Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

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Recycling is the big news for the Southwest Central Solid Waste Management District.

The district announced its recycling center will be opening in early January. This center will be located in Hot Springs at 218 Runyon Street, behind the city's sanitation department.

Hot Springs City Manager Kent Meyers presented the district a draft of the contract the city will have with the district and center.

Basically, the center will operate on an annual contract, which can be extended should the district see fit. The center will be operated according to federal and state recycling guidelines, but can be terminated with 30 days notice with the city being reimbursed for all reasonable costs, including the cost of closing the center.

Meyers said Doyle Smith has been proposed as the center's director. All employees, he said, will fall under the city's drug policy, which means they can be terminated if found to be using illegal drugs.

Members of the district's board agreed the first year or so the center operates will be "trial and error" to see what happens, what works and what doesn't.

However, it must be pointed out the center is only accepting recyclable materials from communities and schools within the district. This includes Clark, Hot Spring and Garland Counties.

Individuals are encouraged to participate in local recycling efforts. Their materials will not be accepted at the center.

Bob Venuti, who is on the district's board, said the recycling advisory committee examined the concept of the first four months for the program.

He said the committee would begin advertising in December in the four major papers in the region. These ads will include a grand opening date for the center, who can participate and what will be accepted.

The center will open accepting corrugated cardboard, mixed white paper, newsprint, clear glass and aluminum cans.

Once these items are separated and properly bundled, they will be taken to markets where the center can get the best price possible for them.

The funds raised from the sale of recyclable materials will be used to operate the center. Any monies over and above operating costs will be returned to the participating communities.

Jim Goble discussed tire recycling in the district. He said the numbers are improving dramatically, and have done so each year the program has been in existence.

Currently, he said, the district is averaging less than $1 per tire for recycling. He added the SW district has the best cash reserve of any participating district.

Goble, though, expressed concern about the rising cost of getting tires, especially truck tires, recycled. The board was informed it costs $4.50 to recycle a truck tire and the region is only getting $1 to do it with.

The problem, Goble said, is convincing the legislature there is a problem when the district has any cash reserves. However, he plans on introducing a bill to increase the fee on truck tires from $1.50 to $3.50, with the district receiving $2.12 of the $3.50.

While this won't solve the problem, he said, it will help somewhat.

On a more positive note, Goble said the effort has resulted in getting some illegal tire dumps in the region cleaned up. These include the Caney site, and an area near Friendship, along with a location near Glen Rose.