Agreement Extended

Convenience Center Will Continue Operation

Thursday, December 13, 2012

— The Benton County Convenience Center will continue offering county residents a way to dispose of unwanted household items at no cost under an agreements approved Wednesday by the Benton County Solid Waste District.

The district’s board unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding with the county to continue operating the convenience center for the next two years. The district operates the convenience center at its recycling facility on Brookside Road near Centerton.

At A Glance

What’s Accepted

The Benton County Convenience Center accepts household items including:

• Electronics such as radios, DVDs, VCRs, telephones, televisions, computers, monitors, printers and microwave ovens.

• Furniture including mattresses, couches, tables and chairs.

• Household bulky waste including large plastic toys, playground equipment and swing sets.

• Appliances including refrigerators, freezers, room air conditioners, dehumidifiers, icemakers, water heaters, ranges, washer and dryers.

• Scrap metal, including grills, bicycles, metal fencing and metal lawn furniture.

• Up to four passenger tires without rims per household per month. Fees apply to additional tires, tires on rims and larger tires.

Source: Staff Report

The county started offering the convenience center service to county residents in 2009, according to information in the memorandum. Beginning in March 2011, the district took over and expanded the operation.

Teresa Sidwell, ounty environmental coordinator, said the arrangement has been beneficial.

“I think our relationship with the solid waste district and the convenience center has been going really well,” Sidwell said. “It’s really nice having it open every weekend and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Before, we were only able to offer it once a month for a half day.”

As part of the memorandum of understanding, the county asked the district to provide monthly reports on the weight of metal shipped from the center, the weight of electronics shipped, information on trash bins shipped from the center, information on hours worked by Benton County Work Program workers and information on the tire disposal program.

District official said most of the information already is being collected and the tire information can be gathered through a sign-up sheet.

Sidwell did express a concern that the sign-up sheet could cause delays or discourage some people from using the program, but the board agreed to monitor the program and adjust requirements if needed.

“I don’t have a problem with a simple sign-up sheet,” Centerton Mayor Bill Edwards, a member of the board, said.

Wendy Cravens, director of the solid waste district, said the county’s support for the program has made it possible for the district to expand the program.

“They’re able to get rid of bulky stuff that’s otherwise difficult to get rid of,” Cravens said. “With the convenience center they’re able to bring it in for free.”

The convenience center has grown as a supplement to the county’s annual cleanup events, Sidwell said.

“I think the word has gotten out that the convenience center is out there,” she said.