Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

District Wins Garbage Battle

It was a time of cautious rejoicing for the Southwest Central Regional Solid Waste Management District.

In its bi-monthly meeting Wednesday, March 17, the district board was informed the Arkansas General Assembly approved a measure allowing one solid waste district to transport its garbage across the boundaries of a second en route to a third.

This was important to the district as Saline County had filed suit against it for crossing its boundaries and taking its garbage to the BFI landfill in Little Rock.

While this was cause for rejoicing, the district is cautious because the legislators removed a section concerning grandfathering to the date the agreement was entered into.

No one is sure exactly what this means, but, as Chairman Larry Williams said, the district will keep doing what it's doing, and this is taking its waste to Little Rock.

Williams informed the board he had heard the Saline County landfill would be levying a $40 per year solid waste fee on county residents to meet its economic needs.

Other legislation was also discussed by the panel. Jim Goble, who operates the tire recycling program, said HB 2124, if passed, would turn the tire program over to the state, taking it from solid waste districts.

The problem, he said, is some districts are losing money on the tire recycling program, while others are making money.

The board took the stance of opposing this measure.

Another bill the board opposes is SB 796. Under the provisions of this 71-page bill, solid waste districts would be removed from the solid waste program, with the responsibility going to municipalities and county governments.

Half of the funding for the program would go to the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, with the rest being used as grants. The bill also provides for $1 million to be used for 1,000 scholarships of $1,000 each.

Tim Drigger, district secretary-recorder, said this measure is too vague and has superintendents overseeing the scholarships.

If the measure passes, he said, there would be no more solid waste districts or regions.

Kent Myers, Hot Springs city manager, said this bill destroys the focus of district management of solid waste.

Goble said the Arkansas Department of Pollution Control and Ecology (PC&E) stands to gain $1 million if it passes.

"The district approach on solid waste is working in Arkansas," Williams said. "This would be a step backwards."

Williams went on to say the PC&E is frustrated with the current formula used for the tire recycling program and wants to redo it, as some districts make money and others lose money under the program.

He said a change in form would be agreeable, but not if it took authority away from the districts and gives it to the state.

Currently, the money from the program goes where the people are and Williams said it needs to go where the most tires are collected.

Doyle Smith, who operates the recycling center, said the recycling program is doing well, with paper and cardboard being moved as quickly as it can be baled.

With spring here, he said, it is hoped the marked for cardboard is on the upswing.

At this time, a second crew needs to be considered, he told the board, in order to keep up with the newsprint coming in. "Business is that good."

Crews have put in full days the past three Saturdays to keep up with the demand.

Bob Venuti, chairman of the recycling program, introduced two new members to his group, Chris Treadway of Clark County, and former Gurdon Mayor Daryl Potratz.

Venuti said a new recycling coordinator is needed on a part-time basis to help oversee operations.

Fred Smith, with the Hot Spring County Solid Waste Authority, said the committee needed space before, and as the SWA is buying a new building the committee can use the old one.

He said a retired person could be hired for the job of coordinator, with half the pay coming from the district and the rest from Hot Springs.

The SWA, he went on, would provide office space, along with all office equipment and supplies at no cost.

Smith said the district needs to find a market for certain hard to move items, as it would result in lower tipping fees.

Myers suggested talking to BFI about privatizing the recycling program and go under contract. He said BFI is in the recycling business.

Roger Miner, with BFI, said the company would look into it, see what it could do and report back to the district board at its next meeting.

A certificate of need was approved by the board to help Garland County expand its class IV landfill.

The existing landfill, Williams said, has about a year left on it. The county purchased 355 more acres from Weyerhauser that joins the existing landfill, but needs approval of the entire city of Hot Springs so it can go to the pre-application phase.

To these ends, a town meeting will be held at the Garland County courthouse Thursday, April 22 at 7 p.m.

Along with the town meeting, other district business may be conducted and the May meeting skipped.

Miner said BFI and Allied Waste are merging. This venture, he informed the panel, has gotten little press coverage to date.

Allied offered $45 a share for BFI stock, as it has no operating facilities in this area. Should the merger go through, it will be July before it can be finalized.

Miner said no Allied assets are here and nothing will change. The company's past history is to leave company names intact

This would mean the district would not have to renegotiate a new contract with the company.

However, if Allied does change the name of BFI a new contract will have to be formed.