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BY DIANA MCFARLAND

The Smithfield Times

SMITHFIELD

Opening up selected Isle of Wight Refuse and Recycling Centers for resident-generated construction debris is on the agenda for early next year.

Isle of Wight Solid Waste Manager Michael Etheridge plans to bring an ordinance to the Board of Supervisors, perhaps as early as January, which would allow residents to dispose of construction debris resulted from home improvement projects and repairs.

The ordinance does not include contractors disposing materials used for a commercial job.

The ordinance would allow for home repair and project debris, but excludes concrete, shingles and asbestos.

Residents would be allowed to bring one full-size pickup truck load, or 12-foot trailer load per day, said Etheridge at the Board of Supervisors meeting on Nov. 7.

Residents would need to show proof of residence, said Etheridge.

Centers targeted for the expanded service include Jones Creek, Stave Mill, Carrsville and Carroll Bridge, said Etheridge.

Wrenn’s Mill will be added when its redesign is complete, he added.

Currently, residents can take construction debris to two transfers stations, one located on Four Square Road in Isle of Wight, and the other in Franklin.

Part of the ordinance would allow for prosecuting violators, said Isle of Wight County attorney Bobby Jones of contractors with commercial debris.

Having this service available will reduce the amounts going through the transfer stations, as well as “tensions” that result from center attendants turning away a load, said Carrsville District Supervisor Don Rosie.

“It’s hard to make someone make a judgment call,” said Etheridge about on-duty attendants confronted with a questionable load.

The Wrenn’s Mill Refuse and Recycling Center is being redesigned to better facilitate traffic flow. This redesign follows a similar one at Jones Creek, which was completed last year.

DIANA MCFARLAND is editor of The Smithfield Times. She can be contacted at 357-3288 or news@smithfieldtimes.com.