VIDEO: Columbus Trash Trouble

By: Salena Schaffer

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)-

The Columbus city landfill is pushing its limits… Literally!
The department of environmental quality has put pressure on the city to move the trash back within it’s bounds.
The landfill is overflowing….by a whole lot.
According to Casey Bush, the Columbus City Public Works Director, the landfill is overlapping into boundaries not owned by them.

“We ended up surveying and found out that we were 5.2 acres out of bounds.” said Bush.

City workers are working overtime to push the piles of large debris back into bounds.

“We have the guys working 7 days a week 13hrs a day.” said Bush.

But because of this excess piling, what was once a 4-year expiration date is now down to 2-years until they reach full capacity.
Bush believes citizens bringing debris from  storms caused the massive pile-up.

“The few storms that we had we allowed customers from within the county to come in and dump into our site.”said Bush.

Bush isn’t too worried though… about the deadline or reaching full capacity…

“We’re looking for another space and I’m pretty sure we already have another space within the site we’re at now.” said Bush.

For now bush wants Columbus citizens to know the landfill is still in operation…

“By all means we’re not closing the landfill, we’re still open.” said Bush.

Citizens can bring their large trash items to the landfill for $18 a ton.