David Ferguson, Chairman of Fairfield County Council, cuts the ceremonial ribbon Sunday on the County’s new wood chipping facility on Old Airport Road. Joining Ferguson are: County Council Vice Chairman Dwayne Perry, County Council member Carolyn Robinson, Assistant County Administrator Davis Anderson and Deputy Public Works Director Jake Gaston.
On Sunday, a handful of Fairfield County Council members gathered at 5679 Old Airport Road in Winnsboro for the ribbon cutting ceremony to open up the new Wood Chipping and Waste Tire Facility. County Council Chairman David Ferguson said he believes the facility, and the service it provides, can save the county money in the future.
“This facility will save us thousands of dollars,” Ferguson said. “It’ll probably pay for itself within the first two years.”
The facility, which has been operating for five months and cost the County between $400,000 and $500,000 (mostly for the enormous amount of concrete involved), has already processed 2,000 tons of material, saving the County approximately $100,000. Before the county opened up the Wood Chipping and Waste Tire Facility, they had to pay $50 per ton to haul it to Screaming Eagle Road in Columbia.
The Wood Chipping and Waste Tire Facility is a place where county residents can take their limbs, stumps, leaves, grass clippings and yard debris. Once the facility is about two-thirds full, a portable wood chipper comes in and creates mulch. County residents can then come to the facility with their pickup trucks or trailers and haul off the mulch for free.
Ferguson said that the facility should be especially helpful to people living in Winnsboro.
“The Town of Winnsboro is one of our biggest contributors to picking up waste and yard debris,” he said.
Hours of operation for the Fairfield County Wood Chipping and Waste Tire facility are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. and on Saturday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. and closed on Sundays.
