JOHNSTON – Less than a quarter mile away from an Edgefield County Convenience (recycle) Center in a pit stretching approximately 50 feet long rests a deep pile of rubble, debris and trash – the sort of items that normally make their way to such a center.

In the pile are tires, shingles, discarded chemical sprayers, old oil cans, aerosol cans, light bulbs, pallets, toys, newspapers and many other items which should not be there.

The wooded area – located on Edgefield County School District property directly behind JET Middle School – displays all the markings of an illegal dumping ground.

Also scattered around the pile are old lunch room tables and broken toilets and other ceramics. Contacted on Monday, district head of facilities and maintenance, Mr. James Courtney, stated that the pit served as a “burn pile” only and the area as a “collection point” of sorts where broken school items could be placed temporarily.

“About twice a year we burn it and we clean out anything that doesn’t belong there,” he said. “We do have trouble with people going back there and placing things in (the pit), but they are trespassing. We have to have a place where we can put stuff. I can assure you that we don’t cover anything up and that it’s a burn pile.”

Mr. Courtney went on to say that he had no idea when he or any other school district official had last visited the pile and that supervising the area was not feasible.

Information found on the S.C. DHEC website (www.scdhec.gov) lists illegally dumped materials as often including “construction and demolition debris such as drywall, shingles, lumber, bricks, concrete and siding (shingles, lumber and concrete were in the pile) … large appliances (a television and air conditioner were spotted in the pile) … abandoned vehicles, parts and tires (a tire was spotted as well) .. furniture, yard trimmings, household garbage (plenty of household items were found in the pit) and medical waste.  

Mr. Courtney denied any wrongdoing on the part of the district, saying he didn’t know a permit for the area was required, adding “if we’re doing anything illegal I don’t know about it. I didn’t call DHEC. I didn’t know that you needed a permit for a burn pile.”  

That explanation, however, may not be enough to avoid a possible DHEC fine.

For the remainder of this story, please see this week's edition of The Citizen News.