Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Recycling Issues Discussed

Whether or not to allow Diamondhead to utilize the new recycling center was a major concern of the Southwest Regional Solid Waste Management District board Wednesday.

Meeting Feb. 21 in Jones Mills, before making the trip to Hot Springs for the recycling center's ribbon cutting ceremony, the board discussed this problem.

Bill Reinhardt, with the Arkansas Department of Pollution Control and Ecology, who also lives at Diamondhead, said the property owners association (POA).

He said it is a community effort, though being sponsored by a civic club. Any revenues derived from the effort would go to the POA.

Clifford McClard, with the SWCRSWMD, said the center is not taking recyclables from private haulers.

However, he said, it could take the items from Diamondhead and work out a way for the community to pay for it through the POA.

Reinhardt said the private community should be included as a government entity and be reimbursed by the center as is Hot Springs Village.

Helen Selig, Hot Springs' mayor, said the district couldn't allow all POA's to do this as all condominiums have POAs.

Bill Fletcher, also with the board, said HSV has its own solid waste collection system, whereas the condos don't. Currently, garbage from HSV is being hauled to the Saline County landfill.

Fletcher said he doesn't know if Diamondhead has such a system, but it could be used as a line of distinction for those participating in the recycling center.

McClard said the recycling committee may need to work on this issue some more, because people are willing to recycle and don't need to be discouraged -- especially schools, where education on recycling begins.

The district is also going to apply for a tax identification number. This, Doyle Smith said, will establish it as a government body doing business, but will not exempt the district from paying taxes.

Hot Spring County took it on the chin somewhat as Jim Goble talked about cleaning up illegal tire dumps within the district's three counties.

Goble said three sites, all in Hot Spring County, are in the process of being cleaned up.

The district agreed to allow Davis Rubber Co. of Little Rock to clean up the site at Caney, which has about 5,000 truck tires.

Goble said the district has received a grant for $25,000 which will just about pay to get this site cleaned up.

In addition, he said the Glen Rose site has about 5,000 passenger tires to clean up. However, the owner of this property is working with the district and should have the location cleaned by the end of the month.

Legal action has been taken against the site at Friendship, Goble said.

When the meeting ended, the board made the trip to Hot Springs for the ribbon cutting.

Garland County Judge Larry Williams recognized members of the board and special guests on hand.

Gurdon Mayor Rick Smith said the center is important as it shows the cooperation between three counties.

"This is something we've learned to accept to be successful. Other counties will follow.

"We're all on the same team," he said, "and look forward to the center benefitting all of us."