County officials discuss recycling at landfill

County officials discuss recycling at landfill

Brawley: ‘ Obviously recycling would extend the life of

the landfill’

news@theeveningtimes.com

A recent discussion over concerns of water pits formed as a result of dirt mining at the County landfill spawned discussions about recycling, just as the West Memphis Planning Commission wrapped up business at their Oct. 26 meeting at City Hall.

After the Commission approved a plan to extend the landfill life span to 13 years, Commissioner Eddie Brawley asked Santek Vice-president of Engineering Ron Bell about the company’s recycling endeavors as it operates the county landfill. Brawley suggested that an increased focus on recycling could potentially further extend the life of the dump site. A spontaneous round robin recycling discussion wrapped up the meeting.

Commission chair Jack Avery waived the formalities of sticking to the agenda, as a unique blend of authorities were on hand to contribute to the discussion. Not only was Santek represented, but city administrators and County Judge Woody Wheeless, who holds authority over the land fill, were in attendance.

“We don’t do a great deal of recycling ” said Bell.

“Seems like there would be a natural fit,” suggested Brawley.

Recycling drop points at the County Court House in Marion and City Hall in West Memphis offer residents a chance to recycle paper and boxes, plastic and electronics. The landfill provides a recycling option for scrap metal and some big household appliances.

“We have a can out there that we encourage people to put their stuff into it,” said Bell. “So we don’t let metal and stuff easy to recycle like ‘white goods’ go into the landfill. We do haul those things to a recycler.”

“Obviously recycling would extend the life of the landfill,” said Brawley.

“I see the recycling program in the City of West Memphis and out in Marion and Crittenden County itself; we are doing some recycling,” said Wheeless.

“A lot of people have embraced it because we are having to empty those trailers every Monday morning.”

Recycling doesn’t pay cash, it comes at a cost, with one benefit being more years of service from the landfill.

“We are losing money,” said Wheeless.

“They are now charging for disposal of recyclables,” explained West Memphis City Engineer Phillip Sorrell. “When we first got into it, they were paying us $30 a ton. Now we are having to pay a

nominal fee.”

By John Rech