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"I've been pushing for an ordinance for a long time as a way of leveling the playing field," said Bill Buscemi, owner of Helping Hands, a private garbage and recycling hauling business. "But how is this (ordinance) going to benefit the citizens of Jackson County?"
Buscemi's complaint was that the ordinance would no longer allow private haulers to dispose of household garbage at the county's staffed recycling centers. The proposal specifically says that neither commercial nor residential waste transported by a private hauler will be accepted at an SRC.
Once this rule is established, private haulers would be forced to find other locations to take the trash they collect and pay the required tipping fees, which could increase the cost of doing business so much so that it would be less affordable to the public, said Buscemi.
"We should be able to put residential waste at the SRCs," said Buscemi, who also objected to the idea conveyed by the ordinance that once garbage is collected by a private hauler, it becomes the property of that hauler.
"All I do is transport garbage from one point to another," he said. "While you're still charging everyone $60, then we should be able to take residential waste to the SRCs."
Buscemi also pointed out that enforcement of the ordinance with regard to keeping commercial waste out of the SRCs would be nearly impossible. The SRCs are being abused now, he said, a situation the ordinance would not improve.
"All this ordinance is doing is keeping an honest businessman from doing a good job and allowing the crooked people to continue," he said.
Buscemi's point of view was backed up by Bobby Gunter of Gunter Family Garbage and Recycling. "We should be policed, but we should not be banned for doing it right," Gunter said.
Tom Vokes, owner of Earthworks Recycling and a member of the solid waste advisory board, pointed out that a flaw of the ordinance is its lack of planning for the future.
"Not enough time has been spent on how we are going to reduce the waste stream," Vokes said. "The Macon County landfill is filling up quickly. We need a composting program and a better recycling program This ordinance is like putting the cart before the horse."
Since the Dillsboro landfill was closed in 1997, Jackson County's waste stream has been transported to the Macon County facility as part of a 40-year agreement with officials there. Jackson County paid nearly $2 million for the right to use the Macon landfill and agreed to take Macon's trash once the landfill is full.
In an effort to help pay for the solid waste program, Jackson County annually charges all taxpayers a $60 fee, which this year is expected to generate almost $1 million, or half the cost of the program. (The remainder of the cost is covered out of general fund revenues.) While many believe paying this tax gives them (or their hired private haulers) the right to use the SRCs, county leaders have said the fee is used more to pay for the use of the landfill.
Jean Holt, a Helping Hands customer, expressed satisfaction for the service her hauler provides and requested the board not do anything to jeopardize it.
"(Private haulers) are doing a tremendous service, and hiring them is an option I have as a business owner," said Jason Kimenker. "I didn't have any option about paying the $60 fee."
"I support this ordinance," said Gregg Thomas, owner of Country Collections, another private garbage hauler. "I don't feel it will put any of these companies out of business. The market dictates your price, and the county is just trying to get in line with that.
"If geography means we have to charge more, then that's the result of where we choose to live," he continued.
"This ordinance does not prevent private haulers from picking up garbage in Jackson County," board Chairman Jay Denton pointed out. "They can haul it to anywhere they want."
"I'd like to see the $60 fee removed and put everybody on a level playing field by putting in pay-as-you-throw," Commissioner Stacy Buchanan said. "I don't think it's going to happen over night, but it's the only fair way to go."
"I have some problems with the ordinance," Commissioner Roberta Crawford said. "I think (the private haulers) are being discriminated against."
Commissioner Conrad Burrell agreed with Crawford. "I've got the same problems," he said. "And we're here tonight to listen to you. And you are saying you want to keep this service."
"Since this (ordinance) doesn't put pay-as-you-throw in place, let's not waste any more time on it," said Amanda Buscemi, wife of Helping Hands' Bill Buscemi. "Let's rip it in half and do pay-as-you-throw."
"My personal opinion is that we need to study this for at least one more meeting and get back with the solid waste board," said Commissioner Franz Whitmire.
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A capacity crowd listens as Bill Buscemi (standing), owner of Helping Hands, a private garbage hauler, makes a point during the Nov. 1 public hearing on the county's proposed solid waste management plan. County officials seated around the table include, from left, Manager Ken Westmoreland, attorney Raymond Large, Commissioners Stacy Buchanan and Roberta Crawford and Chairman Jay Denton. A dozen of the 40 or so in attendance for the meeting spoke against the solid waste document, causing commissioners to postpone action on the plan. - Herald photo by Kelly Timco