South Carolina needs substantial changes in its landfill rules to keep the state from becoming the country's garbage dump. But the Legislature should move forward with caution. Unless legislators can be assured that the proposed regulations provide the necessary protections, a landfill moratorium remains in order.

The state Department of Health and Environmental Control is expected to submit new regulations to a Senate subcommittee. Those rules, prepared on an expedited timetable, offer improvements to those currently in place. ...

South Carolina has more than enough landfill space already permitted for its own trash disposal needs. Waste handlers are eager to develop out-of-state capacity in what has been a dumpfriendly state. The proposed Marlboro County landfill, for example, would cover 5,000 acres with garbage 300 feet deep.

There should be no question about the adequacy of the new regulations to protect South Carolina from out-of-state dumping. Waste disposal shouldn't be a growth industry, beyond the state's own needs.

The (Charleston) Post and Courier