‘No Mega Dump’ signs disappearing in Marlboro County

BENNETTSVILLE—The Citizens of Marlboro County continue to let their voices of opposition be heard and seen—through mega dump meetings along with “No Mega Dump” signs up in their yards.

Recently some of those signs have come down, and it’s not by choice.

For the past year and a half Belvin Sweatt has spear-headed the effort the signs.

“It’s still an on-going battle, and we have to continue to educate people about the hazards of this proposed mega dump,“ Belvin Sweatt, Citizens of Marlboro County Chairman, said.

Since the summer began Sweatt said the “citizens of Marlboro County” have been fighting a mega dump issue they never imagined.

Sweatt said along East Main Street in Bennettsville hundreds of “No Mega Dump” signs have come down, but not by choice.

“For people to come into somebody’s yard on private property they’re no more than a common thief,“ Sweatt said.

Sweatt’s yard has been hit three times alone and he said the most recent sign raid happened sometime Thursday night.

“When I came out Friday morning I noticed my neighbor’s yard first,“ Sweatt said.

A few feet away Sweatt’s yard was hit again.

“They just grabbed the top of it (the sign) and got it and left the metal stake in the ground,“ Sweatt said.

The authorities have been contacted, and Sweatt said he filed a report with the Marlboro County Sheriff’s Office.

“It just leaves us with a feeling you know why people want other people to think that the mega dump fight is over,“ Sweatt said.

The proposed landfill would stretch from Marlboro County, into North Carolina and encompass around 900 acres.

While DHEC hasn’t issued any permits for the site, the process is still on-going, and Sweatt said, so is his group’s efforts to keep it out.

“You can steal all you want, but we’re not going to go away. We’re going to keep fighting,“ Sweatt said.

If the signs come down they will go back up, Sweatt said.

Bennettsville Police said that they have also received a few missing sign reports.

Police said that if someone is caught stealing signs they could be charged with trespassing and petit larceny.

The next Citizens of Marlboro County meeting will be Thursday, August 28th at Thomas Memorial Baptist Church.