Task force notes rise in litter complaints near the landfill
♦ The group is proposing tougher tarp rules for trucks hauling refuse.
The Rome-floyd Litter and Blight Task Force focused Thursday on ways to reinforce the use of tarps on cars and trucks bringing garbage to the Walker Mountain Landfill.
Members said they’ve received many complaints — from both residents on the road and other people — about litter flying off the backs of vehicles traveling without a cover over their garbage.
The calls have ramped up lately because of an increase in traffic. County Commissioner Allison Watters theorized that it’s due to people staying at home more often because of the coronavirus pandemic and creating more trash.
Cars line up at the Walker Mountain Landfill site to dispose of their garbage Thursday morning.
Floyd County started construction on Phase 8 of the Walker Mountain Landfill site earlier this year.
Georgia law states that Watters pointed out that failure to secure a tarp to a if someone has a few trash vehicle can result in a fine bags in the back of the pickup up to $1,000. truck, they don’t have to tarp it because it is technically secure. Garbage can still come out of these bags, though, and create litter on the sides of the road.
Keep Rome-floyd Beautiful has hosted tarp days in the past, where volunteers give out tarps at the landfill. However, Director Emma Wells said they gave away all of their tarps at their last event.
The members went on to discuss strengthening the tarp rule at the landfill by requiring people to cover all the garbage they’re hauling, whether or not it’s in bags. Watters suggested putting up signs to notify people about the problem as well.
Members also talked about having an inmate work crew sent out there from time to time to keep the road from getting too dirty.
Watters and Rome Public Works Director Chris Jenkins said they would bring up some of the ideas at the next Rome-floyd County Solid Waste Commission meeting.