The city of Selma is taking the first step in finding a solution to its landfill woes.

A Public Works Committee meeting will be held Tuesday, Sept. 6 at 4 p.m. to discuss a plan to address the garbage dumping problem behind the ball fields at the Dallas County Sportsplex on Highway 219.

Sam Randolph, who chairs the committee, said he hopes to come away with answers to the problem, as well as some background information.

“We want to get answers as to who authorized the dumping there and why they are dumping trash there,” he said. “We are basically going to talk about the landfill issues and what it will cost to fix the problem.”

A representative from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management visited the area last week.

ADEM spokesman Scott Hughes said are now in the process of documenting the problems and developing a plan to clear up the lot, working with city officials.

Hughes said the biggest problem is the presence of municipal solid waste, which is classified as all types of solid waste generated by households and commercial establishments, and collected usually by local government bodies.

The site, Selma Mayor George Evans said, was originally supposed to be used only for limbs, trees and brush.

However, he said people often pile other items on the curb as well. These items, he said, can get mixed in and were not removed before the brush was dumped at the site.

The 50-acre tract of land, which is owned by the city, is being used because the current landfill is full.

This landfill, Randolph said, filled up far too fast.

“We thought it would last several years and it filled up in two,” he said. “We’ll have to look at the current problems and look for ways to prevent this from happening again.”

The meeting will be held in the Selma City Council Chambers at City Hall.