Cleaning up a mess in North Canton

NORTH CANTON — The frozen dirt pile mixed with rocks and leaves looks cleaner then the mound of dirt and concrete a few feet away.

But according to state regulations, the leaves and gravel collected by a North Canton street sweeper must be hauled to a landfill. The dirt and concrete — from a damaged catch basin in the city — can remain in a lot off Freedom Avenue NW in Jackson Township.

Now that North Canton officials know the pile of street debris is a problem, it will be hauled away at the city’s cost, Mayor David J. Held said.

But there are some in the community who wonder why city administrators — especially Held as director of the Stark, Tuscarawas and Wayne Counties Joint Solid Waste District — didn’t know street debris is a solid waste.

Held said confusion began in November 2008 when city administrators first discussed the rule with state officials and were left with the impression they were properly handling street sweepings.

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