State Taking Comments About Closure Of Compost Site Off Cookeville Boat Dock Road

The state is still taking public comment regarding the closure of Putnam County’s compost site off of Cookeville Boat Dock Road.

Solid Waste Director Doug Ashburn said this is a part of the policy the state follows to close sites of this nature. Ashburn said the site had become more of a burden than a benefit to the county.

“Between COVID and the tornado and the shortage of workers and combined with the addition to the landfill,” Ashburn said. “So I think it was just at a crossroads, there were several factors that played into it (closing) where it didn’t get used as much.”

Ashburn said closing the compost site will free up county employee labor and some of the county’s money. He said the permit to keep the site open costs about $3,000 a year.

Ashburn said that they can have conversations in the future about reopening the site. The state is accepting comments until 4:30 p.m. on Monday, August 14th.