In March, the Pearl River County Board of Supervisors approved an amendment of what is now known as the Pearl River County Refuse and Litter Hauling Ordinance.
The new regulations require commercial trash haulers to undergo a semi-annual inspection at the county barn.
However Pearl River County Litter Control Officer Danny Joe Slade said the new rules haven’t been put into place just yet.
The ordinance was set to take effect June 30, but Slade said he has scheduled a meeting next week with Board Attorney Joe Montgomery to discuss some necessary changes.
“It needs to be tweaked for us to put it into effect,” Slade said.
The ordinance was drafted as a way to combat litter and other rubbish from leaving the back of a truck bed or trailer and ending up along county roads.
The ordinance says a person or entity cannot haul or transport waste unless the tuck bed or trailer is covered or contained to ensure trash does not fall off our blow out of the vehicle.
The semi-annual inspection process would ensure commercial haulers have the proper equipment in place to prevent this type of secondhand littering.
In addition to utilizing the proper equipment, commercial haulers are also required to present a privilege license for their business, properly display the company name and phone number on its vehicles, maintain the proper licenses for drivers and carry proof of insurance.
Any violations could result in a misdemeanor charge, the ordinance states.
If a hauler is convicted of three violations within two years, their permit is taken away for one year, thereby halting the operation of their business.
Carol Gledhill, of C&H Waste #2 in Picayune said her drivers have been ticketed multiple times for allegedly littering along county highways.
However, she said, “We felt as through we were already in compliance before the ordinance.”
Gledhill said she supports the ordinance, acknowledging that there is a litter problem in the county, but it’s not coming from her trucks.
“We are tired of other haulers being out here and giving us a bad reputation,” she said.
Gledhill said her drivers tarp the trucks every time they drive more than a mile. But during frequent stops along main highways, it’s almost impossible to tarp between each house, she said.
“We’re in business to pick up garbage and try to help keep this county clean, we don’t want to be given a hard time for doing it,” Gledhill said.
Gledhill said she’s been anticipating the new guidelines since March, but has yet to be informed of the proper procedure.