. With citizens currently experiencing long waits at these monthly sites and the continued inquiries about the ability to discard items throughout the month, a change to this program was needed.
The Commission will be establishing a centralized collection facility near the County Highway Department and City Public Works Facility on Red Eagle Dr in Wetumpka. This Center will be open seven days a week with multiple roll off dumpsters present for citizens to dispose of items larger than their paid curb side container can accommodate. This will allow greater access for citizens on a daily basis. Household garbage will not be received at this site and if disposed of, will be deemed as illegal dumping by the citizen. The opening of this centralized collection facility is slated no later than March 1st and will result in the discontinuation on the monthly Countywide Clean Up Days. Success of this collection facility could result in up to two more sites being planned in the future.
Recycling Opportunities
The Alabama Department of Corrections worked with most all local governments in Elmore County for many years to provide recycling services. The local governments would provide a site and recycling receptacle while ADOC would collect, sort and market the recyclable materials. Recently, ADOC notified all program participants they would be discontinuing their recycling program which has prompted the Commission to identify new recycling opportunities.
The centralized collection facility will have bins where residents can participate in recycling efforts. Partnering with the City of Wetumpka, recyclables will be separated in bins at the collection facility and processed based on market conditions. The Commission is also exploring other ways to return receptacles out into the county looking for partners like the City of Wetumpka who want to supplement their current programs.
Littering and Illegal Dumping
The County Commission spends over $150,000 annually removing trash and litter from county roadsides. Even though this is a truly preventable issue, many public resources are wasted in cleaning up the mess of the offenders. To help combat the issue, the Commission is making it easier to report illegal roadside littering along with preparing a campaign to remind everyone about protecting our county’s natural resources.
Citizens can now make reports of littering or roadside dumping through the Commission’s website. In this report feature, pictures of the litter, any identifying information found in the debris and location information can be submitted to help expedite investigation by law enforcement and cleanup by public works staff.
The Commission is also working with our local judges to implement a program where community services hours can be assigned for cleaning litter alongside problematic roadways in the county. This effort will complement the county’s use of prisoner labor that currently polices county right-of-ways.
Community Outreach and a Renewed Anti-Litter Campaign
The Commission plans to expand the third annual “Operation Spring Clean” event held each April along with expanding the PALS Adopt-a-Mile and Adopt-a-Stream programs. All programs where community outreach and service groups are encouraged to help take pride in our county and actively participate in keeping our county clean and beautiful.
A renewed anti-litter education campaign focused on citizens of all ages is being developed. Roll out of this campaign is scheduled for early 2020.
Improved Curb Side Service
Lastly, the Commission will continue to work with Advanced Disposal to address weekly trash collection issues. Advanced Disposal representatives have recently committed to us their company plans to add an additional pick up route which will aid in correcting missed pickup days.
