Trash Will Be Focus of Taylors Commission Meeting

Taylors Fire & Sewer commissioners hope to set the record straight on trash talk in Taylors.

The commission meets at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday to discuss business and then will open the floor to a public hearing. Residents may sign up upon arrival at the meeting to have an opportunity to speak.

Gilbert Rivers, chair of the commission, said that he is expecting a big crowd as many residents have been confused by mailings and surveys distributed recently about trash pickup in the community.

Rivers said a few months back, the commission had been looking for ways to cut costs for trash collection at Taylors Fire Department and the Taylors Fire and Sewer building. He said after discussions with Greater Greenville Sanitation (GGS), it was brought to the commission's attention that the district could save money by allowing GGS to pick up the trash.

After the talks had completed, Rivers said GGS asked the commission if they could offer individuals in Taylors the same services.

"We are in no way telling residents they have to choose this service," Rivers said Monday. "We just want them to know their options when it comes to trash collection in the area."

Rivers said GGS surveyed about 1,100 customers in the Taylors community that were basically "straight shots," for the company, since trash is picked up in neighborhoods close by.

Rivers said that throughout his time as commissioner, residents have asked for recyclable pickup and also for leaf and tree cutting pick up. He said GGS offers both services, which he see as a savings to the residents of Taylors.

In addition to those services, Rivers said that residents would not have to worry about fluctuating costs. He said since GGS reports to the Greenville County Council, once rates are set, they can't be changed without the authority of the council. So, for example, if fuel prices increased, the company would not be able to increase a resident's bill without authorization of county council.

Currently, Rivers said there are at least three companies collecting household trash from the streets of Taylors with multiple trucks in and out of neighborhoods multiple times a week.

"We want people to have all the information they need to make an informed choice," Rivers said. "If they want to stay with their current trash carrier, that's fine. We aren't here to dictate who should provide that service for them."

Rivers said that he and fellow commissioners Doug Wavle and Mark Rae have spent a good deal of time out talking to people face-to-face to help them to undertsand.