After years of being closed on weekends, the Georgetown County landfill will now be open for two hours on Saturdays through the summer.

County Administrator Sel Hemingway said several haulers that bring garbage to the county landfill were instead taking it to Horry County on Saturdays.

Because tipping fees are higher in Horry County, the companies were losing money and considering stopping Saturday pickups.

The weekend pickup is essential in some areas, such as Waccamaw Neck, where Saturday is the turnaround day for rental units.

The Georgetown County landfill will be open from noon to 2 p.m. starting Saturday and continuing through mid-September. Along with professional haulers, residents can also bring garbage to be dumped.

Ray Funnye, the county’s public services director, said he was still working out a schedule for the Saturday shift, but didn’t expect every landfill worker to have to work every week.

However, the Saturday shift will be in addition to the normal work week and the workers will be paid overtime, Funnye said.

Hemingway said he expects the extra two hours a week will cost the county about $3,900 for the four-month period, some of which can be recouped from tipping fees.

The landfill used to be open on Saturdays, but the county discovered about five or six years ago there wasn’t enough business to cover the expenses.

There were also scheduling problems, as the people who worked Saturday had to take a day off during the week, leaving the other landfill workers short-handed.

By Chris Sokoloski

csokoloski@gtowntimes.com