Jackson County has some work to do to untangle what has become a spider web of accusations and problems surrounding its solid waste disposal program. Perhaps its first step should be to adopt an ordinance that lays out just exactly how solid waste will be handled instead of relying on the good faith of its citizens and those in the trash business.

Commissioners have never adopted a solid waste ordinance. Instead, it has split its solid waste system into several different components: it partnered with Macon County to build a landfill in that county, hired GDS to operate its staffed recycling centers, and pays Webster Enterprises to dispose of recyclable materials brought from the SRCs.

To pay for the landfill space, citizens are assessed an annual user fee that is tacked onto their property tax bill. Commercial enterprises also pay the annual user fee, but they also have to make arrangements to get their trash to the landfill. That means extra costs for those producing more trash.

But problems have arisen. For one, GDS is complaining that private haulers who pick up trash in the county are taking it to the SRCs. The answer to that is simple  so what. That is where residential garbage belongs.

As for commercial solid waste being taken to the SRCs, one would hope that GDS would pay its employees - those who work at the SRCs - to tell people they can’t do that. But the truth is there is no law preventing anyone from taking commercial waste to the SRCs because the county has not enacted a solid waste ordinance. So while those violating the intent of the county may be unethical bums, there doesn’t appear to be any legal ground to stop them.

The county’s solid waste advisory panel has presented commissioners with an ordinance proposal. It would have encouraged recycling, and commissioners will hopefully will adopt an ordinance that leans heavily toward getting people to re-use and recycle.

Commissioners, apparently, have seen the light. They’ve promised to begin studying the adoption of a solid waste ordinance. They might also do themselves a favor by bringing together everyone involved in this issue - including their own advisory board - and clearing the air.

 

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The Smoky Mountain News