Upstate Business Owner Concerned Over Proposed Sanitation Station

Greenville County, South Carolina

The future of a new trash site in Greenville County now sits in the hands of the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC). Even though the time to submit public input ended May 15, a local business owner is using his voice to express concerns over the proposed waste transfer station along Old Easley Highway.

“So much has been done to protect our rivers and natural resources in the area, so it seems like a step backwards to put a transfer station within 100 feet of wetlands,” Cliff Carden, the owner of Saluda Outdoor River Company and Saluda Outdoor Center, said.

The team at Saluda Outdoor River Company is gearing up for the start of summer and tubing season, which officially begins Memorial Day Weekend on Friday at 10 a.m.

“We are so excited to have everybody out. We’re seven minutes from Downtown Greenville, and we are so excited to be here and get you out on the river,” operations manager Evie Buisch said.

“We wanted to have a place for people from Greenville to just come and get out in nature….I had a vision of doing something that families could enjoy,” Carden continued.

But that vision could soon be in jeopardy with Greater Greenville Sanitation’s proposal of a new waste transfer station less than a mile away from the tubing center. Carden is concerned about potential ecological impacts.

“When you have a trash bag and things bust…that runoff water runs downhill to those creeks and rivers which go into the Saluda River,” he said.

Greater Greenville Sanitation’s Permit Proposal

Greater Greenville Sanitation’s permit proposal offers some proposals for runoff. One part of the proposal states: “Surface water impact will be minimized using erosion control methods and stormwater runoff treatment BMPs.”

Taxpayer Concerns

Greater Greenville Sanitation is also a special purpose district, which state law defines as an entity that “provides any governmental power or function including, but not limited to, fire protection, sewerage treatment, water or natural gas distribution or recreation.” This means it is also supported by taxes.

“If there is something that happens to the river or [if] there’s problems with that property, guess who gets to pay for the fix? That’s the taxpayer,” Carden said.

Odor Concerns

Odor is another concern. “It’s summertime when we run. So you got hot trash right here, and the least bit of wind will blow right down to our people who are coming just to enjoy being out in nature. So that is a concern for us as business owners,” Carden said.

DHEC said they are considering public comments and do not have a timeline as to when they will make their final decision. FOX Carolina also reached out to Greater Greenville Sanitation to provide a comment. We will be sure to update this story as more information comes in.