County reports nearly 9,200 vehicles in sampled week at convenience centers; El Bethel handles most tonnage
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Summary
Bedford County highway staff reported a sampled week with 9,189 vehicles using convenience centers; El Bethel center handles roughly 27–30 tons per day and, along with Tollgate, draws substantial city traffic — officials said disposal volumes are costly and counts fluctuate week to week.
The Bedford County highway superintendent reported that a weeklong traffic count at the county's convenience centers recorded about 9,189 vehicle visits, and that weekly totals can vary by up to about 1,000 vehicles.
"The total count that we have for the week that we took it was right at 9,189 vehicles come in those centers total," the superintendent said, noting the number fluctuates by close to a thousand cars from week to week.
The superintendent said the El Bethel convenience center, located just outside the city limits on U.S. 41, is the busiest and typically processes about 27 to 30 tons of material per day; Tollgate also receives substantial city traffic.
Officials said higher volumes at busy centers increase disposal costs for the county. The superintendent described solid-waste tonnages as "staying pretty standard" but rising over time and emphasized that center usage patterns change week to week.
Why it matters: Waste-disposal volumes and center traffic affect county operating costs and service planning; commissioners heard the sample counts as they consider solid-waste operations and budgets.