Spencer County discusses recycling revenues, $4,000 tire-amnesty grant and possible changes to recycling program

Karen Spencer of the Solid Waste Committee briefed the Fiscal Court on May 20 about recycling operations, revenues and a small state grant for tire removal. She reported the county's 2018 Solid Waste Management Area Annual Report was marked 'compliant' by the state Division of Waste Management and said proceeds from sale of recyclables rose from $22,249 to $25,349 in 2018.

Spencer told the court that from July 1, 2018 to the present the county had shipped 145 tons of cardboard (about $60 per ton), 38 tons of newspaper, 25 tons of plastic and 7 tons of e-scrap. The county also received a $4,000 tire-amnesty award that, per the grant rules, must be used in the designated fiscal year; county staff discussed staging a small tire collection before July 1 and then apply state grant funds afterward if needed.

Magistrate J. Moody moved to remove the recycling trucks from service and sell the recycling trailers, arguing the recycling program cost taxpayers money; the motion failed for lack of a second. Karen Spencer and other committee members stressed that recycling is a community service and that the program brings in revenue and grant-funded equipment even if the operation costs are not fully covered by income from materials.

Karen Spencer also said the committee discussed a mandatory garbage pickup ordinance and that committee members wanted the full committee to review such a policy before recommending action.

What happens next: the Solid Waste Committee will continue grant work for a possible baler replacement, consider tire-amnesty scheduling to use the $4,000 allocation in the correct fiscal year and convene the full committee to discuss mandatory pickup. The court did not direct immediate program cuts.

Sources: Solid Waste committee report and minutes recorded at the May 20, 2019 Fiscal Court meeting.