The Solid Waste Advisory Committee officially reported to the Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday.

A request was made to continue the group and appoint members.

Anyone that would like to serve on this committee is asked to contact the county administrator or their county commissioner.

The other items reported concerned the meeting held on Aug. 4, which included a financial report that indicates that the landfill is having a net positive impact of between $1.5 million to $2 million per year. Prior to closure of the old landfill, it was costing the county about $500,000 more per year to operate than the revenues it was generating.

The old landfill is in the final closure stages and all of the uncontrolled seepage of methane gas has been eliminated. The closure certification from the state is expected anytime. In addition, it is very likely that the methane currently being released may have a marketable value in the very near future. This may turn into a positive cash flow in as soon as a few months.

It is important to note that the old landfill is still accepting bagged waste and this will continue at this time. The drop-off location is much under-utilized and is costing the county money. At some point the Advisory Committee will likely review the status of the old landfill and the future-use options.

The next item was to look at the overall capacity of the Highway 27 South landfill.

The county is going through a permit modification that will dramatically improve an already successful operation.  This includes a construction and demolition site and a better cell design for municipal waste. The C&D area will save the money for the landfill users and make the county more competitive in attracting certain new businesses to this area.

With this modification, the property currently owned has the potential to last another 50 to 80 years at current predicted volume. The long-term goal is to purchase more property and create a truly profitable solid waste handling facility that would last for more than 100 years at even higher volumes.

It is foreseeable to see this project make the county several million dollars per year to help the budgets for county services and improved roads.

There were extensive discussions about illegal dumping and the overall status of recycling.

Keep Decatur County Beautiful (KDCB) reported that the volume of recycle materials is good except the cardboard is down a little due to the changes in local industrial production.

The community trailers are a great success, but they are having some problems with household trash and used furniture being put in the trailers.

KDCB is in the process of an educational program that may help this situation, but if it does not improve it will be turned over to the code enforcement officer.

KDCB is working with all the schools regarding training in recycling and reduction of littering.

Two grants are out, one with GIFA and one with Clean Community Challenge for three additional trailers and litter signage for the entire county and city, and this includes surveillance equipment.

Rivers Alive is Oct. 17, and KDCB is encouraging us all to take part.