Lexchront@yahoo.com

Christmas season is a time to slow down, enjoy family, and take some time off.

That’s true for the City of West Columbia Sanitation Department, too.

But after the holidays, the city’s clean-up staff works twice as hard.

More trash than ever awaits them after several days off for the holiday.

“We see a 20% increase in the amount of waste we pick up,” said Jamie Hook, City of West Columbia Public Works director.

He said normally, the city’s sanitation staff picks up about 70 tons of household garbage in a week.

“That increases to about 84 or 85 tons in the week after Christmas,” said Hook.

In a normal week, the West Columbia Sanitation Department picks up about 30 tons of recyclable material. Hooks said in the week after Christmas, that amount swells to about 37 tons of recyclables.

Curbside pickup will be affected by the holiday.

Sanitation staff will not run their routes on Dec. 24, 25, and 26.

They’ll be back to work Thursday, Dec. 27.

“We double-up the number of routes they run on Thursday and Friday,” said Hook. “We’ll work extra hours until we get everything picked up,” said Hook.

Hook reminds residents:

• Recycle cardboard boxes and wrapping paper

• Styrofoam is not recyclable and should be placed with regular garbage.

• Take off all ornaments and lights before placing Christmas trees outside for pick up.

West Columbia Sanitation gives the trees it collects to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.

“The trees are used for fish habitats in Lake Murray,” said Hook.