§ 10.5-17. Purpose.

(a)

The purpose of the chapter is to protect the health, safety and general well-being of the citizens of Horry County, enhance and maintain the quality of the environment, conserve natural resources and to prevent water and air pollution by providing for a comprehensive, rational and effective means of regulating the collection and disposal of solid waste generated in Horry County and for the prohibition of the disposal of any waste materials in any manner except as set forth in this chapter.

The management of solid waste is the inherent responsibility of local government, whose authority in this area is derived from its police powers. County-wide collection and disposition of solid waste will allow for more effective and environmentally responsible waste planning and management, and more effective implementation of the county's integrated solid waste management plan.

(b)

Horry County Council finds and determines that:

(1)

Providing sanitary solid waste disposal services is a function of county government under the general law provision of public safety in the S.C. Constitution, and more specifically assigned in Home Rule legislation adopted by the General Assembly. The S.C. and Horry County Solid Waste Management Plans are adopted in pursuit of that goal. Horry County finds that this government function is best accomplished with the management and regulation of the waste stream generated within the county. Flow control is a tool used to accomplish that goal. Best practice management will dictate that managing the waste stream will require adoption and implementation of goals, rules, regulations, policies, fees and directives from time to time. These are policy decisions solely of Horry County and its assigns.

(2)

The landfill owned and operated by the Horry County Solid Waste Authority is a valuable public resource and is in the public interest to preserve and maintain its capacity to serve as the point of disposal for solid wastes generated by the citizens of Horry County.

(3)

The long term capacity of the landfill is limited and an important means of preserving said capacity in a manner consistent with the Horry County Solid Waste Management Plan is through an increase in the recycling of the construction and demolition debris generated within the county that is currently being delivered to the landfill for disposal.

(4)

Various means and methods of extracting recyclable materials from construction and demolition debris exist, and it is in the public interest that private, as well as public resources be devoted to facilities designed and used for this purpose, as well as for the disposal of C&D waste.

(5)

In order to preserve valuable landfill capacity and airspace, lessen the extent of need for future landfill development within the county, induce the investment of private resources and encourage competition in the collection and recycling of construction and demolition debris, provide a stimulus to the housing industry and overall the economic development in the county that is consistent with the Horry County Solid Waste Management Plan, and minimize methane fuel contaminants, and for other reasons set forth in Ordinance 78-13, it is in the public's best interest that Ordinance 02-09 be amended as set forth in Ordinance 78-13.

(Ord. No. 02-09, § 1.1, 4-7-09; Ord. No. 78-13, § 1(B), 1-21-14)