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Knox County weighs managed operations, restrictions at overfilled compost site
Summary
County staff reported the compost/solid-waste site holds about 12,500 cubic yards of material and said commercial 'grappler' trucks have brought large loads. Staff proposed leasing the site to a manager, charging businesses, requiring ID for residents, and holding weekend assisted pickups.
County staff told commissioners May 12 that the county’s compost/solid-waste drop-off site is over capacity and that staff are preparing management options to curb commercial use.
County engineer Cameron Keaton reported a survey found about 12,500 cubic yards of material at the site and described large grappler trucks bringing commercial loads that exceeded the site’s intended resident use. Keaton said the county will consider turning the site into a managed operation — leasing it to a manager who would receive a fee to run the site — and enforcing resident-only rules, including ID checks. “We have 12,500 cubic yards of material out there,” Keaton said on the record.
Staff described interim measures: a two‑Saturday program in which vendor Green Machines will provide paid labor (four hours each day) to load resident vehicles so they can take material home, and plans to bring a fuller set of management proposals to the board in coming weeks. Keaton said large‑scale site work may require temporarily shutting the site for about a month to rework grading and access; he suggested July as a possible low‑use window for that work.
Keaton cited examples from neighboring counties and the regional solid-waste district (Marion, Morrow and Delaware) that operate managed sites and require verification for residents. He told commissioners staff also discussed charging businesses that bring commercial material and restricting grappler trucks.
No formal policy change was adopted at the meeting; staff said they will return with recommendations and ordinance or contract language if required.
