Photo

Click on photo to enlarge

Jessica Nelms

City of Clemson maintenance worker Chris Hedden carries a load of recyclables from a home in Clemson Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009.

CLEMSON — Clemson and Central will be among the municipalities whose representatives will meet today with Pickens County Administrator Chap Hurst to discuss penalties proposed by the county if recycling targets are not met.

City Administrator Rick Cotton has informed Clemson City Council that the penalties were first brought up by Pickens County Public Works Director Gerald Wilson. Cotton said Wilson, speaking at last month’s Pickens County Municipal Association meeting, said punitive action would be taken by the county should any municipality not meet their target percentages.

“That was a surprise to everyone in attendance,” Cotton said.

But Cotton added that, when efforts were made to obtain additional information regarding what that action might involve, “We were more confused.”

Cotton disputes Pickens County’s recycling numbers, which show Clemson — at 5,753.79 tons of household waste for a percentage of 13.2 — while Easley, with a larger population, produces only 5,349.24 tons. The city administrator also questioned whether Clemson was being credited for its brush grinding efforts.

“They were trying to compare apples to oranges, which you just cannot do,” Cotton said. “When you factor in brush from the landfill, Clemson picked up 42,000 cubic yards and collected 2,574 tons of brush. Factor in all of the waste, our recycling percentage is 37 percent as compared to the target number of 30 percent from Pickens County.”

Cotton added that there appears to be an inequity in that Pickens County reports it is receiving $76.42 a ton while the city is receiving only $10 a ton. During the last budget year, Pickens County received $673,000 for recycled materials.

Cotton said recycling is voluntary in Clemson, adding that it costs $3.30 per month, per customer to recycle as the city provides a recycling bin and collection equipment to 3,704 customers.

“We save a tremendous amount out of the landfill,” said Public Works Director David Conner. “That’s (recycling) an unbelievable asset for Clemson, and they lead the way in Pickens County.”

“This is typical, this is so arbitrary,” said Mayor Larry Abernathy. “If they need to pump up a revenue stream, they can set up a target to ensure we don’t meet it. But Clemson, per capita, recycles more than anywhere in Pickens County.”

“Pickens County is trying to figure out ways to charge us more without giving us anything,” said Mayor Pro Tem Butch Trent. “The county took away our paving money and, everything since I’ve been on council 15 years at the end of December, they’ve taken and not given.”

Abernathy said he harbors no ill will toward Wilson, whom he refers to as “the messenger sent out to do the county’s dirty work.” But the mayor scoffed when told the county is proposing rebates for municipalities that meet the target recycling rate.

“When Pickens County gives us money, we’ll know that Armageddon is upon us,” Abernathy said.

greg@dailyjm.com | (864) 882-2375