Dallas County’s garbage level may be rising, but that doesn’t mean the county pickup is slowing down.

Since Jan. 1 the county has seen a 20 percent increase in municipal solid waste, according to Larry D. Friday, director of the Selma/Dallas County Environmental Services & Vector Control Office.

The county chose to increase the operating hours of a waste transfer station and add a container to both stations in order to handle the increased load. Hours for the Orrville Transfer Station and the Highway 41 station are now 7-4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7-3 p.m. on Saturday.

The transfer stations are an intermediate step between residents’ homes and two landfills, which are located outside of the county. Household garbage is taken from homes and brought to the transfer stations, where it is placed in 40-cubic-yard containers before loaded onto a truck and brought to the landfills.

Excess garbage was placed in the ground and put in containers on the following day in the past, Friday said. The extra containers at each station will eliminate that need. &uot;More containers and hours will increase expense, but I don’t see any tax increase,&uot; Friday added. &uot;The expense will be absorbed by the county commission.&uot;

According to Friday, one reason for the increased garbage is the success of the county’s illegal dumping abatement program, which began in 1989. Litter Control Officer Asbury Middlebrooks investigates and prosecutes illegal dumping. &uot;The illegal dump situation is becoming more scare,&uot; Friday said. &uot;The illegal dumps are slowly but surely disappearing.&uot;

A continuing problem for the county is littering. Friday encouraged everyone to contact his office at 874-2522 if they see illegal dumping or littering occur and report the offender’s license tag number. &uot;We’ve got a limited staff,&uot; Friday said. &uot;We pick up litter every day. We’ve got a litter crew, but we’re far outnumbered by people who litter.&uot;

Friday commended county citizens for their success in riding the county of most of its illegal dumps. &uot;We solicit their continued support in combating the county litter problem,&uot; he added.