NORTH FORSYTH — Garbage trucks traveling Hwy. 369 en route to the Eagle Point Landfill are a familiar sight in northwestern Forsyth County. Just as common, some residents and motorists say, is the trash that flies off those vehicles and lines the side of the highway. During a recent work session, the Forsyth commission voted 5-0 to pursue as-needed trash pickup along county roads, especially ones leading to the landfill.“We did talk to [the state Department of Transportation], and they said that it was perfectly fine. They’d love for us to do that,” said District 4 Commissioner Cindy Jones Mills. “The biggest problem is the landfill and the garbage trucks.“It’s my district. I’ll look at trying to find other ways other communities do things to the garbage trucks,” Mills said. “I understand in Roswell that when you pull out [on the road] you get fined if you don’t have it pulled correctly. Mills went on to say that she has had several complaints about the garbage. “I know it’s this time of year. I’ve had many, many meetings trying to get it lined up,” she said. Attempts to reach officials with Eagle Point Landfill were not successful last week. Typically the cleanup falls on DOT or the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, but Mills said the timing of the year and preparations for the opening of the new jail in April have put a strain on the local law enforcement agency’s time and resources. Resident Steve Weed said the trash has littered the road on which he lives, as well as his son’s street. Both live off of Hwy. 369.“There’s cellophane hanging in trees, stuff stuck in barbed wire, it’s almost embarrassing,” Weed said. “I’m almost embarrassed to have people come visit my home, because it looks like tobacco road. It’s really a bad situation.” Like Mills, Weed said that the biggest issue was garbage trucks leaving the area.“The problem is the landfill and all the number of trucks that drive,” he said. “For me, it’s just a continuous situation. I’ve dealt with calling the DOT on a number of occasions and they have sent out crews that would pick up the trash off the road.“By the time they’ve got one section of the road done, another truck comes by and it starts all over again.”
