Councilman says constituents favor landfill/recycling center

The proposed landfill and recycling center is a big hit with at least one Cherokee County councilman's constituents.

Councilman Bailey Humphries said 17 of the 22 constituents he has spoken with support the Waste Management plan to build a solid waste and construction debris landfill

along with a modern recycling center on a 1,550-acre parcel near McKown's Mountain.

The new landfill, if approved, would be located just a short distance away from Duke Energy's proposed nuclear plant. The project would represent a $150 million investment by Waste Management.

"The people want it because it means more jobs," Humphries said.

The center would create about 300 jobs during the construction phase and employ about 40 full-time workers when it's operational.

In order to move forward, Waste Management must obtain approval from council members, whose present solid waste management plan bans new landfill construction without their approval.

But Humphries said he wants to know more before he throws his support behind the project.

"I haven't made up mind yet," Humphries said.