FAYETTEVILLE — Terminating an agreement Thursday between two solid waste districts could mean fewer environmental programs and job losses in one county and financial stability and job creation in another two counties.
The Boston Mountain Solid Waste District Board unanimously voted to end an agreement that sent about $260,000 annually to the Benton County Solid Waste District from fees collected at the Eco-Vista Landfill near Tontitown.
State laws require landfills collect $1.50 per ton of waste for solid waste districts. Districts that don’t have landfills, such as Benton County, must make agreements about how to split that revenue with those that do, such as Boston Mountain.
Eco Vista has sent about $260,000 annually, or the entire $1.50 fee, to the Benton County district from solid waste generated in that county because of a 2011 agreement between both districts. The two districts must equally split the $1.50 fee when there is no formal agreement, according to state law.
At A Glance
Boston Mountain Solid Waste District
The Boston Mountain Solid Waste District is one of 18 in Arkansas. The district provides solid waste management in Washington and Madison counties. It operates a transfer station west of Prairie Groe where residents drop off solid waste and recyclables. The waste is taken to the Eco-Vista Landfill near Tontitown, and recyclables are sold. The district also works with cities to provide recycling programs for residents to reduce solid waste disposal.
Source: Staff Report
Now the Benton County district will get 75 cents per ton, or about $130,000 annually.
Robyn Reed, Boston Mountain district director, began her job in January after working as the Washington County environmental affairs director. She said she felt her district should get half the fee and convinced Boston Mountain board members to void its agreement with the Benton County district.
“While I recognize that Benton County does have services they have to provide, that is the Boston Mountain Solid Waste District’s landfill space,” said Robyn Reed, Boston Mountain director. “We have to ensure we have the space for Washington and Madison counties constituents, residents and businesses.”
The $130,000 loss equals about 27 percent of the Benton County district’s annual budget, said Wendy Craven, director. Craven said she will look for grants to keep environmental programs, but the revenue loss could mean fewer programs and personnel reductions.
Most solid waste from Benton County has to go to Eco Vista because of municipal contracts between the landfill and cities, Craven said.
“Boston Mountain will continue to get the $1.50 (fee) on the waste from both Washington and Madison counties as well as 75 cents of the Benton County citizen’s money,” Craven said.
The additional $130,000 in revenue for Boston Mountain could mean more staff for environmental enforcement or for work at the district’s transfer station near Prairie Grove, Reed said. The revenue also provides a better cushion after recent years of financial struggles, she said.
Boston Mountain budgeted $1.24 million in revenue and $1.2 million in expenses for this year.