Councilman says average landfill pay will be $40K

"We have dictated to them that only local workers be hired." — Bailey Humphries District 2 county councilman In a bid to win support among Cherokee County Council, Waste Management has agreed to staff its proposed recycling center and landfill with high-paid local workers, a councilman said.

Councilman Bailey Humphries said Waste Management has agreed to pay those workers an average salary of at least $40,000.

"We have dictated to them that only local workers be hired," Humphries said.

Waste Management's 3Cycle project is expected to create 342 jobs, including 42 permanent positions, such as equipment operators, sorters, mechanics and forklift operators.

Humphries said council also wants a huge say in the routes the garbage trucks will travel to the proposed 3Cycle facility as well as the height of the proposed landfill.

Waste Management wants to build its 3Cycle facility on a 1,500- acre site in McKowns Mountain.

The county's solid waste plan bans construction of new landfills. Council would need to amend that plan for Waste Management to proceed with its project. Waste Management will make its formal presentation to council Dec. 2.

Humphries said he's still on the fence regarding the proposal and will wait until he hears Waste Management's presentation before making up his mind.

But Humphries does admit the county needs to find some solution to its future solid waste disposal needs since Allied Waste has told the county it has no interest in operating the transfer station after its agreement with the county lapses in 2013.

Humphries said the county is facing three options with the expected closure of the transfer station. The county could opt to spend at least $5 million to construct its own Class D landfill, privatize its solid waste collection or hire a solid waste disposal company to haul and dump the garbage, Humphries said.

The county currently generates about 93 tons of garbage a day and at a disposal fee of $30 a ton, it would cost the county about $800,000 a year to hire a company to haul its trash away, according to Humphries.

Humphries estimates it would cost each county household about $25 a month if the county chose to privatize its solid waste disposal.

"The biggest selling point to me is we have to have some place to put our garbage," Humphries said. "Allied Waste has made it clear it will not renew our transfer station agreement."

Waste Management has said it would be willing to sign a long-term agreement to handle Cherokee County residents' trash free of charge.

Humphries said council has asked assistant administrator Holland Belue to supply it with unbiased facts regarding recycling centers and landfills.

Humphries said the earliest council would vote on Waste Management's proposal is Dec. 15.

"I owe it to my constituents to look at both sides," Humphries said.