COLUMBIA, S.C. — A Richland County woman recently posted on social media about the difficulties she had getting rid of some large trash items taken away from her neighborhood. The post got a lot of interactions, and brings up the question: What do you do when you have multiple items that are too big for the garbage bin?
Richland County Manager of Solid Waste and Recycling Syndi Castelluccio sat down with News19 to discuss what rules and regulations have changed when citizens want the county to pick up large items.
"So your large items like furniture, appliances, mattresses, box springs, things like that, we will pick up curbside with appointment only,” Syndi said.
Appointment only is something that has changed in recent years.
"We had kind of gotten accustomed two years ago where we would just put those items curbside with your yard waste and it would go away."
Not all bulk items are able to be picked up, however. "The reason why we don't take computers, printers or televisions is because they are a band waste and you cannot put them in your garbage cart," she said.
If those items are left on the curb, it is recommended you take them inside before receiving a fine from the county.
"You can incur a fine of $1.092.50 that you could be responsible for if you are the property owner."
Combining items to make them fit into the cans is also something Syndi advises households not to do.
"If you combine or mix those items it becomes a noncompliant pile and they will come and not collect anything."
At the end of the day and during the holiday season, Syndi encourages households to regift or donate access stuff rather than throwing it away to lessen waste.
"My best advice is to call the number with a list of items and we will be able to tell you what we can pick up curbside and make that appointment for you and if there are any items we don't collect curbside we can tell you where those locations are that you can drop them."