Richland County to resumes some trash services suspended by coronavirus
Richland County is resuming some trash collection just days after announcing it would suspend some of its solid waste collection due to the coronavirus.
The county will continue collecting yard debris, and will reopen its collection sites during select hours, County Administrator Leonardo Brown told county council members on a conference call.
The county announced Tuesday it would close its landfill and three drop-off centers as well as suspend collection for yard debris and bulk items such as furniture.
Brown told council members Friday that Richland County had worked out an arrangement with the private collection service it contracts with to continue more of its operations.
The county will still stop curbside collection of large bulk items such as furniture, carpets, mattresses and appliances, beginning Saturday. Collection of household trash and recycling will continue as normal.
The drop-off center at the landfill at 1070 Caughman Rd. N. will also resume operations from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, Brown said.
That facility had closed to the public on Wednesday, along with drop-off centers at 10531 Garners Ferry Rd. and 900 Clemson Rd.
The Clemson Road facility will now be open every day except Monday and Wednesday. The Garners Ferry center will be closed on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
But those facilities will operate with some coronavirus restrictions in place. Anyone visiting the sites will have to wait in their cars until directed by county staff, and practice social distancing during their time in the facility, Brown said.
The county isn’t the only service provide making changes because of the virus. Columbia is also asking residents to change the way they throw out their trash in response to the coronavirus.
The city is asking all garbage to be bagged and contained in a receptacle, and that recyclables are also placed in the blue curbside receptacles.
Objects that are placed on the curb outside the receptacles won’t be collected in the interest of stopping the spread of the virus, the city announced in a press release on Thursday.
Any household with a sick member “double bag any garbage that may be infectious.” But recyclables should still be placed in the bin loose without a plastic bag.
No changes to the city’s garbage collection schedule have been made at this time, the release says.
These are the latest government services to be suspended in response to the coronavirus outbreak. Richland County has already closed its buildings to the public and asked only essential personnel to come into work. The Richland County Judicial Center was closed and jury trials suspended after an employee had indirect contact with the coronavirus.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhat you should know about the coronavirus
The coronavirus is spreading in the United States. Officials are urging people to take precautions to avoid getting sick, and to avoid spreading the disease if they do contract it.
Click the drop-down icon on this card for more on the virus and what you should do to keep yourself and those around you healthy.
What is coronavirus?
Coronavirus is an infection of the respiratory system similar to the flu. Coronaviruses are a class of viruses that regularly cause illnesses among adults and children, but this outbreak has spawned a new disease called COVID-19, a particularly harsh respiratory condition that can lead to death.
Health officials believe COVID-19 spread from animals to humans somewhere in China. It spreads among humans by physical person-to-person contact, including via coughs. That’s why health officials urge sick individuals to avoid contact with other people.
For more information, visit the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms are similar to the flu and include fever, coughing and shortness of breath.
How can I stop the spread of the coronavirus?
Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, and cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
If you develop symptoms similar to the coronavirus, you should seek medical attention. Stay home from work or school and avoid contact with others. It can take up to 14 days after coming into contact with the virus to develop symptoms.
COVID-19 is a new condition and there’s much about the disease we still don’t understand. For now, taking precautions is the best way to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
This story was originally published March 25, 2020 at 10:19 AM.
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