News 12 First at Five; July 20, 2009

EDGEFIELD CTY, S.C. --- It's a place where the Edgefield Co. School District dumps all of their yard debris, wood debris and old desks, among other things. We investigate to find out why it's there and why other things, like chemicals, are in the trash.

The trash is being left at JET Middle School, that's on Columbia Road in Edgefield County. Now, we are learning there could be criminal charges for the people who left the trash, as the Sheriff's Office tells us SC DHEC is investigating.

We found out the pit, as they call it in the district, has been around for about 5 years.

Nestled in the woods behind the school is trash and lots of it, including pesticides and gas containers, a paint can and more. All of it is in a pit that the new Principal of JET Middle tells News 12, he had no idea was behind the school at all.

News 12, "Is it from the school? That stuff back there?"
Principal Stephen Hampton, "That's why I said you should go to the District Office."

So, we did go there. The District Facility Director James Courtney explains the trash. "We are not burning trash. We are not running a landfill," says Courtney. "We dug a pit; we put yard debris in there. We also put wood debris in there that we burn probably 2 times a year."

He adds, with the proper permits and notification.

News 12, "None of the chemicals we found are from the school?"
James, "Well, I do not know. I would have to look at the containers back there but it should not be. The chemical containers and all should be in the dumpsters (that are thrown out from the school)."

Courtney thinks trespassers may be to blame for the chemicals in the pit. "They go back there and deliver us things we don't really want. But before we burn we usually clean it out."

While it's unclear where the chemicals came from, we wanted to know why desks and other things are also dumped behind the school. "Yes, we pile them up back there until we have time to clean the tops. Think of your own home. You have to have a place to put things to eventually haul it off. We have to have a place to put this kind of stuff."

Courtney adds, eventually the desks are broken apart, what can be burned is and the rest is recycled or gotten rid of.

News 12, "Bottom line is this is not an illegal dumping ground?"
Courtney, said "In our opinion, no. It's a collection ground where we burn wood debris and we store stuff back there."

But, that may not be for too much longer. "That would be a grand idea, that we try to eliminate this," says Courtney. "And, that we start dumping things into the county landfills." That instead of behind a middle school that's now at the center of a messy situation.

According to the SC DHEC website, illegal dumping is the improper disposal of waste at any location other than a permitted landfill or facility. We contacted Edgefield County Solid Waste and we're told they are not aware of any permit for a disposal facility at the school.

Now, it is up to DHEC. They will not confirm if they are actively investigating, but the Edgefield Co. Sheriff's Office says they have turned the entire investigation over to DHEC.