Tri-county region easily meets state waste reduction goal

Dyer, Crockett and Gibson counties produced less wastes in 2007 than the year before, and they sent a smaller percentage of those wastes to municipal landfills.

The tri-county solid waste region easily surpassed a state-mandated 25 percent waste reduction goal. In fact, it nearly tripled that goal by diverting 70.14 percent of all wastes away from Class I municipal landfills. Class I landfills, which accept household garbage, require expensive liners and collection systems for leachate and methane gas.

"As a region, Crockett, Dyer and Gibson had 70.14 percent (diversion), which is very good," Wanda Fuzzell, a solid waste planner with the Northwest Tennessee Development District, said.

Fuzzell prepared the annual report with statistics gathered by Tommy Edmonds, tri-county solid waste director. The report was presented to the regional board and approved Tuesday night in Alamo. The report will be sent to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation for review and approval.

The region, as a whole, produced 291,705.18 tons of wastes in 2007. For comparison, that's 5,353.18 fewer tons than in 2006, when the region diverted 66.53 percent of its wastes away from municipal landfills.

Fuzzell noted that none of the three counties experienced major storm damage. In 2006, tornadoes swept through Dyer and Gibson counties, creating a spike in waste production as damaged buildings were demolished.

Dyer County produced the most wastes -- 135,562.40 tons -- in 2007. It recycled 89,776.40 tons and sent 5,350 tons to Class III/IV landfills for demolition debris and yard wastes. Included in the recycling figures were 9,225 tons of old asphalt that was incorporated into new paving projects by Ford Construction Co. The county's real-time diversion rate is 70.17 percent.

Gibson County was second with 112,483.15 tons of wastes. It recycled 74,574.15 tons and sent 2,248 tons to Class III/IV landfills. The county's real-time diversion rate is 68.30 percent.

Crockett County, the smallest of the three counties, produced 43,919.63 tons of wastes. It recycled 32,665.63 tons and sent 260 tons to Class III/IV landfills. The county's real-time diversion rate is 74.97 percent.

Fuzzell reminded the board that the state has appointed a Waste Reduction Task Force to set future waste management goals. The task force must decide whether to raise the state's waste reduction goal and the method counties may use to calculate their waste reduction totals.

Currently, counties are allowed to include private companies' waste diversion statistics. Task force committees are questioning whether that is appropriate, since the waste reduction goal was designed to target citizen action. Counties also are allowed to count tonnage diverted to Class III/IV landfills. Task force committees are now debating that, too, since those wastes are ultimately buried in a different kind of landfill.

Without the tonnage provided by private companies and diversion to Class III/IV landfills, the tri-county region may not so easily meet the current 25 percent waste reduction goal.

The annual report also looked at:

* Future waste management needs in each of the three counties. Dyer County expressed a need for two more 40-yard open-top containers and four recycling bins in the next year and two more convenience centers within the next five years. Fuzzell said the county may seek state grants only for items listed in the annual report. Unfortunately, the state has not offered any waste reduction grants in the last four years; open-top containers and convenience centers fall into that category.

Crockett and Gibson counties both need pallets and a forklift within a year's time, according to summaries of those annual reports. The equipment will be used in paint collection programs that will be initiated on the county level. Fuzzell said the state wants all counties to begin collecting and recycling paint and electronic wastes, such as computers. Gibson County began collecting discarded computers last year.

* The lack of state grants and funding for convenience center maintenance, which has been a problem for many counties. "Equipment wears out much faster without proper maintenance and the county cannot afford the needed maintenance," Fuzzell wrote in a summary of the Dyer County report.

* Household hazardous waste collection programs. For the last few years, the state has contracted with a company to collect household items that may be toxic, corrosive, flammable or otherwise unsuited for disposal in a municipal landfill.

Dyer County usually hosts at least one collection day each year, with the state contractor removing the items. The state turned down Dyer County's request for a collection event this year.

Gibson County plans to hold a household hazardous waste collection day on May 17 at the Ed Jones Agriplex in Trenton. All Tennessee residents may participate.

* Illegal dumping. Dyer County reported illegal roadside dumps on Simpson Road and Keno Pond Road. Crockett County reported a roadside dump on D.T. Williams Road. Gibson County reported roadside dumps on Boheim Road, B. Martin Road, Dawson Bottom Road and Joe D. Hall Road.

The Dyer County report listed a decrease in illegal dumping as one of its successes. "Illegal dumping is still decreasing due to stiffer penalties," the report synopsis stated. "More people are using the convenience centers as a result. Downside is increased cost for the county at the centers."

* The counties' costs for waste management.

Dyer County spent $98,143 operating its three convenience centers. Dyer County Building Inspector Daniel Cobb, who manages the county's convenience centers, said he's working with C and C Enterprises of Trenton to recycle cardboard and all kinds of paper goods, including newspapers, magazines and office paper. The company plans to begin paying the county $35 for each ton of paper goods on April 1. Cobb said the county has been paying $60 a ton to have the paper hauled away for recycling. The income will help offset the county's costs.

Gibson County spent $75,197 on sanitation management.

Crockett County spent $245,044 operating four convenience centers. The county is considering whether to provide private collection services for all county residents. Residents who subscribe to a garbage collection service will be less likely to use a convenience center, thereby reducing the county's costs.

The tri-county solid waste board is scheduled to meet again at 6 p.m. Oct. 21 at Daniel Cobb's office on Pioneer Road.