Trash Talk – Presentation on Thursday provides glimpse into landfill operations.

June 18th 2025

By: Henry E. Green

The Press & Banner – Facebook

A landfill, said John Abercrombie Thursday, is much different than it used to be. “We are not just taking in trash,” he said. It is far more highly regulated these days than in years past. Abercrombie, an operation consultant with La-Bella, was just one of a number of speakers who assembled Thursday at the Abbeville County Administrative Complex to “talk trash”, so to speak—delving into the mechanics of landfill operation.

How does it operate? What are the do’s and don’ts of landfill operation – all were part of a program organized by Abbeville County director of public works Robert Hatton. Abbeville County economic development director Austin Walker described it as “a great opportunity to learn more about our landfill operations, budgeting process, and some exciting updates on landfill gas management.” Abercrombie, meanwhile, noted that landfill personnel need to know what kinds of waste can be accepted at the facility. Authorized waste typically means anything that you put in your trash can at home. A waste screening plan for a landfill is a good thing, said Abercombie, adding that adequate training for landfill personnel is very important.

A landfill employee, said Abercrombie, should be like “the TSA” – Transportation Security Administration. Landfill personnel might find it useful at times to perform random load inspections – personnel inspect the load and document it. “We don’t take white goods at the landfill,” he said, “They’re prohibited by law”.

Labels, placards and marking on materials which may be headed to the landfill give an indication of what’s inside, and landfill personnel must act accordingly. “These are cautionary signs,” said Abercrombie. Records that are generated from random load inspections must be maintained at the landfill facility or in an operation record according to the site permit.

Providing a conclusion to the program were Andrew Murrer, Construction Manager with AdvanceOne Development LLC, and Tyler Helton, product and service sales representative with Landfill Group. Murrer and Helton talked about how methane could be collected, with an eye toward generating energy. Murrer recalled how his mother once told him, “There’s money in garbage”, and he indicated that could very well be true. Hatton on Friday noted that the landfill included an area for construction and demolition debris, and another area, which has special lining for garbage.

The presentation by Murrer and Helton was for informational purposes – to show what could be, to show you can create a revenue within landfill waste if done properly. Hatton said he invited not only personnel from the Department of Public Works, but other county departments as well – to provide information and how it is operated.

The Abbeville County landfill is maintained through the Abbeville County Department of Public Works.