The Greenwood Department of Public Works is launching a public awareness campaign focusing on the proper use and type of trash cans approved for household garbage pickup.
Benny Herring, the director of the department, said the perennial problem of damaged cans and missing lids has been compounded by a relatively new and growing problem.
“There’s been a larger number of folks than in the past that are not even using cans,” he said.
Trash bags — often loaded with discarded food — are an open invitation for dogs and other animals to tear open.
“When you take a garbage bag and put it on the street, you’ve got a mess — a serious mess,” Herring said.
Herring appeared before the City Council on Tuesday to reiterate the city’s trash can ordinance, which requires all residents to use metal or plastic cans with capacities between 10 and 32 gallons.
In addition, all cans must have securely placed lids along with handles along the outside of the can and on the lid.
A can cannot exceed 20 pounds when empty or 70 pounds when filled.
Violators of the law face an maximum fine of $300 or imprisonment for 90 days along with the cost of prosecution at the discretion of the municipal judge.
Trash cans can be condemned by Herring if they have sharp edges or if they have been damaged to the extent that they no longer exclude water or flies.
Mayor Carolyn McAdams said the city is trying to address a serious problem with dogs running loose.
“If the lid is on the can, they can’t get in there. If they can, then it’s all over the place,” she said.
McAdams said the effort is intended to make properly equipped trash cans uniform and “maintain the beautification of our city.”
Failure to replace condemned cans carries the same penalties as failing to use cans.
Herring said his department will be putting door tags on those residences that are out of compliance with the law.
“We’re giving them a chance to correct it,” he said.
Some offenders have already been addressed, Herring said.
Once a resident receives a warning, the next step — if corrective steps are not taken — will be the issuing of a citation by the Greenwood Police Department’s litter control officer, he said.
• Contact Bob Darden at 581-7239 or bdarden@gwcommonwealth.com.
