Carter County Landfill Makes Significant Progress In Clearing Out Old Tires

Carter County Landfill Makes Significant Progress In Clearing Out Old Tires

ELIZABETHTON, TN – The Landfill Committee of the Carter County Commission shared some encouraging news at a meeting held this Monday evening, focusing on the significant progress made in clearing out old tires from the county landfill. The update came from Interim Landfill Manager Chris Schuettler, who informed the committee that the old tire storage area is now compliant with regulations.

“The tires are back on the concrete, where they need to be,” stated Schuettler, conveying the hard work put in by the workers and trusties from the Carter County Jail over the past year. The tire removal project has been active since July 2023, with old tires being loaded into trailers for proper disposal. The task demanded considerable labor and incurred costs for the removal, transportation, and disposal of the tires.

The tires were initially accepted from tire retailers several years ago, yet the funds initially gathered were unavailable for the current project. Schuettler’s update relayed the continuous efforts of the landfill workers from July 2023 through April 2024, resulting in successful tire disposals occurring monthly.

Next Steps for the Landfill Committee

During the meeting, some critical inquiries arose about the management of the landfill. Carter County Mayor Patty Woodby asked about the timeline for appointing a new landfill director. Schuettler has been managing dual roles as the director of the Carter County Planning Department and the interim position as landfill manager since former manager Benny Lyons resigned last year. Schuettler shared his desire to resolve as many of the old violations as possible before the appointment of a new landfill manager, targeting August as the handover period.

Simultaneously, the meeting also involved discussions on school-related matters. Committee member Jason Clawson expressed his concerns regarding the abrupt closure of the Little Milligan Elementary School in the previous year. After Clawson voiced his concerns about the lack of public information, Diana Bowers, the Assistant Director of Carter County Schools, said the closure would result in recurring savings of around $716,000 in personnel costs.

Reducing Landfill Through Recycling

In the effort to minimize the landfill, Schuettler informed that the county is looking at ways to recycle unneeded items from the school closure. He mentioned the plan to convert old, unusable books into recyclable paper, thus further cutting down on landfill waste. As the area faces the dual challenge of waste management and cost-cutting, the committee continues to find measures towards cost-effective and eco-friendly solutions.

As the landfill operations continue to unfold, the public anticipates the final resolution of the situation and the introduction of a new landfill director who can carry forward these efforts to handle waste management in Carter County efficiently.