Commission hears recycling and tire-processing options, and preliminary consultant proposal for 2027 planning

Commissioners discussed long-term waste planning and recycling options as part of a 10-year outlook. A resident who recently toured a Charlotte recycling facility described an indoor, 35-ton-per-hour system and urged the commission to consider smaller-scale equipment suitable for county volumes.

"It's an amazing piece of machinery," the resident said of the Charlotte system and suggested a smaller 15-ton unit might suit Loudon County's needs if the commission can secure sufficient volume to justify two shifts.

Members repeatedly returned to the economics of recycling: speakers said recycling requires volume to be economically viable and cautioned that small counties often lack the throughput to make such investments pay off. The commission discussed prior outreach to a company called Waste Away but said a full proposal often included large upfront costs that could make pilot testing expensive.

Speakers also discussed tire processing and a visit to a new facility; while some shredded tire products appeared usable, Republic currently sends county tires to a vendor called Liberty and has not yet changed that disposition.

On budget planning, Republic's representative discussed capital planning and said a 2027 investment figure around $1.45 million was being used for planning purposes, with formal budget decisions due during the 2026 budget cycle.

Commissioners weighed hiring outside consultants for parts of the 10-year plan; one commissioner suggested a modest consultant engagement (roughly $30,000) for targeted tasks rather than contracting an end-to-end study that could exceed $100,000.