White Co. Commission Approves Out-Of-County Trash Resolution

White County Commission approved a resolution Monday night that would allow its landfill to accept out-of-county trash.

That, after the commission tabled the decision last month and sent it back to the solid waste committee. County Executive Denny Wayne Robinson said the resolution was first developed in 1992 when the solid waste program was first created.

“Part of the ’92 deal was we didn’t accept trash from outside of White County,” Robinson said. “This resolution amends that to allow us to contract with other government entities. That doesn’t mean that somebody in Cookeville or Warren County or Van Buren can come and just drop their trash. We can take their solid waste.”

Robinson said they decided to remove the language that would prevent out-of-county waste. He said because it costs the department the same amount of money to dispose of that waste, it will help offset the costs of operating the landfill.

“For that trash compactor and for that person to operate it, whether they’re pushing five bags of trash or 50 bags, the cost is the same,” Robinson said. “So if we start charging for out-of-town waste that can increase our revenues and that can decrease the burden on the White County citizens.”

The commission also approved moving some $800,000 of ARP funding to the Solid Waste Department’s budget. Robinson said the money will help the county make upgrades that will improve the department’s efficiency, helping with offsetting the costs of the landfill.