Dear Editor:

As no formal presentation or proposal has been made to county council concerning Waste Management's 3R project, it is much too soon to be formulating opinions on this project

We are still in the dissemination of information phase and we urge county council and all citizens to view the presentation and get the facts before making any public statement. This project is certainly not ready for a vote or to be decided in the media. I have seen this presentation five times and learn something each time.

We do applaud Waste Management for the responsible and professional manner in which they are trying to get the information to the public. Go visit Waste Management at their office in Willis Plaza and discuss your concerns. It is unfair to label this project a landfill or dump. The more we recycle; the less that goes into a hole in the ground. One thing is certain; Waste Management makes their profit on recycling and not by burying wastes in the ground. Our throwaway society is poisoning our planet and this rapidly changing technology ultimately will result in zero wastes and no need for landfills. Waste Management has been challenged by their large corporate customers to develop a zero wastes plan. Our earth could heal itself if we would stop polluting and properly manage our wastes.

Ninety three percent of South Carolinians think recycling is a good idea, but only 8 percent practice recycling. Only recently have the residents of the McKowns Mountain area been offered a more convenient way to recycle. Last week a dropoff point for recyclables was established at the McKowns Mountain Fire Station. How often those materials are picked up by the county will be determined by the usage rate for those living in the area and if they are opposed to landfills, this is their opportunity to help eliminate the need for landfills. Recycling does require informed and motivated individuals to make it happen.

I have talked with very few county residents who knew that Cherokee County no longer had a landfill. This facility was closed years ago and became a transfer station from which our wastes are transferred to Spartanburg and Union counties.

We reserve our opinion on this project for the time being but it is safe to say we support economic development, recycling, green projects, environmental stewardship, planned growth and proper land use. Gene Moorhead Executive Director Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce