By Patrick McCallister
For Hometown News
HOLLY HILL - Any company can pick up demolition and construction debris in Holly Hill now, but the service has a new price tag.
"If a company wants to bring their own roll-off into Holly Hill, they can," Jim McCroskey, city manager, said. "But they have to pay $1,000."
The Holly Hill City Commission gave its final nod Aug. 28 to a proposed ordinance that would require any company that provides temporary solid-waste collection to pay $1,000 to do business in town. Roll-off is a description for trash receptacles that are picked up and taken away after they're filled, rather than emptied into trucks.
Until recently Waste Management was the only company that was supposed to provide roll-off solid-waste service in Holly Hill. Mr. McCroskey said others frequently provided roll-off service. Roll-off service is now at the city's discretion.
Amy Boyson, company spokeswoman, said Waste Management is the exclusive provider of roll-offs in some cities it has contracts with, but not others.
"Every city and county is different," she said. "In some areas, there are several service providers."
Ms. Boyson wasn't at the meeting and said she's not familiar with Holly Hill's ordinance. She said roll-off solid-waste service increases and decreases for many reasons, but the construction downturn has decreased the number of roll-off customers.
Mr. McCroskey told the council he expected about six or seven companies will pay the $1,000 a year to do solid-waste roll-off service in Holly Hill.
"We're just trying to find 'out of the box' thinking to bring in some revenue so the burden is not put on the taxpayers throughout the year," Commission Rick Glass said. "This is part of the 'out of the box' thinking. I think it's a great idea to generate some revenue."