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Public works addresses mattress disposal, illegal-dumping enforcement
Summary
County public works staff described growing mattress volumes, a $20-per-mattress customer charge, coordination with the sheriff for illegal-dumping enforcement and possible fee changes next year to recoup costs.
The Public Works meeting discussed a growing volume of illegally dumped mattresses, current disposal fees and enforcement steps to identify and penalize dumpers.
At the meeting, a staff member identified only as Cliff said the county is seeing “anywhere from 20 to 30 a a week” in mattress disposals and “50 or 60 a a month easily,” and described steps to track vehicles involved in illegal dumping so the sheriff’s department can follow up. Cliff said the county is billing customers $20 per mattress and that the Smith County landfill has been accepting mattresses since July under a separate handling arrangement.
Cliff described how mattresses damage landfill equipment: “a mattress with all those coils and springs in them and the hardened wire gets wrapped around the the wheels of these machines and just destroys the seals,” and said the landfill has started taking mattresses at a separate location to avoid equipment damage. He also said the county has been billing customers $20 per mattress and described a different county charge schedule for the landfill: “Our first 5 are 10 a piece, and then we pay $20 after that per mattress.”
Cliff said the county has not been assessed any $50 penalties so far but warned of a $50 charge if a mattress is discovered in a normal construction-and-demolition roll-off load: “If we get caught with 1 in a roll off in a normal load going to the landfill of construction and demolition, then it's a $50 fee because they they charge us for dragging it out.”
Staff described local practices residents have used to avoid fees and to make mattresses acceptable for regular disposal: “we've had people go as far as cut the mattresses open and take the wire out and throw the wire in the metal bin and the foam in a in a normal roll off,” Cliff said, and added the Smith County landfill has accepted that practice since July.
The meeting record shows mattress drop-off is limited to two Saturdays a month (first and third or second and fourth Saturdays) and that staff member Megan sometimes accepts mattresses during the week. Cliff said the county will continue that schedule and work with the sheriff’s office to cite or otherwise address illegal dumpers when they can be identified.
Board members discussed whether the $20 customer charge covers true costs. Cliff said current billing is roughly breaking even but does not cover vehicle wear, driver pay and fuel; he said he is “afraid to raise it any right now” but raised the possibility of increasing the charge after the first of the year to better recoup costs.
Votes at a glance: The meeting opened with a motion to approve the minutes from the April 8 meeting (motion by Lonnie; second by Mark). The chair called for the question and said “Motion carries.” The meeting ended on a motion to adjourn (moved and seconded; chair said “All in favor. We are adjourned.”).
No formal change to mattress fees or an ordinance was adopted at this meeting; the mattress-discussion items were recorded as staff updates and discussion only.
